Hobbies, Games & Quizzes Books

Book SynopsisExperienced sewing instructor and blogger Barbara Emodi shares her sewing wisdom to help readers get started or simply hone their existing garment-sewing skills. Not a sewing reference book as much as a book of experience, this book offers Barbara’s thoughts, tips, and tricks on the benefits of sewing, the importance of fit, basic techniques, available tools, patterns, and materials, and so much more.

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Book SynopsisThis book gathers together 10 easy yet elegant projects celebrating the life and talents of Beatrix Potter. With 10 appliqué and 6 embroidery designs, even beginning stitchers can work with hexagons to create a beautiful embroidered quilt, stitch up a cushion based on The Tailor of Gloucester, appliqué a wool storage box and construct a beautiful wedding quilt based on one from Beatrix Potter's home. Plus, all of the designs can easily be adapted - just add a dash of imagination to create bags, appliquéd pinafores, or embroidered gifts. 'It is a handsome volume that will appeal to any sewing enthusiast who loves Beatrix Potter's delightful work.' www.myshelf.com 'Hill is an expert in her field...she has conveyed the expertise she possesses perfectly well in the writing, instruction and presentation of this book.' TSSREVIEWSDOTCOMTrade Review10 projects to make inspired by the work of Beatrix Potter using applique with her characters such as Peter Rabbit but not using Potter’s original drawings and illustrations. There is a short introduction on Beatrix Potter by Helen Bertram, followed by materials, applique techniques, hand embroidery stitches and then the projects. These include a cover for an iron, a nursery quilt and bunting, wool felt ball, hexies, floral wallhanging, cushion, Hill Top wool felt storage box, wedding quilt and another quilt shown unfinished. There are templates at the back of the book. Overall I think this is a good book. * yarnsandfabrics.co.uk *Content – 10 sewing and stitching projects based on stories and characters of Beatrix Potter. A couple of craft projects relate to Potter’s home at ‘Hill Top’ and the surrounding farmland in The Lake District, UK (now a National Trust property) Introduction Australian Author, Michele Hill talks of being bowled over by the gallery displays of both William Morris and Beatrix Potter inspired quilts at the 2016 Tokyo Quilt Festival. Already conversant and somewhat obsessed with the life and work of William Morris, Hill made connections of these two famous people and began to research Beatrix Potter. Being an award winning quilter, Hill had in mind to write a Beatrix Potter book. Hill had the help and encouragement of history buffs who she names and credits in her welcome message and who also contributed background information, and photographic images from the archives shown in the Life of Beatrix Potter that is presented on pages 7 and 8. Range of information 8/10 skills: machine applique and sewing machine use and techniques; binding; hand embroidery stitching (represented in step-by-step instruction); quilting – fabric, materials and terminology. Use of other textiles and materials, and patterns. One project suggests the use of a Lightbox, also the mention of IKEA purchases the author made to finish projects. https://tssreviews.com/2017/03/25/book-review-stitching-with-beatrix-potter/ * TSS Reviews * Inside this book are ten projects based on the work and stories of loved children’s author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. As the introduction states this is not a series of cute toys but pieces inspired by her characters and her work. The book starts with a short history of her life complete with photographs of Hill Top Farm and other locations. In addition throughout the book there are more quotations and photographs explaining the inspiration behind the projects, making this an attractive and informative work. After a short section on what you need and information about machine appliqué and hand embroidery stitches the rest of the book consists of the projects. Each one has a photograph of the finished item in situ plus several more showing the various stages plus clear diagrams. The list of what you need is given in imperial and metric and there is a nice mix of large and small projects for a range of abilities. There are decorative pinwheels, a cushion, wallhanging, iron cover, quilts, a box and a felt ball for a young child. Embroidered characters grace many items, but the cushion was inspired by the grand clothes being made by the Tailor of Gloucester, the box depicts Hill Top Farm and my own favorite has to be the reproduction of the magnificent patchwork quilt owned by Ms Potter’s parents. Techniques involved include hand embroidery, machine appliqué, patchwork, using wool felt and quilting and the whole book is aimed at intermediate needlecrafters. It is a handsome volume that will appeal to any sewing enthusiast who loves Beatrix Potter’s delightful work. * myshelf.com *Table of ContentsBeatrix Potter History General Instructions P is for Pinwheels (Pinwheel) Mrs Tiggy-Winkle (Iron Cover) Bubbles and Bunting (Nursery Quilt) Let's Play (Wool Felt Ball) Handmade Hexies (Lap Quilt) Floral Frieze (Wall Hanging Cherry Twist (Cushion) Hill Top (Wool Felt Box) 1863 - A Wedding Quilt (Quilt) Serendipity (Quilt)

