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Quickthorn is a new independent publisher.
Subjects include sustainable crafts and making
for wellbeing and personal resilience


About Quickthorn


Quickthorn publishes books with an emphasis on making, and personal agency. We are constantly being pressured to buy more, to waste more and to spend more, putting increasing strain on our resources, our planet and our pockets. Making empowers us to be more self-sufficient and take control over the way we consume.

Making something with your own hands is a reflective process, it encourages you to slow down when the pace of life feels too fast, to be patient and to learn that good things don’t happen immediately. There is a huge joy in making, to create something that is unique, tangible evidence of your time and labour.

Norwegian Sweater from Annemor Sundbø’s rag pile, mended by Celia Pym, 2009. Photo: Michele Panzeri

Mindful of our impact on the environment, we have been researching new ways to reduce our environmental impact, using local suppliers and printers where possible, sourcing recyclable packaging and recently using a cellulose lamination process for book finishing that is fully recyclable, biodegradable and compostable. Last year we were awarded Plastic Free Champion status by the local team from Surfers against Sewage for our environmentally friendly office practices.

Quickthorn Books are distributed in the UK and Europe by Centralbooks.com (orders@centralbooks.com) In the US through IPGBooks and in Australasia by Woodslane

Blog posts


  • Reading around craft
    Did you know that you can buy our books on Bookshop.org, a marvellous innovation over the last couple of years, that is an effective alternative to buying on the more familiar online routes (you know who I mean). After the marathon of writing and editing Intelligent Hands, I’ve created a reading list of books on Bookshop.org that are mentioned in the book. That way, if you’re interested you can find the books and benefit local independent bookshops at the same … Read more
  • Look inside our books
    Quickthorn has been going for just over one year and come the launch of Intelligent Hands this week, we’ll have four independently produced books to share with you. If you click on the books below it allows you to have a look inside. The launch for Intelligent Hands will be at Crafts Alive – The Maker’s Hands, appropriately, at Rodmarton Manor, Gloucestershire. I’ll be there with Paul Harper, Cleo Mussi and Chief Executive of Heritage Crafts, Daniel Carpenter. The even … Read more
  • Intelligent Hands | Why making is a skill for life
    Making is good for us. Using our hands benefits our cognitive development, improves our mental agility and can have a positive impact on our mental health, too. We know this, intuitively and intellectually yet, recent years have seen a decline in craft and creative education in schools (60% fewer young people have taken art and design GCSE over the last 12 years) and a shift from practical to theoretical learning models in higher education.  The impact on the craft sector is evident. Young people are … Read more

Read more…

Press coverage


The Simple Things magazine
reviews On Mending
Two books reviewed in Juno Dec 22
Review by Alyson Walsh 7 Nov 22
Review bps.org.uk Nov 22
Review in Juno magazine

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katy@quickthornbooks.com



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