Tuft the world An illustrated manual to tufting gorgeous rugs, decor, and more

As evidenced by the 10 U.S. artists Alexander and Eads showcase here, tufting, once considered a mid-twentieth-century craft, has been transformed into an art. Part art book, part how-to guide, their book also shares 15 projects that range from floor mats and rugs to wall hangings and shawl collars. Instructions are narrative, relying on a few color photographs, but without templates. The authors ground the craft well, with plenty of tips (how to make a French cleat wall), facts (about, for instance, tufting "founder" Catherine Evans Whitener), and overall directions for tools, yarn, color, and making a tabletop frame. Combined with a more specifically instructional text, this will provide great inspiration. Includes glossary and bibliography.

Tufting is a traditional approach to rug making in which rugs are created using one needle at a time. This book by artists/business owners Alexander and Eads describes the variety of tufting machines one can use, which types of pile each device makes, and how they vary. The authors guide readers through the types of tools, materials, and techniques to employ. They show readers how to set up a tufting studio in their home, and they offer guidelines, patterns, and tips as well. The projects aren't just for rugs; there are designs that range from making a shawl to tufting a cat tree. Readers who are more familiar with numbered, outlined patterns with pictures at every step may find parts of this book hard to follow, but it still includes 175 full-color photographs of the projects. Purple and blue information boxes are sprinkled throughout the book, providing great examples of the historical evolution of this art form. Overall, it's a good and solid guide for readers wanting to try something different. VERDICT This gorgeous, colorful manual for tufting rugs, decor, and wearable art is best suited for intermediate crafters.--Britt Fechtman