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Book SynopsisWant inspiration for your free-motion quilting? Now you have the perfect tool! This spiral-bound book is full of designs - JUST designs - and will lay flat on your work surface to keep your hands on the quilt and that needle moving! The first in a new series, this visual guide is filled with over 75 continuous-line designs from your favourite designers to get you stitching.

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Book SynopsisTriangles, hexagons, diamonds, and more! Learn to measure, rotary cut, and machine piece 60° shapes with ease. Sew 15 interesting angular quilts with no templates, no Y-seams, and no paper piecing! Any 60° triangle ruler or straight ruler with a 60° mark works with these patterns. Arrange blocks in straight rows or kaleidoscope layouts for wildly different looks. After learning triangle grid basics, you’ll be able to design your own angled blocks and quilts.Trade ReviewGet started with tools, fabrics and basics. This book teaches angles - triangles, trapezoid, diamond, parallelogram and jewel, plus strip-pieced quilts and a primer 'design your own blocks'. Each 60° shape section has great quilt patterns. The 60° shape is thoroughly explored through techniques and possibilities. Sheila has the same design philosophy as myself: one thing leads to another. Standard sizes make strips easy to rotary cut and piece. The colour section is basic with one glaring error, blue does not face yellow on the colour wheel. Basic quilting techniques include cutting, seam sewing, chain piecing. This book comes into its own when we get to the lessons. Great grids, instructions and quick reference charts, super blocks and fantastic quilts. Marks out of 10 - A plus for the quilt designs; as a designer myself I would still love to sit down and make most of these. Highly recommended as a thorough grounding in 60° shape, ease of use, inspiration for all levels and 15 wonderful quilt designs. -- Karen Platt * Amazon *

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Book SynopsisSew a menagerie of felt fairies, gnomes, and forest friends from supplies you have on hand. Back with all-new projects approved by crafty kids, the best-selling authors of Forest Fairy Crafts teach kids how to stitch and personalise charming fairyland characters and toys. Make every season more fun when you adorn your friends with colourful felt, threads, yarn, buttons, sequins, and more. These twenty-five crafts appeal to boys, girls, and the young at heart!

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Book SynopsisClassic A-lines, sleeveless summer dresses, and party frocks—learn to sew eighteen-inch doll dresses for every occasion. This huge collection of over forty miniature dress designs includes twenty-eight complete patterns, plus thirteen bonus looks created from mix-and-match elements. Richly photographed, stylish dress projects are paired with sewing tutorials aimed at intermediate and advanced doll dressmakers. With princess seams, pretty pockets, and a variety of necklines, dressing up your doll has never been so much fun!Trade ReviewI love sewing, and think that making dolls clothes is a great way of advancing your sewing skills without worrying about wasting fabric. This book is fabulous. It has 40 projects and the dresses are amazing. From A line to party dresses this project book ensures your child's best friend is a well dressed fashionista. The techniques and instructions are simple to follow, each dress has it's own section, and I think that each dress can be adapted and changed according to what you want. The templates are full sized, I traced mine onto to copy paper which keeps the original sheet intact for future use. This book is highly recommended and I think that even a novice sewist can follow the patterns and achieve something amazing. -- Tracy Shephard * Postcard Reviews *

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Book SynopsisJennifer Chiaverini of the Elm Creek Quilts series shares a new 100-block sampler quilt pattern inspired by her best-selling novel! Includes step-by-step instructions to traditionally piece or foundation piece blocks.Trade ReviewSome of you may be familiar with the Elm Creek Quilt books written by Jennifer Chiaverini and this book is based on the story in Circle of Quilters. Full instructions are provided for a sampler quilt containing 100, 6" blocks which finishes at 90" square. The blocks are the same size as the other sampler quilt books in the series, such as Sylvia's Bridal Sampler and The Loyal Union Sampler, to enable swapping between them. Traditional and contemporary blocks use piecing, applique and foundation piecing. There are full sized templates for the foundation and applique blocks and a gallery of quilts displaying different approaches. There are no quilting instructions. This is a beautiful sampler book ideal for block reference. -- British Patchwork & Quilting * British Patchwork & Quilting *This new 100-block sampler quilt pattern book includes step-by-step instructions to traditionally piece or foundation piece blocks. * Machine Knitting Monthly *

