Staff Picks (List)

Where will you be when the zombie apocalypse hits? Trapping yourself in the basement? Roasting the family pet? Beheading reanimated neighbors?

No way. You’ll be building fortresses, setting traps, and hoarding supplies, because you, savvy survivor, have snatched up your copy of The Maker's Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse before it’s too late. This indispensable guide to survival after Z-day, written by hardware hacker and zombie anthropologist Simon Monk, will teach you how to generate your own electricity, salvage parts, craft essential electronics, and out-survive the undead.

For anyone from the budding maker to the keen hobbyist, The Maker’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse is an essential survival tool.

Uses the Arduino Uno board and Raspberry Pi Model B+ or Model 2

As the editor in chief of MAKE magazine, Mark Frauenfelder has spent years combing through DIY books, but he's never been able to find one with geeky projects he can share with his two daughters.Maker Dad is the first DIY book to use cutting-edge (and affordable) technology in appealing projects for fathers and daughters to do together. These crafts and gadgets are both rewarding to make and delightful to play with. What's more,Maker Dad teaches girls lifelong skills—like computer programming, musicality, and how to use basic hand tools—as well as how to be creative problem solvers.

Innovative and groundbreaking, Maker Dad will inspire fathers to geek out with their daughters and help girls cultivate an early affinity for math, science, and technology.

If you want to make gorgeous, quality bags with the professional edge that really makes the difference between home-made and handmade—open The Better Bag Maker by Nicole Mallalieu. In this how-to book accomplished bag maker, Nicole Mallalieu, reveals her high-end techniques, shortcuts, and secrets for professional design and finishes. The 10 featured projects teach a range of expert skills from adjusting the proportion of the pattern to constructing pockets, straps, flaps, and bases.. By the end of this book, you'll have a closetful of polished bags—and most likely sew better than you ever imagined you could.

Unleash Your Inner Mechanical Mastermind

Welcome to the wondrous world of Thomas Willeford, aka Lord Archibald "Feathers" Featherstone, in which he shares his closely guarded secrets of Steampunkery. Filled with do-it-yourself projects, Steampunk Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos: A Maker's Guide to Creating Modern Artifacts shows you how to build exquisite, ingenious contraptions on a budget.

Learn from Lord Featherstone as he distills his wealth of hard-learned skills, describes how to use the readily available tools of the modern mad scientist, and expounds on the art and philosophy of scavenging unique components and raw materials. The perfect companion for the hobbyist and advanced machinist alike, this inventive volume will guide you through the creation of your very own infernal devices.

Visit the companion website, www.mhprofessional.com/steampunk, for videos, images, and more bonus content!

"The popular craft of quilling is given a stylish and contemporary update in this fabulous book by Turkish paper artist, Sena Runa. Inside Quilling Art there are 20 stunning projects to make and then display. Beautifully stylised and with a clever use of colour to create exciting effects, these projects will hang well in the most modern of homes. Designs include a butterfly, sail boat, dancer, confetti, cocktail, cloud, heart, cat and mermaid, to name just a few. The projects vary in complexity and will appeal to beginners and experienced quillers alike. They are broken down into concise, fully illustrated step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow, and templates are provided. All the tools, materials and techiques you need to get started are fully covered. The projects will appeal to a wide range of ages, and would make lovely gifts for friends and family. Once you have learned the techniques, you can create your own designs for any number of occasions ... the possibilities are many and varied with this fun and absorbing paper craft."--Provided by publisher.

Get started printing out 3D objects quickly and inexpensively!

3D printing is no longer just a figment of your imagination. This remarkable technology is coming to the masses with the growing availability of 3D printers. 3D printers create 3-dimensional layered models and they allow users to create prototypes that use multiple materials and colors. This friendly-but-straightforward guide examines each type of 3D printing technology available today and gives artists, entrepreneurs, engineers, and hobbyists insight into the amazing things 3D printing has to offer. You’ll discover methods for the creation of 3D printable objects using software, 3D scanners, and even photographs with the help of this timely For Dummies guide.

3D Printing For Dummies is the must-have guide to make manufacturing your own dynamic designs a dream come true!

This is your complete guide to sewing absolutely everything, from altering clothes to home decor. Master every sewing technique in the book!

Fully illustrated and easy to use, this sewing book covers all the essential skills and techniques for successful hand and machine-sewing. It's a must-have for beginners and expert stitchers alike.

Comprehensive step-by-step instructions cover everything from cutting out patterns to making sleeves and stitching hems. Accompanied by close-up photographs, clear instructions, and a glossary of sewing terminology to demystify even the trickiest technique. This book will help you advance from a sewing learner to a seasoned stitcher in no time.

All the techniques and projects are graded by difficulty level, from the simple and straightforward to the more complex and challenging ones. There are 10 new, stylish projects to help you put into practice what you've learned. Explore in-depth descriptions on more than 100 tools and 250 techniques, and browse an updated visual directory of more than 50 fabrics.

From basic sewing kits and cutting tools, to measuring tools and marking aids, this book will also help you get properly kitted out! Zoomed-in photographs of hand and machine tools show you the best equipment for the job and teaches you exactly how to use it.

A Stitch in Time

There have been over 375,000 copies sold worldwide, making this the ultimate sewing book!

We will guide you through every hand stitch, machine stitch and sewing technique you'll ever need. We've included the best way to seam and hem, and put in linings, fasteners, darts, pleats and pockets, and how to create necklines, collars and sleeves so you can make your favorite bespoke outfits.

The ultimate Cricut how-to book that covers everything you need to know to purchase a Cricut and use it like a pro! 

Are you new to Cricut crafting? Returning after a hiatus and desperate for a refresher? Perhaps you're an old pro looking for brand-new ideas, tips, and tricks for your crafts? Look no further than The Unofficial Book of Cricut Crafts.

Throughout the more than 300 pages of this book, author Crystal Allen will not only present you with craft ideas that embrace every awesome element of this popular cutting machine, but, perhaps most importantly, she'll start you at the very beginning of your Cricut journey with loads of information about the different Cricut machines (Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut Maker, and Cricut Joy) so you can determine which is best for you before you buy.

After you unbox your Cricut and have a general understanding of the parts of your machine, Crystal will teach you how to use Cricut Design Space and get images from Cricut Access, and then you'll be presented with projects that use the most popular materials your Cricut can cut. These include fabric (cotton, felt, and fleece); basswood and chipboard; leather; vinyl; paper; and heat transfer vinyl. Crystal even tackles infusible ink! 

The Unofficial Book of Cricut Crafts is perfect for the first-time Cricut user, the small business owner who has been using Cricut for years, and everyone in between!

Put the power of a 3D printer in the palm of your hand. 3D Pen Crafts features 20 fabulous and modern jewelry projects to make. Easy to follow techniques, clear instructions, ready-to-trace templates, plus tips and tricks teach you how to properly use your 3D pen to create gorgeous finished pieces. Whether you are just getting started or a professional maker or designer this booklet offers the very best design advice and expertise for creating unique 3D jewelry designs.

The Maker's Manual is a practical and comprehensive guide to becoming a hero of the new industrial revolution. It features dozens of color images, techniques to transform your ideas into physical projects, and must-have skills like electronics prototyping, 3d printing, and programming. This book's clear, precise explanations will help you unleash your creativity, make successful projects, and work toward a sustainable maker business.

Written by the founders of Frankenstein Garage, which has organized courses since 2011 to help makers to realize their creations, The Maker's Manual answers your questions about the Maker Movement that is revolutionizing the way we design and produce things.