By Brittany Schaaf, St. Charles City-County Library
Crocheting. Quilting. Painting. Drawing.
There is an endless list of crafting hobbies, and spring is the perfect time to explore them all. Whether you pick up a pen, a hook, a needle, or a paintbrush, get creative this month. The library is the perfect place to jumpstart a new creative endeavor through books, programs, and even virtual resources.
Craftsy: This online resource is my favorite hidden gem of the Library. Craftsy is a digital streaming library with more than 140 hours of how-to instructional videos on everything from quilting to knitting to cake decorating and so much more. Normally, a subscription would set you back $113, but the Library offers it for free on your phone or desktop. I’ve personally watched several “courses” on embroidery basics and find the instructors incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. To access this resource, head to our website stchlibrary.org/databases?q=craftsy and log in with your Library card through Libby.
Arts and Crafts Programs: The Library’s calendar of events is stocked to the brim each month with art programs. Join recurring monthly meetings such as Sip and Stitch, Crafting Connections, English Paper Piecing, and Make-It Monday or attend a one-off class like Quilling, Diamond Painting, or Recycled Bottlecap Flowers. Kids and teens can also enjoy a variety of arts and crafts, check out Growing Artists and Teens & Tweens Create.
Summer Challenge: Color Our World: If you’re a fan of crafting, you’re in luck! The 2025 Summer Challenge theme is all about art, from music to dance, painting, and pottery. Adults and kids can join in this annual reading challenge and win prizes, including a free book! Registration will start June 2 - so mark your calendars!
Books, Books, Books: Of course, libraries' bread and butter will always be books, and finding titles on crafting is no exception.
“All-New Twenty to Make: One-Patch Quilts” by Carolyn Forster. Calling all quilters looking for ready-to-trace templates and contemporary one-patch quilting inspiration! This stunning book, from quilting guru and best-selling author Carolyn Forster, contains 20 different patchwork shapes, from triangles and diamonds to tumblers, clamshells, and apple cores, each made up into a stunning one-patch design.
“Playful Pottery: The Mud Witch's Guide To Creating Curvy, Colorful Ceramics” by Viviana Matsuda. The ultimate guide to making colorful, whimsical pottery creations! If you've ever dreamed of crafting your own handmade mugs, bowls, or plates, but your vision is more bold and colorful than beige and simple, this is your book. Noted potter Viviana Matsuda, also known as Mud Witch, reveals her knowledge on getting started and unleashing your creativity through pottery.
“Cross-Stitch in the Forest: 25 Projects to Capture the Beauty of Nature” by Max Pigeon. The designer and creator behind Pigeon Coop Designs, a sustainably focused company, offers expert crafting guidance and 25 unique cross-stitch projects that each capture the light, depth, and color of being in the forest.
“DIY Thrift Flip: Sewing Techniques for Transforming Old Clothes Into Fun, Wearable Fashions” by April Yang. DIY Thrift Flip teaches how to shop and sew sustainably by providing how-tos for finding, upcycling, and customizing secondhand clothing with basic sewing instructions.
June Schedule of events at the Boone Trail Branch in New Melle and the Augusta Branch.
Crafting Connections: Sip & Stitch*, Monday, June 2: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Boone’s Trail Branch - adults and teens. Bring your current work-in-progress and join other yarn artists as we sip, stitch, and talk about our projects.
Crafting Connections - I Love Quilts!*, Tuesday, June 3: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. What will you create? Meet other quilt lovers at this monthly event.
Canasta - Hand & Foot*, Tuesdays, June 3, 10, 17, 24: 1 to 3:30 p.m., Thursdays, June 5, 12, 26: 1 to 3:30 p.m. Boone’s Trail Branch - adults. Need to get out of the house? Learn to play Hand & Foot Canasta!
Coffee and Conversation, Thursdays, June 5, 12, 26: 9 to 10 a.m. Augusta Branch - adults. Enjoy a cup of coffee, a sweet treat, and conversation with others in the community.
Crafting Connections - Yarn Arts, Thursdays, June 5, 12, 26: 2 to 4 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults and teens. Other yarn enthusiasts will keep you company while you work on your knit, crochet, or embroidery project.
Star Party*, Thursday, June 5: 7 to 9 p.m. Boone’s Trail Branch - All ages. Bring the whole family and join the experts from the Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri to be part of this telescope viewing session!
Make-It Monday*, Monday, June 9: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. Grab a friend, come to the Augusta Branch, and work on your unfinished projects! Spend all day or just a little while.
Book Discussion - "The Island of Sea Women” by Lisa See*, Monday, June 9: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Boone's Trail Branch - adults and Monday, June 16: 2 to 3 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls from very different backgrounds who live on the Korean island of Jeju, begin working in the sea with their village’s all-female diving collective. After hundreds of dives and years of friendship, forces outside their control will push their relationship to the breaking point.
Read Aloud in the Stacks, Tuesday, June 10: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., Thursday, June 12: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Boone’s Trail Branch - children. Help us celebrate our branch theme for the Summer Challenge by listening to some fun books about sculpture and art in the library’s children’s section.
Read to a Dog*, Thursday, June 12: 5 to 6 p.m. Boone's Trail Branch - children. Bring a book or choose one of ours and read to an attentive, adorable dog.
Book Discussion - "The Island of Sea Women” by Lisa See*, Monday, June 16: 2 to 3 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. See description above.
American Flag Lapel Pin*, Monday, June 16: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. Summer will soon be here, and Independence Day is just around the corner! Come and make a small mini-quilt American flag lapel pin to help you celebrate.
English Paper Piecing*, Tuesday, June 17: 2 to 4 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. Learn how to English Paper Piece, a fun method of sewing fabric pieces together.
Arts & Crafts - Friendship Bracelets*, Tuesday, June 24: 1 to 2 p.m. and Monday, June 30: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Augusta Branch - tweens and children. Use colorful embroidery thread and a cardboard loom to make a friendship bracelet; wear it or share it!
*Register at stchlibrary.org/join-class-or-event or call Boone’s Trail at 636-398-6200 or Augusta at 636-228-4855 for more information about classes. The Boone’s Trail and Augusta branches are open Mon., Tues., and Thur. from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sat., 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. All St. Charles City-County Library branches will be closed on Thur., June 19 for Juneteenth.