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Book SynopsisGive up your fears of straight-line quilting and learn to love it! Quilting expert Natalia Whiting Bonner is back with more than sixty new linear patterns for triangle blocks, square blocks, borders, and allover designs. Learn how satisfying it is to quilt with only straight lines, using your walking foot or free-motion quilting with rulers. Domestic or long-arm machine... anything goes! Each pattern comes with step-by-step photos, making it accessible to all quilters—even beginners.Trade ReviewYou can be creative with straight lines only in quilting, and Natalia proves it with this essential guide. Containing more than 60 new patterns for triangle and square blocks, borders and more, you can learn how satisfying it is to quilt with straight lines, either using a walking foot or free-motion quilting with rulers. * Simply Sewing *In fear for free motion quilting? Stuck with straight lines but cannot come up with new and exciting ideas? Natalia comes to the rescue with 60 ideas for a professional quilting look using nothing but straight lines. There are designs for triangles, squares, borders and the very useful all over designs. Walking foot designs for domestic machines, ruler foot designs for domestic or longarm machines pre-mark or use a foot as the guide; mark or use a ruler. Great designs for a fresh modern quilting look. -- Karen Platt * Amazon *

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Book SynopsisYou don’t have to be a master embroiderer to create beautiful crazy-quilt seams! With 480 seam designs to inspire your creativity, you’ll learn to stitch with uniform spacing for a professional appearance. Line everything up perfectly with five pages of full-size stitch templates and dozens of step-by-step illustrations. Then dress up embroidered seams with sparkly beads, buttons, sequins, and silk ribbon embellishments for endless creative combinations!Trade ReviewYou've never seen seams like those before! In Kathy's read, you'll find 480 unique quilt seams for you to embroider and embellish to your heart's content, whether that's with vibrant sequins, antique beads or silk ribbons. * Sew Christmas *'Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts is one of those visually exciting books, but it is much, much more. It’s a practical guide to traditional crazy quilting, presented in a very organized, accessible way for beginners and beyond. The book is organized and direct. It’s easy to grasp the guiding concept behind Kathy’s method of building embellished seams for crazy quilting. It provides practically an infinite resource for seam embellishing, by combining and mixing and matching the different layouts, elements, and stitches offered in the book. If you’re a crazy quilter who’s always looking for seam ideas, or if you’re an aspiring crazy quilter who isn’t sure where to start with building decorative seams, the book will provide you with all kinds of ideas and inspiration, based on some very simple concepts. If you love stitch combinations, color, texture, and just fun explorations with your needle and thread, then the book is for you, too!' Read Mary Corbet's full review here. -- Mary Corbet * Needle 'n Thread *I just love embroidery and this book has over 400 stitch designs. Even a complete beginner would be able to sew the amazing stitches and along with the instructions, hints and tips, this is a book that definitely earns it's shelf space. The book is set in three sections: templates, stitch instructions and design illustrations. The abundance of colour is both amazing and inspiring. Advice on which needle to choose, and there are many.. embellishments to finish your design and much much more helps grow your embroidery know-how and enhance your skills. I especially loved the Stitch Template idea and I will be definitely make one. I have not come across this idea before and think it's a genius idea. -- Tracy Shephard * Postcard Reviews *Embellish the seams on your crazy quilt (or any other sewing project) with the ideas in this beautiful book. There are 480 seam designs to choose from and 36 stitch-template designs for getting the placement exactly right. If you are new to freestyle hand embroidery it doesn’t matter as not only are there clear diagrams for all the stitches used, there are only a few of the simpler ones to learn. Part of the appeal of this book is not merely that it contains page after page of stunning seam designs, but that none is too difficult to create even for novice embroiderers. Any book with “quilt” on the front page is going to be aimed primarily at quilters, a craft that mostly makes use of a sewing machine and/or ordinary hand sewing stitches. Crazy quilting is rather different, and a brief history of it is given along with a list of what you will need. The stitches are the usual basic hand embroidery staples such as blanket stitch, herringbone, bullion knots, feather stitch etc plus several variations to make a seam look prettier. The large coloured diagrams are easy to follow and include how to do several stitches using ribbon and how to make several small repeat designs. These include flowers, insects and “prongs” as well as how to add beads and buttons. At the front is also a short section on how to use the book including building layered seams and using templates. There are 36 of these ready to scan/photocopy/trace onto vellum and use to get your seams perfectly spaced. The rest of the book contains first a gallery of photographs of the seams, and then the patterns. These are organized by the base seam stitch and are drawn in several colours for ease of use. Under the diagram is a list of the stitches and any other information. For example, the template number is given first, followed by the stitches used first in thread, then in ribbon (if applicable) and lastly if there are any “beads and baubles” to add. The finished result looks gorgeous, and the cover shows several of them to whet your appetite. A lovely and very user-friendly book that will appeal to quilters, hand embroiderers and anybody else who wants to embellish something. If you cannot find a good range of embroidery and quilting materials locally try http://www.searchpress.com for a list of suppliers. -- Rachel A Hyde * MyShelf.com *

