Crafting up a Revolution- The Rise of 'Alternative' Craft Books

Debbie Stoller's Stitch and Bitch seems to have inspired a craft book revolution. And yet, Some of the new books being released (see below) place more emphasis upon the alternative aspect of the new crafting movement than Stoller ever did. Marketing gimmicks by big publishing houses to appeal to myspace-embracing, Hot Topic-wearing youth culture of today, or a way of spreading a real do-it-yourself ethic? Would Karl Marx be proud of the revolution, or would he shrug his shoulders and go back to sleep? Read them and make up your own damn mind!

Pretty in Punk: 25 Punk, Rock and Goth Knitting Projects by Alice Benevides, Jacqueline Milles and Rob Benevides (Date of release unknown).

I'm not going to argue though, the knitted mohawk hat featured on the front cover is nothing short of cool. But then again, everything's cool to the knitter whose only completed project ever has been a scarf. Ok, so it was more like a swatch. Oh well.

Search amazon.com for other upcoming releases in this vein. There are several.

If knitting isn't your s(ch)tick, there's a new book that reconstructs another fashion staple we seem to have way too much of in our closets- the denim jean. This book, released by the authors of the celebrated 99 ways to Cut, Sew, Trim and Tie your T-shirt into Something Special, offers you the potential to create more than just the boring skirt-from-jeans plastered all over the Internet. Don't judge the book by the simpicity of its cover- it teaches you how to create everything from jackets to blouses to a very cute bubble skirt. I'm drooling with anticipation over this one, though it probably won't stop me from pre-ordering Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows first.

Not so 'alternative', per se, but definitely eco-friendly.

-Amanda