Lost Crafts: Rediscovering Traditional Skills

by Una McGovern

This charming book is an engaging introduction to a range of traditional crafts and activities. Almost 100 skills are described and illustrated, from trout-guddling to lacemaking, beekeeping to dry-stone walling. Whether wanting to learn a new craft, explore social history or reminisce about pastimes from a bygone age, readers of all ages will lose themselves in Lost Crafts. And with more of us choosing green and ethical lifestyles, there has never been a better time to rediscover these sustainable pursuits.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, History, How To, Art, Adult, Food

376 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 2009

Reviews

[Una · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got the impression that the person who wrote this pasted together most of the information from the internet, without going into much depth or putting much passion into it. I was hoping this book would have actual instructions on how to make some of the crafts mentioned, at least at a beginner's level. It has a few, but no more in-depth than stuff I could have found in a basic internet search. Speaking of the internet, they actually include web addresses at the end of chapters. How long are those going to be relevant? There are some interesting photos and some crafts I didn't know about, but I don't think any of the crafts are "lost" and a person is better off just copying down the chapter headings and then googling the stuff.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really beautiful book in every way. It looks beautiful, and its goals are beautiful: to highlight the sorts of "crafts" people did out of necessity. Those things that people had to do before there were machines or corporations to do them. There are lovely glossy pictures of craftsmen and women performing these tasks, and it's all laid out really well. There are also suggestions for how to begin the craft and what you'll need, but it's not really a manual for crafts of a bygone era. There's a little bit of advice toward that end, but again: do not buy it for that reason.

Instead, buy it to think about the kinds of things you would have done as a homesteader -- create a mortarless stone fence, for example. Or how to brew your own beer, make your own cheese, or forage in the woods for food. Seriously. And if you think about it, these things were an art -- how to live well on your own. I, for one, often have fantasies about running off and setting up my own little farm. These pages add an element of reality to the fantasy, but it doesn't dampen my enthusiasm. Just gives me something extra to think about. Lots of cool information about lost artforms about living and making your own way. A lovely book.

[Bébhinn Ní Riain · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book can be summed up with the expression, "all style, no substance". It's a beautifully designed and printed book. The author's writing style is comfortable and easy to read, however its content is not so great. My first big crititcism of this book is, the large number of crafts in the book. You might think that is a strange criticism, however, some of the "crafts" selected for this book aren't what I would consider to be crafts at all e.g. Animal tracking (???) or Skinning a rabbit (???). As a result of the inclusion of these "crafts" - I feel that the *actual* crafts in this book don't get as much attention. My next big issue with the book, is that because there are so many crafts in the book - it feels as if the author just did a basic google search on each craft, and transcribed the results. I purchased this book to find a potential new craft to tinker with only to find that there wasn't much in the way of tutorials in this book. Instead the author helpfully adds a suggested website or book to look up on any craft you might have an interest in. All in all I was a bit disappointed and wouldn't recommend this book.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it?

[Wednesday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read and I love learning about lost crafts

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that Lost Crafts had a lot of potential, but seriously focused on breadth over depth. There are so many different crafts covered, but the most that was ever devoted to any one craft was maybe five or six pages. Many of the individual crafts only got two or three pages of discussion. With its many beautiful pictures and historical quotations, Lost Crafts did a great job of introducing me to a lot of specialized trades that I would never have even thought of in these rapidly progressing times. I think this book is a great place to start for those who are interested in learning more about doing things for themselves in a simpler and more sustainable way. I just wish that we could have dug deeper into each craft, as many of them could (and probably do) have entire books written about them.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a lovely volume with lots of the old skills that we are in danger of forgetting e.g. how to build a wattle and daub wall, bee-keeping etc. I definitely recommend it if you are interested in self-sufficient living, history, or just finding out about how people used to live. While it could do with expanding on some entries, a description and a means to find out more is always given - the book is not a complete guide to each craft but more of an introduction and you can find out more on the crafts that interest you using the recommendations of places, books and websites that are thoughtfully included at the end of each entry.

[Jacqueline Carthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a little gem of knowledge this book is !

A fascinating book cataloging a range of traditional arts and skills that were once a way of life for so many, but have been lost or overtaken by modern day processes.

I enjoyed exploring each section, reading the history of each craft, the different variations that were carried out over time or in different areas, and best of all the suggestions and contacts if it were something I wanted to try.

I have made a long wish list as a result.

