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Throughout the first two seasons of Downton Abbey, we often saw the family and staff of Downton crafting. While Cora and Lavinia were seen creating elegant pieces in the sitting room, embroidery hoops and knitting needles were present in the staff quarters as well.

Though Cora’s dedication to embroidery may have dwindled in the third season, ours has not, with plenty of Downton inspired pieces popping up online. From knit-a-longs that post clues with each new episode, to an intricate “Grantham Arms” bookmark, here are some Downton Abbey inspired crafts to help tide you over between episodes.

Clockwise from right:

1. Dowager Cross Stitch Pattern from Book Pilgrim

2. Christmas at Downton yarn

3. Downton Embroidery Patterns of the Crawley sisters and Matthew Crawley

4. Reenact Mary and Matthew’s wedding with this Downton Clothespin Doll Kit from Regency Austentation –

5. Grantham Arms Cross Stitch bookmark

6. Downton Alphabet Cross Stitch Sampler

Celebrate Earth Day on April 22 by using recycled materials for your next craft project.

Gather basic materials like a cereal box, string or ribbon, hole punch, and scissors to make the Star Garland from Craft-a-Day (Quirk Books, 2012). Download the pattern to get started and follow the basic directions below.

So you finally bought an e-reader or a tablet. Whatever your new gadget is, you’re going to cart it with you everywhere you go. To work, school, or the dentist, that sucker is portable and by golly you’re going to port it!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2013

QUIRK BOOKS GOES “NORMAL.”

Quirk Books, the independent publisher known for its irreverent reference guides and innovative works of fiction, has gone and done the unexpected once again. Effective immediately, the company is launching a new imprint that will give readers exactly what they expect. Book-lovers of the world, meet Normal Books.

"We think that becoming more conventional is truly the most 'strikingly unconventional' move we could make," says President and Publisher David Borgenicht. "Readers have come to expect the unexpected from us, and I'm pretty sure no one was expecting this."

The Normal Books imprint will offer a completely retooled frontlist of regular, completely straightforward books, with titles including Breakfast for Breakfast, Miss Peregrine's Home for Regular Children, and Pride and Prejudice without Zombies.

This groundbreaking, daringly creative move was engineered with readers in mind, says Associate Publisher and Creative Director Jason Rekulak. "We’re convinced there’s an audience out there that craves the same-old, same-old,” he says. “We're excited to stop pushing the envelope, and start nudging it back into the desk drawer next to the pens and rubber bands." The concept is expected to yield a more manageable workflow as well. “The sales reps have been clamoring for less buzzworthy titles,” notes Moneka Hewlett, Senior Sales Director.

Besides its new catalog of traditional print titles, Normal Books intends to release all subsequent books in eBook format: as plain text with no pictures and in a single small, non-dynamic font. Says Vice President Brett Cohen: "In the digital age, Normal Books will be square in the middle of the pack when it comes to using new, innovative technology. There’s no need to show off."

Below are the titles that Normal Books will be releasing in the coming months:

Here are a few February highlights from the Craft-a-Day Craft-a-thon!

Come join Craft-A-Day's Sarah Goldschadt in Brooklyn on March 16 for a craft-packed day of DIY and a giveaway from Quirk Books!

We're thrilled to share that the wonderful Sarah Goldschadt will be hosting a Craft-A-Day bar at the Brooklyn Craft Camp in Greenpoint, a daylong festival of activites, food, and awesome crafting–all with your fellow do-it-yourselfers. Stop by to see Sarah and whip up a little something for yourself, then stay for the day and enjoy four 90-minute sessions with other knitters, painters, glue-ers, and makers. The day begins with coffee & donuts and ends with cocktails & snacks, and features a keynote lunch in between with Jay McCarroll of Project Runway fame. 

And since we're so excited to be part of all the craftitutde, Quirk will be giving away some awesome prizes: tote bags, a pack of all our craft books, and–of course–copies of Craft-A-Day

In short: it's like camp, for grown-ups, with only Arts & Crafts (and food) plus a chance to win craft books from Quirk. Don't miss out!

Brooklyn Craft Camp
Saturday, March 16th
10 AM — 7 PM

Greenpoint Lutheran Church of the Messiah
129 Russell Street
(between Driggs and Nassau Avenue)
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY 11222 (map)

Advance registration is required, with a $275 fee to cover food and supplies.

Craft-A-Day is available now.