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Book SynopsisStow your stuff in these colourful zippered Eco Pouches and stay organised everywhere you go. Pouches are made of recycled plastic that is tough enough to handle even sharp quilting, sewing, and art tools. (They are also great for pens, jewellery, cosmetics, coins, and more!) This set of two pouches features two beautiful quilts by Christina Cameli. Eco pouches are durable and waterproof.

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Book SynopsisAdd playful texture to your projects with free-motion quilting that begs to be touched! Gain the confidence to quilt like an artist with best-selling author Christina Cameli’s tactile approach to quilting. Try your hand at organic and geometric textures, with step-by-step lessons to 65 designs and 10 variations! Find yourself invigorated to finish projects on your home sewing machine or longarm, whether you’re a confident beginner or seasoned pro. Bring out the best in your piecing with free-motion quilting that begs to be touched Think texturally! Improve your quilt’s overall impact with a step-by-step guide to quilted texture Perfect to use on home sewing machines and longarms, for advanced beginners and beyond. Trade ReviewThese dramatic quilting patterns are shown on solid coloured fabric. The emphasis is on the designs, the thread colour is closely matched to the fabric. Adding texture with quilting makes un-quilted areas pop out, larger scale designs become the foreground, dense quilting becomes the background. Many examples give two photos, the first is simpler than the second. The difference is explained, and shown clearly, with diagrams indicating the direction of the stitching. Quilting using a grid, dividing the quilt into sections with a walking foot, before adding patterns is explained well. It is important to sketch the designs first so one looks ahead when quilting. An excellent guide to quilting for a confident quilter. It is my Book of the Month. * British Patchwork & Quilting *There's no better feeling than running your fingers over the swirls and bumps in a quilt, and this book walks you through creating your very own textured cover! Try your hand at organic and geometric free-motion designs with skill-boosting step-by-step lessons from Christina. * Sew *