[Kayla Zabcia]

DNF; page 77

I'd hardly call most of these crafts "lost", nor would this book be particularly helpful in a post-apocalyptic setting where you may need to have detailed info on how to implement the skills contained within its pages. But if you, as a modern reader, are looking for a possibly obscure craft to engage with, this is a good compilation of useful skills with a short summary of their histories, vague descriptions of how they could be achieved, and potential resources on where you could learn more about how to do them.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little chapters on all sorts of crafts. A good basic reader to give you some ideas - not a whole lot of detail here on any one craft, but some info on many different things. My biggest complaint is that the text is tiny and hard to read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very broad definition of crafts. Covers everything from lace making to thatching to skinning a rabbit. Each craft gets an around 3 pages of writing with a bit of history, sometimes a brief how to do it and contacts if you want to explore further.

[Deborah Makarios · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but not more than a bare-bones outline of each craft.

[Rufus Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it

[Kate Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of traditional skills, but based from around the U.K. - mentions wood and plants not found in Australia.

[Lucy Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting

[Stephanie Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting read, it’s a good book for brief introduction to all the topics

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, not an outstanding contribution to the field of historical crafts. The pictures are all stock photos, there are few historical illustrations, and the writing is detached from the crafts themselves. There are a few how-tos for certain crafts and resources for further learning, which is helpful.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this eye catching book for our anniversary, simply because it had chapters on catching & preparing eels, and how to thatch a roof! Found it in a little shop in Culver City of all places.

The surprise gift inside was a chapter on how to build a coracle . . . Remember Reepicheep's boat found on Burnt Island in the The Voyage of the Dawn Treader?

I must confess that I have always wanted one of my own since first reading the story as a very young girl. Maybe I'll try to make one this week while I'm on vacation. One about Reepicheep's size may be a good scale to start with . . .

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you long to return to a simpler time or have an appreciation for hand-crafted goods, this book is a fun read. It provides an overview of many crafts that no longer exist--from milling, making butter and cheese and candlemaking to building wooden boats and crafting chairs and baskets by hand. Those who lean toward queasy beware--there are also sections on tanning and on skinning rabbits (ick!).

Each chapter gives a brief overview of the craft, the history and uses and tips on how to do the craft yourself.

I'd recommend it if you'd like to take a step back in tim--no matter how brief--and to re-gain an appreciation for sustainable living.

[reading is my hustle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about a bygone age...

It was the perfect, arm-chair read for a rainy and gray spring. It amazes me that it was not long ago that most gifts were handmade and not store bought. "Lost Crafts" catalogs all the different crafts that made perfect gifts: lacemaking, bee keeping (honey), homemade jam and marmalade.

My favorite discovery: tussy mussy. The small, Victorian bouquets were given to loved ones with tiny *love* notes inside. Sigh.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a subject that I have little practical interest in (I read it as research for my novel.) Nonetheless I found it quite riveting. I can understand why some people found it too general but it was about the right level for me, and I suspect that any book can only ever be an introduction. I liked learning more about the skills we have lost, but this kind of nostalgia also makes me slightly uneasy.

[SeaTreasure · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about the lost and dying crafts of the United Kingdom and it fascinating. From spinning wool, tatting lace to brewing beer, making and repairing wagon wheels, this book is full of tantalizing skills of the past. At the end of each chapter the author provides information for further study of each craft. My interest was so piqued that I am excited to try a few of the lost skills. Hmmm maybe I will make some hard cider....

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating overview of dozens of crafts from days gone by. Some of them are rather more "lost" than others - I wouldn't classify patchwork as a lost craft, for example! Very short chapters about each craft - good as an overview of lots of things, but not so good for actually finding out how the craft in question is practiced.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was about 1/3 too long in my opinion, and crafts that were very similar or not sufficiently obscure should have been edited out. What is sufficiently obscure? I don't know exactly, but some of the items, like quilting, don't seem to be it. Despite being a bit longer than my attention span, this book was a pretty good read. I loved the sections on hedgerows, coppicing, and making jam.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a find. Buy the hardcover edition and put it on your coffee table. You'll learn how to build a stone wall, make your own honey, create a thatched roof, and so many other amazing things that were common in Chaucer's day. The pictures are great, too.

[Kristen Neirinck]

A great introduction to various historical crafts, with resources as to where to find more information on each topic, if so desired. Based almost solely on the history of crafts in the UK -differences in technique in other locations were largely unaddressed.

[Manintheboat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I asked around and I think I know someone who knows how do every "lost craft" in this book. My Irish friend has tickled trout, my mom can spin and weave, I can shoot archery.... Not so lost eh?
Maybe "making a zine" would be more appropriate.

[melanie (lit*chick)]

i just saw this at a bookstore and wish i'd bought it.

[Abbey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting a how things are done book. This is more a history of crafts book. It was fine, but not what I was wanting or expecting.

[Kara]

fantastic insight into classic and lost crafts