This week’s topic at Top 10 Tuesday (hosted by the good folks at the Broke and the Bookish) was a freebie. Even though I don’t actually have more time in the summer than during the school year, somehow I always find myself drawn to craft books over the summer, as if I’ll magically have time to do more.  Just dreaming is half the fun! Links to my reviews where available.

Cooking

Foolproof Preserving by America’s Test Kitchen I’ve never yet canned anything but applesauce and apple butter, but I have this book on hold at the library in hopes that this will be the year I make my own jam!

Campfire Cookery by Sarah Huck and Jaime Young – gourmet cooking over the campfire, this was a dream from a few summers ago.

Homemade Soda by Andrew Schloss  – this one we bought, as well as a soda siphon, though we’re now just as likely to mix lemon juice and carbonated water for a light drink.

The Weekend Baker by Abigail Johnson Dodge – a favorite in my house, this is full of fruit-based desserts like Uncomplicated Fruit-Topped Yellow Cake, many with variations depending on the season.

Gardening

Handmade Garden Projects by Lorene Edwards Forkner – this book is full of lovely things to put in the garden, meant for people with more time than money.

Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots written and illustrated by Sharon Lovejoy – beautiful hand-lettered and illustrated plans for garden meant for children, both to help with and to play in.

Knitting

Charmed Knits by Alison Hanson – I thought I wasn’t enough of a Harry Potter fan to want to put in the time to knit Harry Potter things.  I was wrong, as it turns out.  I’ve knit more from this one book than from all of the other knitting books I own.  (I also have and love the Interweave Knits Unofficial Harry Potter Knits special issue.)

Literary Knits by Nikol Lohr – fun patterns relating to favorite book characters.

Sewing

Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins. – Low-commitment patterns perfect for relaxing sewing.

Sewing Happiness by Sanae Ishida – This recent find prompted this whole list, as the author gives a year’s worth of unfussy projects like Japanese-style aprons, simple dresses, and a gorgeous felt floral wreath, along with thoughts on finding sanity making time for breathing, sleep, good food and crafting.

The Upcycled T-Shirt by Jenelle Montilone – Another recent find, this one is full of projects to make out of recycled old t-shirts, ranging from reusable household items like unpaper towels, dust mops and mitts and produce bags to garments, tote bags and a gorgeous quilt.  Some are no-sew, some simple enough sewing for kids, and some use arm knitting.  I have a feeling our Brownies will be doing some crafts from this book this year!

What do you dream of doing with spare time?