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Book SynopsisRaid the attic! Preserve family memories with new quilts that lovingly tie together the past with the present. Learn how to comb through bits of history and reimagine them into wall art, sewing notions, and more! Gorgeous embroidery adds richness to these vintage hybrids. Full instructions for five projects, fifteen stitch techniques, and a gallery full of ideas will help you rescue bits of history to create a cherished new piece for your home!Trade ReviewAlways great to see a new book from this author. I love his style. This book covers how to blend the old and new, something Brian does to perfection. It covers inspiration, fabrics, stitch and projects. The introduction gives the story of Etta Mae and her trousseau. Seek and Find is all about finding things you can use in your work - it's like treasure hunting. The projects are very satisfying. The Lacemaker is a very special piece; a small quilt with a beautiful lace edge and embellishments. There is a scissor holder and matching pincushion; a fabulous table runner; photo pincushions and sachets; a sewing butler including another pincushion, scissor holder and bag. There is also a gallery of work. Such a wonderful textile and quilting artist with a unique look. I recommend this book for its style and embellishments that could be applied to your own work. * karenplatt.co.uk *Blended Embroidery is such a beautiful book. Not only is it filled with inspiration to stitch vintage heirlooms using old lace, embroidery stitches and your own imagination it is also a really good read. I loved the story of Etta Mae and the restoration of her Victorian home. I would truly want to visit if I ever got the chance. Five projects are showcased, and they are absolutely stunning. The Sewing Butler is amazing and quite unlike anything I have ever seen before. The photography of each piece has been brilliantly done. A lover of this art will be seriously impressed. You can see the texture of each piece and imagine how tactile the fabrics combined with the raised embellishments really are. In order to build your vintage stash, it is recommended that we search flea markets, old family attics and even to deconstruct stained tablecloths. I have been really inspired and I have feel I have been given a chance to revisit a craft that I have long forgotten. The projects bring old fabrics, buttons and lace back to life and give them a modern touch. Using dyes, beads, crayons and paints, you can create a beautiful gift for someone special, and with the 15 stitches that have been demonstrated the final and finished result will be phenomenal. An amazing book that will inspire, teach and encourage you to try new ideas. -- Tracy Shephard * Amazon *There are quite a few books that give you ideas on how to use scraps left over from craft projects, or even those from everyday life. This book goes one further and shows how you can also incorporate antique and vintage items into your stitched work. Give old family items or things from flea markets a new lease of life by combining them with modern materials to create quilts, wall art and more. If you like crazy quilting (or have always fancied trying it) this book will show you what can be accomplished. It is certainly lovely to look at and filled with the author’s personal work based around his own family history, plus lucky finds while out browsing. There is even a useful guide to shopping for vintage items and looking for things that “speak” to you rather than just hoarding. Discover what tools and materials you need to work with the old as well as the new, learn some basic stitches and delve into Mr Haggard’s wonderfully inspiring projects. As well as quilting skills and some basic embroidery, there are projects that make use of photo transfers, 3D work and at the back a rather more useful gallery than the usual pages of briefly captioned photographs. All these pieces, by both the author and others, come with more lengthy explanations as to how and why they were made. This does take up a chunk of the book, but this is part of the appeal; getting the reader to think about what they want to do with what they have. Even the five projects are more about getting under the skin of a piece, and as they are all so personal, they encourage going beyond mere copying. It certainly got me thinking and fishing around in my own loft to see how I can incorporate antique photographs and fabrics into projects that will give them a new lease of life. A very inspiring and imaginative book. -- Rachel A Hyde * Amazon *

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Book SynopsisLet Mother Nature inspire you! Best-selling author Amanda Murphy (Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book and Rulerwork Quilting Idea Book) shares the next book in her free-motion quilting series, packed with exciting new motifs. This handy guide provides over one hundred original ideas inspired by the elements—water, air, earth, fire, and more. Gain confidence in your free-motion work with step-by-step instructions and branch out in your creativity with myriad ideas organised by element and design type. Let Mother Nature inspire you! Best-selling author Amanda Murphy (Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book and Rulerwork Quilting Idea Book) shares the next book in her free-motion quilting series, packed with exciting new motifs. This handy guide provides over one hundred original ideas inspired by the elements—water, air, earth, fire, and more. Gain confidence in your free-motion work with step-by-step instructions and branch out in your creativity with myriad ideas organised by element and design type.

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Book SynopsisEverything you love about the Quick & Easy Block Tool, now with triangle blocks! This ultimate no-maths reference for quilters includes cutting charts, piecing tips, quilt layout ideas, and a visual index of blocks. Plus, get cutting instructions using straight or 60° triangle rulers for triangles, diamonds, jewels, half diamonds, parallelograms, hexagons, half hexagons, lozenges, and half lozenges. Ultra-portable and indispensable, this is the block guide that no quilter, modern or traditional, should be without!

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Book SynopsisBuild your quilting skills from the ground up. Learn to complete your first quilt from basic pieced strips, squares, and triangles. Established teacher Jo Avery guides you through twelve projects to whet your appetite for quiltmaking and take it a step further. Graduate to intermediate projects with major style as you try out foundation paper piecing, appliqué, and curves. Before long, you’ll have the confidence and expertise to tackle virtually any quilt pattern!

