Herbert Press

17/06/2024

Heading to the beach this summer? 🏖️ Raffia bags are the perfect beach accessory so why not try making one of your own?

Image One: Net Tote Bag. This roomy bag is perfect for the beach or the market. It’s lightweight and easy to carry, and folds neatly into a small bundle when you’re not using it. The pattern uses chains, half-double and treble stitches to build a flexible square mesh pattern that looks simple but stylish.

Image Two: Shoulder Tote Bag. If you want to give the contents of your bag a little more protection from the elements, this spacious shoulder tote is a great option. The pretty diamond pattern is created using cleverly positioned chain spaces. It uses two colours of raffia, which makes for a fun contrast.

Image Three: Drawstring Bag. This handy, lightweight drawstring bag has a long strap for wearing over the shoulder or across the body. It uses waistcoat stitch for the base, which looks great as well as being sturdy and stable. The cross-treble stitches are fun to work and create an attractive mesh section in the middle of the bag. If you want to reduce the mesh section, simply work more waistcoat stitch rows at the start of the Body section, and fewer rows of the cross-treble mesh.

Patterns can be found in Olga Panagopoulou's book Radiant Raffia: 20 Inspiring Crochet Projects Made With Natural Yarn.

14/06/2024

The new issue of Simply Crochet Magazine is out now and contains a gorgeous pattern from our book Radiant Raffia. Perfect summer inspiration 🌞

It’s time to party! Issue 150 – can you believe it – is out now, and there’s plenty to celebrate. It’s June and summer has finally arrived, and for lovers of all things lacy, our Lavender and Lace Collection is really special. From pretty trims to a shawl and a full-length dress, you’ll love it. A bold Bauhaus blanket design brings on the colour, as does the cutest rainbow-striped baby dress. Smaller projects that’ll take you from head to toe include Maria Jęczmyk’s fun footie hats, a zesty citrus jewellery set and star motif trimmings for your high-top trainers. If you’re after some creature comforts, a cuddly Welsh lamb and friendly sea serpent will make you smile – especially if you’re an amigurumi fan! Trendsetters, look out for our two-toned tank top – you’ll wear it all summer long! After a new challenge? Hook up with our raffia bag pattern – the perfect beach tote. We hope you enjoy every stitch!

Order the issue here: https://buff.ly/4cVWbpi

13/06/2024

Sumi-e: The Mindful Art of Japanese Ink Painting.

We’re delighted to be publishing this beautifully illustrated step-by-step guide by master calligraphic artist Koshu Japanese Art

Available to pre-order on the Bloomsbury website

UK: 29/08/2024
US: 22/10/2024

10/06/2024

📩 Sign up to our Arts and Crafts Newsletter for updates on all of our new releases, be the first to hear about special offers and keep up to date with our blogs and any author events.

Visit the subscriber page here: https://bit.ly/4aYEm6C

06/06/2024

In two weeks we publish Kantha: Sustainable Textiles and Mindful Making by

Image One: House of belonging by Ekta Kaul
Image Two: Tools you'll need
Image Three: Threads of Connection by Ekta Kaul

Available to pre-order here:https://bit.ly/4bNLioA

US: 27/08/2024

31/05/2024

Looking for a new craft to try?

It's easy to get started with origami as all you need is some paper! There are a number of different papers you could use.

Mulberry paper, at around 30 gsm, is one of the most popular options. It is very fine, soft and silky to the touch, with visible fibres.

Chinese Xuan Paper: This paper is very fine and smooth, like silk, and was traditionally made for calligraphy and painting. The paper comes in a natural white and slightly off -white colour. It is soft but not as fragile as mulberry paper.

Washi (和紙), a Japanese paper processed by hand and made in the traditional manner from local fibres. The mix of long fibres in making washi makes it one of the best papers for gift wrapping; a more durable alternative to standard wrapping paper.

Chiyogami (千代紙) is an exquisite hand screen-printed paper from Japan, commonly used in papercrafts. It is a decorative washi with detailed screen-printed patterns. Its beautiful vibrant patterns are inspired by traditional motifs and nature throughout the seasons

We're excited that Wei You author of Origami and Kirigami for the Home will be running a sold out workshop with the Harrow Arts Centre tomorrow!

22/05/2024

‘All levels of crocheters will find Olga's book truly inspirational... Radiant Raffia is an essential guide to fashionable summer-inspired pieces.’

Radiant Raffia: 20 Inspiring Crochet Projects Made With Natural Yarn by Olga Panagopoulou has been reviewed by Machine Knitting Monthly!

20/05/2024

This weekend join Gurinder Kaur Hatchard at Shakespeare's Birthplace for a beginner's crochet workshop.

You can book your place on their website here: https://tickets.shakespeare.org.uk/events/d14881a5-1863-5d4e-e913-012c0c39a0a7

15/05/2024

What is Raffia?

'Raffia in its natural form comes from the raffia palm tree, found mainly in Madagascar. It is actually the fibre produced from the membrane found on the underside of the leaf fronds, which is then dried. This fibre is used to make woven products, particularly carpets, baskets and even shoes.'

