ON THE SHELF: Check out these Adult Nonfiction books featuring art history, fiber-craft art

Published 12:58 pm Monday, July 28, 2025

This column features suggested reads from the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library.

This column was submitted by Evangeline Cessna, Technical Services Librarian at the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library.

We’ve just finished our Summer Library Program centering around different forms of art. In that spirit, we’ve just received some Adult Nonfiction featuring art history and fiber-craft art.

“Art, Annotated” is an encyclopedic book from DK Publishing spanning 3,000 years of paintings, sculptures, and prints. You’ll find art from all over the globe and explore the key elements of each including composition, color, technique, and symbolism. Learn how Michelangelo painted nudes, what cubism is, and where abstraction came from. You’ll also learn about the historical context of each piece as well as profiles of more than 450 artists from every period and major art movement. Discover ancient Egyptian frescoes, read the visual clues in Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, and find out what inspired artists like Louise Bourgeois and Bansky. With full color photos and illustrations, this is the ultimate history for those who love art.

Heidi Iverson delivers a rich and comprehensive guide to the natural dyeing process for those interested in dyeing their own yarn with “The Natural Dye Handbook.” The author explains how to enhance the spectrum of colors you achieve through the use of a variety of tannins, mordants, modifiers, and mixing of colors. You get a library of more than 60 plants including fungi, leaves, bark, roots, flowers, fruit, nuts and seeds to create all manner of colors for your projects. There is a large section covering color theory and a back-to-basics look at the fundamentals of natural yarn dyeing. Iverson also explores both the traditional syle of dyeing and a more intuitive approach. She also includes foraging tips and advice so that you can use dye plants safely as well as ethical harvesting and growing your own plants for dyes.

If you’re not ready to go all-in on learning about creating natural dyes, then take a look at “Natural Yarn Dyes” by Anna Bauer. Create a rainbow of natural yarn dyes using 25 sustainable, time-tested recipes and achieve rich, lightfast colors without compromising your safety or the environment. This book contains 25 dye recipes from readily available plants, fungi, and lichens to produce a stunning palette of color. Clear instructions (even for the first-time dyers) take you from start to finish. An exhaustive list of equipment and tools will help you to safely produce your dyes. There are also tips to fix your colors on the fabric and help them remain as beautiful and as vivid as the day they were dyed. The authors also include guides for further reading, references, and a handy glossary of terms as well as bonus online content.

Mix and match your next crochet project with over 150 designs in “The Granny Square Book” by Katy Mitchell. These designs combine bold colors and happy, eye-catching patterns. You’ll find textured effects including puffs, bobbles, and lacework as well as seasonal collections containing winter snowflakes, spring florals, themed blankets, cushions, and other festive favorites. Every square is designed to be worked up at the same size so they can be easily mixed and matched to create personal, unique projects. Once you crochet your squares, you’ll learn how to join and edge them so your project will have a neat finish. Choose from more than 50 3-D designs including animals, characters, and objects like stars, spaceships, rainbows, and pumpkins.

Laine Publishing and 48 international designers have gathered a beautiful collection of 52 knitting and crochet patterns in their book “52 Weeks of Accessories.” This is a great companion for those who love knitting hats, shawls, socks, and mittens, but things like cowls, hoods, headbands, and bags are also included. The projects range in suitability from beginners to experienced knitting and feature a variety of techniques including cables and colorwork as well as simpler stitches. These small-sized projects are a perfect starting point for those interested in trying out knitting and playing with yarn.

“Simple Natural Crochet” by Susan Ritchie features crochet patterns for stylish items in natural yarns and modern colors. There are easy-to-hook chunky projects you can finish in a day, and larger or more intricate items that will take longer but are well worth the effort. Some of the pieces that are perfect for beginners include a chevron blanket, a simple beanie, and a snuggly cowl. More intricate projects introduce you to textured stitches to help you expand your skills. Choose from a delicate and lacy ombré scarf, a granny square coatigan, or a giant cuddly owl. These patterns will inspire you to crochet designs for your home, friends, and family no matter your skill level.