How-To Books To Help You Learn a New Skill

From Portland’s most acclaimed and beloved baker comes this must-have baking guide, featuring recipes for world-class breads and pizzas and a variety of schedules suited for the home baker. Flour Water Salt Yeast is an indispensable resource for bakers who want to make their daily bread exceptional bread.

BuzzFeed’s Tasty helps you conquer the kitchen — one meal at a time. Tasty Adulting is made specifically for the young (and young at heart) cooks who are just getting their footing as grown-ups. With chapters like Souper Heroes, Put Some Meat On Your Bones, and A Sweet Finish, as well as a whole section for having people over, this book helps you move toward that golden “I have my life together” feeling. And just like that, you’re Adulting.

There’s a time in life when you wake up and realize you’re on your own: If you don’t feed yourself, it’s buttered noodles for the rest of your days. Learn how to fend for yourself in the kitchen with 100 easy, cheap, and fun recipes from Spoon University. The goal isn’t to be perfect, but to finally cook like a real adult. No special equipment, skills, ingredients, or magic required.

Change the way you think about cooking! In this epic guide to better eating, the chef, recipe developer, and video producer Sohla El-Waylly reimagines what a cookbook can be, teaching home cooks of all skill levels how cooking really works.

From cast-on stitches to binding off, this handbook details the simple steps needed to turn seemingly complicated sock knitting projects into easy and enjoyable activities. Knitters can add variety and flair by following one of 16 unique designs or trying one of the dozens of rib, cable, and lace patterns provided. With plenty of tips and a handy stitch dictionary, this guide unleashes the creativity and fun of sock knitting.

Learn to knit with simple, easy-to-follow guides and over 20 cute and cozy project patterns! Master the basics of knitting and improve your technique with clear, comprehensive instructions. Once you’ve mastered the basics, move on to fun and functional practice projects to hone your skills.

Whether you’re a beginning knitter or advanced, whether your tastes range from simple knit-purl stitching to fancy Daisy or Moroccan screen, this dictionary of stitch patterns is indispensable!

20 gorgeous, quick-to-knit scarf designs from bestselling author, Monica Russel. Whether you want a lacy scarf for a cool summer’s evening or a chunky-knit scarf for a snowy day; whether you’re drawn to statement stripes, bold Fair Isle, or geometric textures; or whether you’re making a thoughtful gift for a loved one or the perfect accessory for yourself, this fun book has you covered. Bust out your yarn stash, create some cozy, stylish accessories, and try out some new and exciting techniques today!

In an age of myriad computer fonts and instant communication, your handwriting style is increasingly a very personal creation. In this book, Margaret Shepherd, America’s premier calligrapher, shows you that calligraphy is not simply a craft you can learn, but an elegant art form that you can make your own.

From the artist behind the popular Pigeon Letters website, a complete guide to learning and perfecting brush lettering, a forgiving style of modern calligraphy that encourages creative expression and imprecision, including basic skills, flourishes, and project ideas.

Master modern calligraphy and create stunning invitations, artworks, and labels with this essential guide from Lindsey Bugbee, the creator of The Postman’s Knock, the world’s number one calligraphy website. This all-in-one guide reveals the secrets to creating stunning letter art, with essential tips, expert advice, and inspiring projects. With a little time, practice, and a little ink, you’ll be amazed at what you can create.

Fed up with fast fashion and keen to make your own clothes? This is the ultimate dressmaking guide for absolute beginners. Comprehensive, step-by-step guides and dressmaking patterns cover everything from choosing the perfect fabric for any project to trying your hand at a range of machine-sewing techniques.

Not your usual granny squares! Celine Semaan has designed a collection of forty creative designs for easy and colorful crochet blocks that can be used to make projects including a blanket, pillow, and wall hanging.