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Book SynopsisAdd peace to your busy life with a cosy afternoon of zakka sewing. Stitching in her signature style, Minki Kim is back with sixteen crafts for your must-sew list. With a number of techniques, from quilting and wool appliqué to embroidery, there’s something for every sewist! Advance your skills by installing a variety of zipper styles, bag handles, and hardware. From purses to pouches, these useful handmade gifts are ideal for gifting and perfect for keeping!Trade ReviewIn her signature whimsical style, Minki Kim presents a book of charming crafts to add a little handmade warmth to your home (or to make as a thoughtful gift for someone else's). You'll learn a variety of different techniques, from quilting and embroidery to wool applique, with projects including pillows, coasters, clutches and more. * Simply Sewing *Steadily growing in popularity, zakka is a Japanese term for handmade items created to improve one's lifestyle and home, so the 16 whimsical crafts in this delightful project book are guaranteed to brighten up your day! The projects use a variety of techniques, from quilting and appliqué to embroidery, and make the most perfect gifts. * Sew *Zakka is a Japanese term which encompasses the type of handmade items that enhance the home and make one feel good. It borrows from the idea of kitsch and 50s-70s décor but adds in an Asian style that is very contemporary. There are 16 lovely projects in this book that are sure to enhance your home or that of anybody you gift them to. I love the simple, practical, and modern appearance of these items. You don’t need to rush out and purchase any fancy kit; just your basic sewing tools and materials are all you require. Most of the items are not very large, either so using up leftovers from other projects makes them a very green way of having fun and making something new. This is also a great book for beginner sewists as each project is explained in step-by-step photographs, and there are many useful skills in here that will stand you in good stead throughout your sewing life. Some basic embroidery stitches, how to work with felt, basic quilting, putting in a zipper, appliqué, and more. In keeping with the zakka concept, this is a spaciously laid out book with a fresh, bright appearance. Each project has at least one large photograph of the item in situ, sometimes showing other options and different views, such as what it looks like inside. There is a list of tools and materials (all measurements in imperial), a handy cutting list, and the staged photographs with the instructions. Things to make include coasters with cute houses, macaroon shaped pincushions, scooter pillow, roll cake pencil case, patchwork basket and many bags and purses. Make one for your library books, evening clutch purse, travel organizer, zipper pouch, and shopping tote. These are the type of projects that make ideal gifts and don’t take too long to make or cost too much. There are also many ways of customizing them to make them truly yours, and scope for using up even the tiniest scraps of fabric. This is one of those books destined for my keeper shelf, and ideal for just about any level of sewist apart from total beginners. -- Rachel A Hyde * MyShelf.com *From purses to pouches and quilting to wool appliqué and embroidery, this book has something for everyone to sew. We learn to add zips , bag handles and hardware and the handmade items are ideal for gifting and perfect for keeping! * Machine Knitting Monthly *There's no better way to put off completing your many unfinished projects than by starting some new ones-16 to be exact! Ever since Minki received her first handmade gift, a bag that was lovingly stitched by her parents, she's been on a mission to share charming and practical projects that can be passed on to loved ones. * Sew *