Why work with raffia yarn?

'The material itself is a joy to work with – warm to the touch, pliable and raw. Its colours and textures echo my everyday environment – the roughness of the sand and rocks of the Cyclades, and the traditional objects used in daily life over the centuries.

A wide range of raffia yarns suitable for crocheting is available – some natural, some synthetic.'

Find out more in Radiant Raffia: 20 Inspiring Crochet Projects Made With Natural Yarn by Olga Panagopoulou.

08/05/2024

Our next book this year is Kantha: Sustainable Textiles and Mindful Making by Ekta Kaul.

A beautiful book on the tradition of kantha, a Bengali embroidery technique with a rich heritage rooted in storytelling and upcycling, with inspiration and techniques for contemporary makers.

Available to pre-order here: https://bit.ly/4a5xvIg

UK: 20/06/2024
US: 27/08/2024

06/05/2024

Up to 30% off Books this week.

The Bloomsbury May Sale is now on! Featuring 30% off, discover a fantastic range of crafts to try from printmaking and textile art to ceramics and painting. The sale runs from Monday 6th May to midnight (GMT) Sunday 12th May 2024.

Explore the sale here: https://bit.ly/3whTfCQ

Please note that pre-order titles are excluded from the sale.

29/04/2024

Origami Family Workshop!

On 1st June, Wei You (lavenderhomeart) author of Origami and Kirigami for the Home will be running a workshop with the . Suitable for novices and people who have tried origami before. Learn techniques to make animals, spinning tops, and much more!

£9 / £4.50 Concessions

Visit their website to book your place: https://bit.ly/4bjE8YF

26/04/2024

“Hooked on Shakespeare” serves as a wonderful gateway to Shakespeare’s world. Gurinder, a Shakespeare enthusiast, brings her passion for the Bard to life in this engaging and informative book.

To pun or not to pun, that is the question. You know me, I love a good pun, so I was HERE for ‘Woolliam Shakespeare’!!! That meant he was definitely the character I needed to make. Did you know I actually studied Shakespeare (A Midsummer Nights Dream, Hamlet, Macbeth, Henry V and Othello) as part of my Literature degree so it felt kind of nice to be bringing him to life!

Keep Calm and Crochet have written a lovely feature on Gurinder Kaur Hatchard's Hooked on Shakespeare!

Read their full piece here: https://bit.ly/4dcv3T4

To crochet or not to crochet!? Discover the enchanting world of crochet with my latest book review -‘Hooked on Shakespeare’ by Gurinder Kaur Hatchard. Whether you’re a crochet ent…

23/04/2024

To commemorate Shakespeare Day we took our very own Woolliam Shakespeare on a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon! We visited Shakespeare’s birthplace and learnt about his family history. In May, Gurinder author of Hooked on Shakespeare, will be running a crochet workshop at Shakespeare’s New Place on Saturday 25th May.

You can find out more and book your place here: https://bit.ly/4akIoGT

The workshop is suitable for anyone who has never tried crochet before.

20/04/2024

Next Thursday 25th April at 18:30GMT Sarah Stokes will be doing an Instagram Live and demonstrating some of the technical aspects of painting the chickens featured in her new book Painting Birds: Expressive Watercolour Techniques.

A no frills, no speech, process video will be available to purchase from her website from Sunday evening for £7.50.

https://www.sarahstokesartist.co.uk/

You'll be able to watch the live on Sarah's profile here: https://bit.ly/4aZEtPZ

18/04/2024

Straw plaiting has been used to make accessories from hats and baskets to handbags, trimmings and homewares around the world for centuries. Once employing tens of thousands of people in the UK alone, the craft is now listed as Critically Endangered on Heritage Crafts' Red List.

This book by Veronica Main aims to change that, drawing on more than 50 previously unpublished patterns and techniques from around the world that will help you to unlock the history and preserve the skills of straw plaiting.

What the book will teach you:


📘 Three, Five and Seven End Plaits
📙 Nine and Eleven Ends
📘 Basic Plaits
📙 Rustic Plaits
📘 Piping and Porcupine
📙 Purl and Moss
📘 Batwing or Vandyke
📙 Feather and Wisp
📘 Diamond and Wave
📙 Brilliant
📘 Trimmings

16/04/2024

We've published three gorgeous books so far this year!

📚 Nerikomi: The Art of Colored Clay by Thomas Hoadley
📚 Painting Birds: Expressive Watercolour Techniques by Sarah Stokes
📚 Radiant Raffia: 20 Inspiring Crochet Projects Made With Natural Yarn by Olga Panagopoulou

And there's still much more to come.

11/04/2024

Filled with a wealth of knowledge that will change the way you look at the world around you, the How To Read series is a brilliant addition to the shelf of anyone who is curious about their surroundings. Taking you throughout the history of anything from fashion to castles, these pocket sized books will provide you with the foundations you need to study the cities and culture around you.

08/04/2024

One particularly effective way of enhancing the whites of a bird is to embed it in a background, whether it be a loose wash of sky or a garden scene.

Swan painting from Painting Birds: Expressive Watercolour Techniques by Sarah Stokes.

