Wednesday, 21 May 2025

May Books - Some Maybe, Others Maybe Not

 

My first stash of library books for May - 
200 recipes, reviewed on Saturday 3*
The Folding Lady, reviewed Friday 2*
Stunning Stitches,see May 5th fun read, very detailed, but too complex to be of practical use to me. 4*
Nordic Knits for Children- again, a good read, excellent patterns, I can see Ro in that cover dress - but the patterns would take hours to knit, and I think the cost of wool would be prohibitive, so not for me. Still 4*
Upcycle - by Annie Phillips,  Sewing Bee winner. Some good patterns and instructions about technique. But you have to have the right things in the wardrobe to remake, and a desire to wear the new garment.
Do I want a balaclava made of crocheted granny squares? Or horrid orange fluffy cuffs on a pink blazer [I would dye it, and change the buttons!] The jeans skirt looks slightly strange. The floaty tablecloth dress is ok - but there are no quantities given just "adjust it to fit the tablecloth you have" 2*

Finally the OTK Extra Good Things. I admit to bias. I really like the stuff produced by Yotam and his team. I have two books already [here and here] I bought the first OTK book 2nd hand, and Julian gave me Simple for my birthday [thanks, I love it!]. This is an 'inspiration' book - every recipe includes the 'extra takeaway' - a sauce, sprinkle, topping or rub which you can make up and keep half in the fridge for a couple of days the use to "zhuzh up" a completely different recipe. It is big on adding flavour to your dish.  Ways to incorporate all the spices in my new kitchen drawer into exciting 'Ottolenghi-style' recipes. 5*






20 comments:

  1. Of course the good thing about library books is that if you don't get on with them, they just go back to delight another reader instead.

    Oh, and I definitely want to see you in a balaclava made from granny squares. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 🎩👒🤠 not my hat style at all -Never in a million years 🤣🤣🤣

      Delete
  2. No fiction? But your nonfiction reviews are saving me time and effort!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not getting through my fiction pile very quickly

      Delete
  3. I don't fancy the look of any of those garments either! Shame about the Stunning Stitches too! X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is an interesting book , just not for me

      Delete
  4. Thank you for the book reviews. I like the idea of upcycling clothing, but, it all depends on what is being upcycled and how.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly. That is the beauty of the sari - it will always fit you, and when it does wear, you can find usable pieces of fabric from it for other projects

      Delete
  5. The Upcycle book sounds like it deals in specifics without much that you can take away to use in different circumstances, which is such a nuisance. Thank you for reviewing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The balaclava - awful 😆
    Thanks for the book review x
    Alison in Wales x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps she felt obliged to use the blanket her granny had made for her.

      Delete
    2. Frankly, a tea cosy ( cosies) would have been better.

      Delete
    3. I love the Billy Connolly quote " never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cosy, doesn't try it on!"

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. Who knows? I hope you're home safe from your holiday!!

      Delete
  8. Thanks for all the reviews-I love to look at books about upcycling although seldom make anything from them! Excuse the lack of comments but we are just home from 9 days away in North East England. Catriona

    ReplyDelete
  9. The good thing about wearing a granny square balaclava, is that you will never be mistaken for a terrorist or a bank robber!

    ReplyDelete

Always glad to hear from you - thanks for stopping by!
I am blocking anonymous comments now, due to excessive spam!