Book Review: Easy Bazaar Crafts

Book Review: Easy Bazaar Crafts

Author: Better Homes & Gardens magazine staff

Date: 1981

Publisher: Meredith Corporation

ISBN: 0-696-00665-0

Length: 96 pages

Illustrations: photos, diagrams, graphics

Quote: “If you’re planning a money-making bazaar, stock up here on ideas.”

The patterns in this book include dolls, pincushions, scarves, purses, pillows, oven mitts, decorative flowers, puzzles, place mats, napkins, napkin rings, key racks, trivets, letter sorters, and more. Templates for an extension of traditional dollhouse furniture (one inch to one foot) can be used with felt, cardboard, pipe cleaners, and fabric as well as wood, or enlarged for dolls built on a scale of two inches to one foot (like Barbie) or even three inches to one foot (like the American Girls). Several patterns for hand knitting, crocheting, sewing, appliqué, embroidery, and quilting are included. There’s also a selection of clever things kids can make with cones and seed pods, and an extensive collection of bread, cookie, and candy recipes.

The editors mean “easy” when they say “easy.” What they call an “intricate pattern” for a baby sweater is what Barbara Walker might have called “barely enough pattern to keep the knitter awake.” Even after having made a few elaborate Aran or fairisle masterpieces, most knitters still find room in our knitting lives for “mindless, instant-gratification, quickie holiday gift” knitting too, and this book contains some. Most projects in each craft category would be encouraging first or second projects for beginners. Most of the recipes are suitable for kindergarten children to use (with adult supervision, of course).

Easy Bazaar Crafts is recommended to anyone in search of quick, fun projects to sell for fundraisers and stuff into stockings.