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Book SynopsisAlways choose the right thread! This amazing reference guide features a handy thread use key (organised by thread manufacturer) that shows the most common uses for each and every thread, helping you determine which one is right for your project. Plus, get the inside scoop on thread types and fibres, thread weight, choosing the correct sewing machine needle, and how thread is made.Trade ReviewThis amazing reference guide tells us how thread is made and there's a handy key to show the most common uses for which is right for our project. Lots of thread detail is included such as types, fibres, weights and choosing the right sewing machine needle. * Machine Knitting Monthly *If you've ever worried which thread to use for which garment, or how to choose the correct sewing foot for your thread - fret no more as this guide does what it says on the tin. Save yourself any unnecessary snapping and snagging with this reference guide which features a handy thread use key. Plus, find out more about thread types, fibres, thread weight and even how thread is made. * Simply Sewing *Get ready for the new stitcher's bible! This pocket-sized reference book gives you the inside scoop on thread types, fibres, weights and common uses, explains how different threads are made, and even guides you through choosing the correct sewing machine needle to match. With this abundance of knowledge, finding the perfect thread for your next project will be a doddle. * Sew *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the secrets to sewing a stylish wardrobe with staying power! This guide walks you through thirty timeless garments to create, including a must-have button-up shirt, a flattering A-line dress, and a modern classic pencil skirt (pattern included). With a conversational narrative, the authors have created an engaging, informative guide to sewing by tracing the garments’ origins, offering styling and sewing tips, and sharing a modelled photo gallery and charming fashion illustrations by Beth Briggs.Trade ReviewFashion may change throughout the years, but some outfits never go out of style. This informative guide walks you through the origins and style tips of 30 timeless garments, with charming illustrations and a modelled photo gallery - check out the must-sew blazer, shift dress and palazzo pants! * Sew *The first thing I must point out is that if you are expecting a book filled with sewing patterns then this book will disappoint. I loved The Tunic Bible by the same author and have used it constantly, making several of the garments for myself and my friends, it has been high on my recommend list to people, so I thought this book would be just as brilliant. A Stylish Guide to Classic Sewing has one full sized pattern, a pencil skirt, and is filled inspiration for using and sourcing your own patterns. The illustrations are lovely, and the photography of the garments worn by the authors is amazing. The clothing range is gorgeous, and along with each design comes a 'How to Style' guide, it includes a Fabric Suggestion, and Sewing Tips for completing your garment and achieving a professional finish. The history of each garment was interesting and has a Who Wore It, the list of famous names include Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and even Marlon Brando gets a mention. I would have loved the patterns for the garments to have been included, especially as the Halterneck dress is just beautiful, and I feel that this would have made this book more appealing... that said, this would make a lovely coffee table book and I enjoyed flicking through the pages. * Postcard Reviews *Patterns come and go but style is eternal! This book describes 30 classic garments which have endured the test of time, such as the boxy blazer, shift dress and palazzo pants. But best of all, the guide includes a full-size pattern for a modest pencil skirt. * Sew *

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Book SynopsisPiecing meets fast and easy fusible wool appliqué in this follow-up to the best-selling Kim Schaefer's Calendar Quilts. Start a family tradition by hanging a new mini quilt in your home each month! Twelve seasonal wall quiltsone for each month of the yearare perfect for quick projects, gifts, scrap-busting, and block-of-the-month clubs. Cheerful motifs in Schaefer's signature style come with full-size appliqué patterns.

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Book SynopsisLearn about Civil War friendships across the Mason-Dixon line while you create your own historically inspired friendship quilt with 12 album blocks. Journey through time with Barbara's historical profiles of women from the South and North. Dive into history with historical images and quilt blocks that were popular during the Civil War.Trade ReviewI love quilting history and this book gives us 12 blocks, detailing the history of the women behind them. This quilt is about love and friendship, and while some of the stories about the women are not always happy, their tragedies add to the creation of each block. Of course, in those days the women did not have an endless supply of beautiful fabric, instead using remnants of old dresses and shirts of family members. This again makes the quilts unique and personal. I love the idea of using old clothing, giving each block a memory of a person or event. Each block has full instruction and templates where necessary. You can use one or two blocks for your quilt or make one each of the 12 to create something precious and amazing. The ideas are endless and using your own colours and designs each quilt will be a unique heirloom for generations to come. -- Tracy Shephard * Postcard Reviews *

