Creative Book Awards 2025 Shortlist Unveiled!

Since launching in 2021, these awards have celebrated exceptional craft books that inspire and advance the industry. We’re excited to reveal this year’s shortlisted titles, selected across diverse categories.

Shortlist:

Best Mixed Media Craft Book with

• The Craftivist Collective Handbook by Sarah P. Corbett (Unbound)
• The Witch’s Workshop: A Guide to Crafting Your Own Magical Tools by Melissa Jayne Madara (Watkins Media Ltd)
• Couture Craft Gifts by Hannah Read-Baldrey (David & Charles)
• The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally: An invitation to celebrate every day by Natalie Leon (Watkins Media Ltd)
• Slow Seasons: A Creative Guide to Reconnecting with Nature the Celtic Way by Rosie Steer (Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.)

Best Knitting & Crochet Book with

• Cardigans - 20 knitting patterns for every season by Maja Karlsson (Batsford)
• Get Hooked: Learn to Crochet with Tom Daley by Tom Daley (Harper Collins)
• The Super Cute Amigurumi Bible by Ebury Press (Ebury, Penguin Random House)
• Get Hooked on Crochet by Natalie Beard (CICO)
• Pocket Book of Knitting by Claire Gelder (Search Press)

Best Wellness - Journalling & Colouring Book with

• Soulful Pregnancy by Alice Grist (Womancraft Publishing)
• The Pranayama Journal: A 28 Day Workbook (Singing Dragon)
• The Intuitive Drawing Journal: A Guided Journal for Processing Feelings and Emotions by Almudena Rocca (Watkins Media Ltd)
• Millie Marotta’s Precious Planet by Millie Marotta (Batsford)
• The Watkins Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Coloring Book: Color your way to an intuitive connection with the mystical symbolism of Tarot by Avril Price (Watkins Media Ltd)

Best Sewing Book with

• Simple Machine Sewing by Angela Pressley (CICO)
• Kneelers by Elizabeth Bingham (Chatto & Windus, Vintage)
• Quilts from the Country by Stuart Hillard (Pavillion Books)
• Clone Your Clothes by Claire-Louise Hardie (David & Charles)
• Hand-Stitched Quilts by Carolyn Forster (Search Press)

Best Home Decor & Gardening Book with

• The No-Dig Children’s Gardening Book by Charles Dowding (Hachette Children’s Group)
• Heart & Home - Craft and DIY projects to bring love into your home and garden by Catherine Carton (The O’Brien Press)
• National Trust: Sam Plants a Sunflower by Kate Petty (Nosy Crow)
• A Year Full of Veg: A Harvest for All Seasons by Sarah Raven (Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.)
• Nova Vita Recycled Cotton (D.M.C)

Best Cooking & Baking Book with

• Hebridean Baker: The Scottish Cookbook by Coinneach MacLeod (Black & White Publishing)
• Bittersweet, A Story of Food & Yemen by Sayed Asif Mahmud, Marta Colburn, Jessica Olney (Medina Publishing Ltd)
• Chefs Wanted!: More Than 40 Delicious Recipes for Curious Cooks by Allegra McEvedy (DK Childrens)
• Gill’s Bakes & Cakes by Gillian Cottell (The O’Brien Press)
• The Spice Collector’s Cookbook: Collected family recipes from Gujarat to Genoa: Easy family recipes inspired by spices from across the globe by Vina Patel (Watkins Media Ltd)
• Everybody Loves Chocolate: Delicious recipes from around the world by Jennifer Donovan (Watkins Media Ltd)

Best New Author (2022 - 2023) (ANY CREATIVE GENRE) with

• Simple Paper Flowers by Paula Milner (GMC Publications)
• The Female Archangels, Empower Your Life with the Wisdom of the 17 Archeiai by Calista (Calista Ascension)
• Why Don’t I Have Anything to Wear? By Andrea Cheong (Bonnier Books UK)
• The Female Archangels Oracle, a 44-Card Empowerment Deck and Guidebook by Calista (Calista Ascension)
• Plant Feasts: Recipes for slow living in a fast-paced world by Frankie Paz (Watkins Media Ltd)

Congratulations:
Congratulations to all the authors and publishers who made the shortlist! Your hard work and creativity truly stand out. The shortlisted books are now with our expert judging panel. Their experience and keen insights will determine the best of the best.

What’s Next:
Winners will be announced on the website on 24th March. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for the results!

The Creative Book Awards 2025 celebrates the innovation and creativity that make the craft world so inspiring. Thank you for being part of this journey — happy reading, and good luck to all!