The Art of Feltmaking by Anne Einset Vickrey (1997, Paperback)

This is the largest book in my feltmaking reference collection. It's full of project ideas and colorful pictures. I haven't had time to make any of these projects with my niece yet, but we did spend a pleasurable fifteen minutes or so looking through the projects and conspiring about which ones to make first.

Like all my felt books, this one has many color photographs (I wouldn't buy one that doesn't). But what I especially enjoy about this one is the step-by-step photos include the person's hands as they are crafting the toys. Maybe it's weird of me, but it really helps to see how the person is holding their hand, and in which position, while using the tools and creating the crafts.

A minus is that there are only two or three pages of photocopyable templates in the back of the book. And the adorable chapter on Making a Felt Scene is regrettably only a couple of pages long.

Each craft has carefully spelled out tools and "ingredients" lists, and numbered steps that are easy to follow.

The projects include:

Making Felt Ropes
Beads
Rope-and-Bead Figures (so cute!)
Working With Flat Pieces of Felt
Making Felt Balls
Flower Buttons
Butterflies
Eye Masks
Ties
Large Face Masks
Slippers
Felt for Wearables
Mittens
Hats
Teddy Bear Berets
Finger Puppets (so adorable)
Hand Puppets
Making a Felt Scene

While this book doesn't show you how to make 25 different animals or 18 varieties on fairy dolls, it primarily teaches you how to work with felt and basic felt shapes, so later on when you are creating your own patterns and ideas, you have the skills and techniques to bring to the table.

A must-have for feltcrafters.