02/04/2024

Large arabesque, 2018. Height: 8 inches, width:
14½ inches, depth: 8¼ inches (20.32 x 36.83 x 20.96 cm)

I call this shape an arabesque, after the ballet position by the same name. Slices of varying dimensions from several pattern blocks are joined together on the work table to form a large rectangle. This is then draped over a biscuitfired mold, now being upside down, and covered with a half-inch-thick foam sheet which has been cut in such a way as to fit closely around the curved form. This is then again covered by a second mold, this time made of thin plaster and the whole ensemble is flipped over so the form is now upright. The original biscuit mold is removed to reveal the inside of the arabesque which is supported beneath by the foam-and-plaster mold. At this point the shape is adjusted with the use of small foam wedges which support the undulating edge during the drying cycle. I see the final flowing form as a frozen version of the type of shapes that soft slices of porcelain naturally make when handled. The upward lifting shape balanced on a small base gives a sense of weightlessness. It is still a vessel, in the broadest sense, but also aspires to being sculpture. (Image from Nerikomi by Thomas Hoadley: Private collection)

28/03/2024

Where do you like to work on your projects?

We love Neile Cooper's gorgeous stained glass cabin featured in her book Kicking Glass: A Creative Guide to Stained Glass Craft

21/03/2024

“Panagopoulou debuts with an elegant guide to creating accessories and homeware from raffia…Patterns are both written out and charted for maximum ease of use, and the idyllic photos modeling the items on the beaches of Syros, the Greek island where Panagopoulou lives, enchant. Intermediate and experienced crocheters eager to branch out from yarn will want to give this a spin.”

Radiant Raffia: 20 Inspiring Crochet Projects Made With Natural Yarn received a lovely review from Publishers Weekly. Out now in the UK and available in the US 21/05/2024

You can read the rest of their review here: https://bit.ly/4cm2GS1

15/03/2024

07/03/2024

Event Alert! 🧶

Have you ever wanted to try amigurumi?

Gurinder Kaur Hatchard author of Hooked on Shakespeare will be running a beginner's workshop with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Date and Time: 14:30 - 16:30, 23/03/2024
Location: Shakespeare's New Place, Stratford-upon-Avon

You can book your place here: https://bit.ly/4akIoGT

29/02/2024

Radiant Raffia: 20 Inspiring Crochet Projects Made With Natural Yarn by Olga Panagopoulou has been chosen as a Bloomsbury Book of the Week!

Raffia bags will be perfect for the beach this summer. Learn how to make them in the book using eco-friendly materials.

27/02/2024

"This beautifully illustrated book by accomplished nerikomi specialist, Thomas Hoadley is an essential volume for anyone interested in the technique, containing everything you need to embark on your own nerikomi projects."

Nerikomi: The Art of Colored Clay by Thomas Hoadley has been reviewed in London Potters Magazine!

22/02/2024

Happy Publication Day to Radiant Raffia: 20 Inspiring Crochet Projects Made With Natural Yarn by Olga Panagopoulou.

Dreaming of summer? Learn how to crochet 20 beautiful objects in raffia, inspired by the Greek Islands.

The book is available to order here: https://bit.ly/49pEM69

20/02/2024

“Once I’d come up with Woolliam Shakespeare as a pun, it seemed like a no brainer”

What first inspired you to write a Shakespearean themed crochet book?

I’ve been designing little amigurumi characters for years, usually inspired by film characters that my children loved. A few years ago, I worked very near the Globe Theatre, and I’d always be crocheting on the train to work. I had a bit of an ‘aha’ moment and thought…why not give the Bard’s plays the crochet treatment? Once I’d come up with Woolliam Shakespeare as a pun, it seemed like a no brainer!

I’ve adored Shakespeare’s plays since school and I loved the idea of putting so many of his characters together in a book because there is so much variety. Some of the characters are from ancient times, some are magical, and others are from the Tudor era. I knew that none of the figures would look the same, so it was quite exciting to start designing and picking and choosing colours and costumes.

On the blog we interviewed Gurinder Kaur Hatchard about her new book Hooked on Shakespeare!

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3ONSS9f

19/02/2024

Browse our Feb sale to find your next craft to try. With up to 40% off, discover a range of titles to suit your interest from ceramics and painting to textiles and crochet.

The sale runs from Monday 19th February to midnight (GMT) Sunday 25th February 2024.

Please note that titles available for pre-order are excluded from the sale.

Browse our range here: https://bit.ly/49BnEtV

15/02/2024

Happy Publication Day to Painting Birds: Expressive Watercolour Techniques by Sarah Stoke. If you've always wanted to give painting a go Sarah's book can help!

🦉 10 step-by-step projects accessible to complete beginners and more experienced artists alike. Learn the importance of shape and tone in depicting form.
🦉 Discover how watercolour works through experimentation and play with different tools and techniques.
🦉 Explore various colour palettes, composition techniques and background basics.
🦉 Develop your approach to key features such as feathers, feet, wingspans and faces and other tricky areas such as creating texture, adding shadows and achieving translucency.

Available to order here: https://bit.ly/3OITtcf