My 5 Favorite Books I Use For Creative Inspiration

Hi Creatives! I hope all is well with you. Today, I want to talk about Creative Inspiration. As Handmade Makers, we get our inspiration from so many different things. I get ideas from the different seasons, colors in nature, my immediate surroundings and more. However, sometimes I have a hard time when it comes to creating a new crochet or jewelry design. I get a mental block and I know that this is true for so many other creatives also. When I need a little help getting those creative juices flowing, I have 5 books that I use as a source for inspiration. Since these books help me so much, I thought that I would share them with you.

Here are My Top 5 Favorite Books for Creative Inspiration

1. Reader’s Digest Complete Guide To Needlework

This is my go-to book for my Crochet Business. I often refer to it to find new stitches and techniques. It has instructions on how to make different stitches and patterns and they are listed in easy to find categories. Also, I love that it has instructions and patterns for Embroidery, Quilting, Knitting, Macrame, Needlepoint, Applique, Lacework, Patchwork, Rug-Making and much more.

2. 101 Crochet Edgings by Rita Weiss

I use this book to find beautiful designs that I can use as borders for my crochet pieces. There are so many different patterns to choose from and they are written in a way that makes it quite easy to make your personal changes to reflect your style.

3. The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs by Linda P. Schapper

This book has 500 Classic and Original Patterns. They are organized according to the type of stitches that are used to make the pattern. Some of the patterns are composed of Single Crochets and Chains, Shells-Staggered, Horizontal Stripe Patterns and more. In addition, it also has instructions with diagrams on how to make basic stitches, a list of International Crochet Symbols, and a Pictorial Index.

4. The Art of Arabian Costume – A Saudi Arabian Profile by Heather Colyer Ross

This is a beautifully illustrated book that shows the different styles of dress according to Regional Styles and how it was developed to suit the needs of the people. This book not only deals with clothing but also explores beauty culture, jewelry, and related arts and crafts. The 140 color illustrations give me inspiration when I’m designing a crochet piece or jewelry. The clothing and jewelry designs in this book give me inspiration when I’m designing my crochet wear and jewelry. This book would make a great addition for anyone who is interested in fashion, different cultures, and the story behind the different designs.

5. Smithsonian GEM – The Definitive Visual Guide

This book is a beautiful compilation of the world’s natural treasures that features precious and semiprecious stones, metals, organic gems, and famous pieces from around the world. The gorgeous photos highlight the beauty in the gemstones and the jewelry that is made with it. In addition, it has an illustrated directory with data on all major rocks and minerals. It also has photos of some of the rarest and most valuable stones, i.e. the Hope Diamond, the Timur Ruby, and the Faberge eggs. I use this book for inspiration when I’m designing and making jewelry and crochet wear. If you’re interested in fine jewelry or mineralogy, this book combines the knowledge of both. I love this book and I think that you will too!

So, these are 5 of my favorite books that I go to for inspiration in my business. Each one has something special about it that keeps me coming back. I hope that this information can help you if you need a little inspirational boost in the future. These books would make great gifts too! Do you have any special books that inspire you when you’re creating? Please let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post!

If you need ideas regarding gifts for Makers for Valentine’s Day or really any day, see my blog post here: https://sultanamuzikir.com/blog/12-gift-ideas-for-makers-on-valentines-day/

If you’re left-handed and you want to learn how to crochet, you can get started today with my tutorial “Get Hooked On Crochet For Left Handers”: https://sunny-leader-1486.ck.page/products/learn-how-to-crochet-for-left-handers

If you want to know what supplies you need to get started crocheting, check out my blog post that gives you a list of “The Top 7 Supplies That You Need To Crochet”: https://sultanamuzikir.com/blog/the-top-7-supplies-that-you-need-to-crochet/

If you’re looking for a fun and quick crochet pattern, try my “The Skinnee Crochet Scarf” pattern: https://sunny-leader-1486.ck.page/products/the-skinnee-crochet-scarf-pattern

BONUS: Get my Free Bulky Earwarmer/Headband Crochet Pattern here: https://sunny-leader-1486.ck.page/sultanascrochet