Last year Lifeline started holding a second hand book fair, the first one was so successful that they decided to hold two per year. I went last April, and we thought we'd have another look over the weekend. I didn't expect to find anything but boy, was I wrong! I ended up spending about $50 on some excellent finds. Considering that a decent knitting book can cost that (or more) in Australia, I'm very happy with my new purchases!

From right to left:

* A hard cover copy of Mary Thomas's Book of Knitting Patterns, 1973. I'm giving my paperback copy to a friend as I like this binding better (it's bigger). This is a stitch and technique dictionary, originally published in 1943. As well as stitches, it also contains excellent information on knitting shapes from the centre out, which is really handy if you want to design your own doilies and counterpane motifs.

* Creative Textile Craft. A Batsford book from the creative play series. This is mostly a picture book with creative ways to make arty effects with string and loosely woven fabric.

* Heritage Crochet: An Analysis by Mary Konior. Water damaged a little bit (the pages are wavy) but I was really after the information about antique crochet patterns and how to translate them into modern crochet language. This will be a fascinating read. It has some lovely patterns too.

* The Dryad Book of Bobbin Lace. Bobbin lace is on my list of stuff to learn to do.

* Make Your Own Rugs by Nancy Robb. I didn't get to look through this one before I bought it (for 50 cents) and it didn't have the info I was looking for so I'm going to re-donate it.

* Tassels & Trimmings by Effie Mitrofanis. This book was a nice surprise. I thought it would just be about regular tassels (and I already have a great book about those) but it also has unusual things like fabric tassels, lots of ways to dress up store bought trimmings, braids and fancy knots. My favourite thing about this book is that it makes use of a lot of household bits and pieces rather than having to go out and buy fancy turned wooden tops for every tassel.

* Creative Machine Embroidery by Kristen Dibbs. (Signed by the author) This has a couple of interesting projects like machine embroidered bangles and spider web lace. I mostly bought it for technique ideas rather than the projects. Machine sewn smocking is something I want to try. A little old fashioned considering it's from 2000, but it contains enough interesting ideas and projects to play with.

* Making Embroidered Bags and Purses by Gisela Banbury and Angela Dewar. I don't like the sample projects much, but this book has some good solid, basic patterns that can be reworked in a large number of original ways. I like this book for the versatility of the patterns. I'm going to use it as a jumping-off point rather than a pattern book.

* Machine Embroidery for the Home by Corliss Miller. Lots of interesting techniques to try in this one.

* The Fused Glass Handbook by Gil Reynolds. Fused glass and lampwork are two more things I'd like to try.

* Virginia Avery's Hats, a Heady Affair. My love of knitting hats is no secret. This book has lots of sewing patterns for basic hats that you can use to make totally original pieces. The samples are far too 1990's to make as they are, but the basic shapes are good and there's a lot of solid technical info.

* The Treasure Chest of Swedish Weaving by Ingerlise Skjoldebrand. A nice book of weaving projects (loom weaving) but the technical info on some of the projects is a little sparse. I want to make some rya woven cushion cover using the rya rug instructions from this book as a guide but I think I'm going to have to break out Peter Collingwood's rug weaving book in order to be able to understand the knotting technique. It does have some very pretty projects though.

* Salish Weaving by Paula Gustafson. The history and (basic) technique of Salish weaving. Should be an interesting read.

* The Gentle Needle Arts. A Golden Hands publication. I nearly didn't look at this one because I find Golden Hands publications a little too retro-tacky (not retro-kitsch, which is good. Retro-tacky, which is bad). However, the word "Daisywork" on the cover caught my eye so I had a look. I would have missed out on some lovely knitted lace pieces if I hadn't bought it! Not only that but it also has excellent looking directions for basic netting (very basic but clear), and some nice needle lace and crochet patterns. I'm also very tempted to make the macrame "Owl and Pussycat" but that may be because of my love of Edward Lear, rather than good taste.

* 1001 Illuminated Initial Letters by Owen Jones. 27 pages of fancy monograms. Might come in handy for embroidery.

* Bright Knits for Kids by Debbie Bliss. Initially I wasn't sure if I had this, but it turns out that I didn't. Some nice garments in case I'm ever an auntie again.

* Principles of Garment Cutting by E. L. G. Gough.1940. I have a strange fascination for vintage garment cutting books. Don't ask why because I don't know. I suppose it's because I like to know how stuff works. I do have a modern book on drafting sewing patterns but I do like to see how vintage garments were cut as well. I mean really, you never know when you might need to sew yourself a Coachman's cape, do you? (VBG)

* Weldon's Encyclopedia of Needlework. Not dated but it's from the late 30's, early 40's. I already had a copy of this but it's all beaten up so now I have a nice copy for my vintage book collection and a beat up copy for using. It has a lovely knitted lace scarf design in it, a really nice fair isle pullover and two knitted doilies, among many other patterns for almost any needlework technique you can think of. Almost :) It also has lots of sock knitting technique and a nice little collection of stitch patterns.

And that's my score from the recent Lifeline book fair! I may be too busy reading and weaving and sewing and macrame-ing to go back next year! :P