The perfect resource for new and experienced crocheters alike, The Step-By-Step Guide to 200 Crochet Stitches offers 200 stitches with detailed written, charted, and photographed instructions. You’ll learn essential crochet skills, such as changing color, fastening off, and forming basic stitches. Plus, large finished swatches in eye-catching colors show off the beauty of each stitch inspiring your hook through the entire book!

This revised 15th anniversary edition of the bestselling beginning drawing book updates art and text examples to include new student pieces, up-to-date materials, and additional sections on drawing in 3D and travel sketching, along with a refreshed and contemporary design.

Learn to draw a playful pack of 30 perfect pooches — from an endearing chocolate Labrador puppy to a rascal of a Jack Russell terrier; a pocket-size chihuahua to a mammoth Great Dane — in 6 easy stages! Within the book’s easy-to-follow landscape format the dogs leap to life across the pages, making them ideal for budding artists of all pedigrees: From kids looking for afterschool art projects to adults wanting to create lifelike pet paw-traits.

Sketch 50 beautiful botanical projects, step-by-step, in just 10 minutes each! Create your own blowsy roses, delicate orchids, geometric succulents, and glistening strawberries using these stunningly simple, easy-to-follow techniques.

Go beyond reading manga and become a creator yourself! Whether you’re a beginner just venturing into drawing or an experienced artist looking for practice, Learn to Draw Manga is your friendly guide to the exhilarating world of manga art.

Create over 100 vibrant watercolor mixes and paint a range of inspiring botanicals including flowers, leaves, seedheads, and bulbs with award-winning artist and color-mixing guru Julie Collins.

Create neat and pretty watercolor projects with only 3 colors at a time! With this book you’ll be able to paint animals, flowers, plants, baked goods, and more in swift and quick strokes, using minimal yet distinctive color palettes. This is the perfect book for beginners as well as more developed artists who want to play around with more limited color designs.

Whether you are just starting out with watercolor painting or want to expand your skills and raise your art to the next level, this book has all the inspiration and practical know-how you’ll need.

Learn how to craft a blossoming garden of vibrant crepe paper flowers with 30+ detailed tutorials from master artist Quynh Nguyen. Journey through every stage of the artistic process — from choosing materials to mastering the intricate techniques that breathe life into your arrangements. With Nguyen’s detailed guidance and striking photography, let your creativity flourish as you bring more handmade beauty into your life and home.

Want to get into woodworking but don’t know where to start? Then this is the book for you. Designer-maker-teacher Chris Tribe walks you through the processes step-by-step, answering all your questions along the way. You will find out all about setting up a workshop, mastering the essential woodworking techniques and making and finishing some specially designed projects to put your new skills into practice.

Take a colorful journey through the seasons with this essential guide to sustainable, botanical dyeing from noted expert Aurélia Wolff. The gentle treatment of leaves, roots, bark, and flowers can result in exquisite hues on natural fabrics, so with Aurélia’s clear, expert guidance, discover how to forage ethically, dye naturally, and create your own unique natural palette.

Are you surrounded by weeds? Is your lawn forlorn? Are your bushes diseased? Do you long to create an outdoor space you can enjoy with friends — a garden you can proudly show off? Beginner Gardening Step by Step shows you the basics needed to get your green space under control and keep it that way. This book is packed full of creative ideas with lots of simple step-by-step instructions and clear images to help you realize your garden’s potential, no matter the size and scale. Take the anxiety out of planting, potting, and pruning, and make the most of your precious patch of land.

Discover everything you need to transform your empty plot into a stunning garden oasis with this gardening encyclopedia. Whether you have a small urban garden or sprawling acres of land, this gardening guide will help you every step of the way to create your garden masterpiece!

Each area of a garden offers a different environment for plants, with differing levels of sun, soil, moisture, and more. Following the principles of “right crop, right place,” everyone can grow fruits and vegetables that will thrive in their space, large or small. Including varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs, edible flowers, and container crops, there is something here for everyone — from favorites like chilis and figs to honeyberry, wasabi, agretti, and amaranth.