Little green dresses: 50 original patterns for repurposed dresses, tops, skirts, and more by Tina Sparkles; photographer, Erica Beckman — Looking for a way to refresh your wardrobe without spending big bucks? Here you'll find lots of ideas for revamping existing clothing in your closet or from a thrift store, places to find inexpensive fabric, and sewing instructions for all levels. These patterns are printed so that you can photocopy onto larger paper and sew from there. Check out this Q&A with author Tina Sparkles at Craftzine.com.

Incredible edibles : 43 fun things to grow in the city by Sonia Day ; photography Barrie Murdock

If you're looking for a few good edibles to grow, this book is a great place to start. Even if you only have a patio, balcony, or other limited area, almost all of these 43 plants are doable. These edibles are also versatile ingredients for a home cook, and are for the most part quite easy to grow. Large, crisp photographs make this book a winner.

Starter vegetable gardens : 24 no-fail plans for small organic gardens by Barbara Pleasant ; photography by John Gruen

For experienced or beginner gardeners, this book has a wealth of resources for planning your veggie patch. As advertised in the title, there are 24 garden plans, but there is also a ton of really useful information about many of the plants you may want to grow. For instance, did you know that mulching your potato plants with straw can help deter Colorado Potato Beetles? See page 116 for more on that, and don't miss all the other great info included in this book.

Sew retro : 25 vintage-inspired projects for the modern girl & a stylish history of the sewing revolution by Judi Ketteler
This book is a treasure trove for the home sewer. It offers quick glimpses into the history of home sewing and includes easy projects inspired by vintage pieces. The vintage color photographs and illustrations are enough to make this a fun book to flip through, but the projects are also great for hobby seamstresses at any level.

Simple sewing: the complete illustrated machine-side reference of tips and techniques by Beth Baumgartel
Have you ever needed to mend a ripped seam, or wanted to make your own simple curtains, but weren't sure where to start? These and many, many other projects are detailed here, along with basic guides to sewing machines, working with patterns, and a guide to fabrics. This is an ideal book to have at hand when sewing at home.

The sewing answer book by Barbara Weiland Talbert
This handy little book has answers to hundreds of the most common questions home sewers find themselves asking. If you've got a problem working with plaids, need help adjusting a pattern to fit your personal size, or wonder what maintenance your machine might need, this book has the answer.

Art cloth : a guide to surface design for fabric by Jane Dunnewold
This book contains detailed how-to instructions for embellishing your own one-of-a-kind fabrics. From dyes to paints, stamps to stencils, screenprinting to resists, there are a myriad of techniques here with which you can make your fabric unique and beautiful.