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Book SynopsisLaced with retro-inspired circles and bold stripes, fifteen modern quilts leave an unforgettable impression. Piecing circles, half-circles, and quarter-circles is easier than you think, and the authors teach you to add movement and depth two ways—through striped fabric and easy strip sets. These aren’t your typical Drunkard’s Path quilts, but distinctive quilts for adventurous quilters! With block-based patterns, some improvisational piecing, and layouts ranging from beginner-friendly to complex, there’s truly something for everyone.Trade ReviewAs some of you may know, I totally lost all my sewing and quilting mojo last lockdown and it stayed gone until the beginning of this year. That's a long time for this girl not to want to sew. So now I am looking for inspiration everywhere and what better place for a book lover than a hard copy, hold-in-your-hand quilt book! This book was published by C&T Publishing in 2020 and is available from Search Press. Just look at all those gorgeous projects!! I love it when a pattern book has all the projects photographed and set out at the start. It means you can head straight to the one that catches your eye. The introductory section is really well laid and contains lots of information on fabric selection, tools and techniques and piecing basics. Whilst I have been sewing for many years now, I still read these sections because I always learn something from them. The photos in this section illustrate the information really well, which I think is a huge bonus to any book. Sometimes you just need a refresher and a quick look at a photo can get you on your way again quickly. Because really at the end of the day we all want a finished quilt right?! Another plus for me is that the templates at the back of the book are full size and ready to trace or copy if you don't have any curved templates to hand. I find it really annoying when you have found a project and are ready to start and then you have to mess around trying to enlarge a template or pattern or having to make a trip to the copy shop - not so easy these last 12 months! I also like to see quilts in different colourways because sometimes the original colours might not speak to you and the pattern could be overlooked. For each project in this book there is a full shot of the finished quilt plus a picture of the quilt in different fabrics. There is also a full diagram of the quilt which is really helpful. I always find it useful to have a full diagram of the quilt for easy reference and so the assembly diagrams in this book fit the bill perfectly. And of course for me the quilting is very important!! To get some close up shots of the quilting is a real bonus. I think the actual quilting is left out of a lot of patterns and 'Quilt As Desired' is not that helpful if you do not know what quilting you desire! It is nice to see how the quilt designers have chosen to quilt the quilt and maybe use that to inform your quilting. And, as with any good quilt book, the styling of the finished quilts is lovely! A far cry from my lounge where all the quilts are in constant use and so are strewn around the sofas and the floor! Read the full review HERE. -- Abigail Sheridan de Graaff * cutandalter.com *

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Book SynopsisOver two hundred and twenty five embroidery designs from best-selling author Brian Haggard are now available as iron-on transfers, to make applying and using his designs a breeze. Transfer and embroider beautiful designs from his popular books Embroidered Memories and Crazy-Quilted Memories. From florals and banners to birds and bees, this book has elegant images of all kinds (and in all sizes, too!). All projects, patterns and instructions include both metric and standard imperial measurements.

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Book SynopsisStow your stuff in these colourful zippered Eco Pouches and stay organised everywhere you go. The pouches are made of recycled plastic that is tough enough to handle even sharp quilting, sewing, and art tools. (They are also great for pens, jewellery, cosmetics, coins, and more!)Set of two zip-top pouches: large 9.5 x 7 pouch features the House in the Middle quilt image and the small 8.5 x 5 pouch features the Birds of a Feather quilt image, both by Erica Kaprow. Rugged square-toothed zippers and boxed corners on the larger pouch for added stability.

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Book SynopsisDesign the costume of your dreams with award-winning cosplayer Amanda Haas! Learn the art of making and wearing designer-quality costumes that will transform your persona, with inspirational photos and advice.

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Book SynopsisSew modern quilts that illuminate your life with the help of ombré fabrics. Easy large-scale piecing shows the entire ombré gradation, while smaller-pieced quilts let colours dance and glow in hundreds of hues, tints, and tones! With a single fabric containing subtle shifts from pale to dark, colour feels exciting and new again. Jennifer Sampou shows you how to make the fabric work for you, with six brilliant quilt projects featuring her Sky Collection fabric.Trade ReviewOmbre fabrics have a graduated colour across the width of the fabric. Dramatic designs are produced with careful cutting and mixing of these fabrics. Lengths are cut across the fabric (WOF) and the long strips sewn together lengthwise. All the six projects, quilts and runners, are stunning, especially the 'Whale and I' quilt and feature fabrics from Jennifer's Sky fabric collection. * British Patchwork & Quilting *

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Book SynopsisHer instructional videos have inspired thousands to start sewing. Now for the first time, 'sew-lebrity' Laura Coia shares written patterns for the most loved video tutorials on her SewVeryEasy YouTube channel! Piece and quilt a dozen beautiful projects – quilts you’ll come back to time and time again – all suitable for beginners and beyond. Plus, get Laura’s signature time-saving techniques for cutting, pressing, adding borders, and finishing.Trade ReviewEverything you need to know about quilting is in the pages of this book. 12 quilting projects enable you to advance your knowledge and your skills, from cutting your fabric to choosing your border. There are no templates included with the designs, but the instructions are clear and easy to follow. The designs are inspiring and the Author encourages you to step outside your comfort zone. The colourful quilts are amazing and there is one to suit everyone's ability. There is a link to YouTube, where you can see the Author demonstrate each technique. -- Tracy Shephard * Amazon *

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Book SynopsisWant inspiration for your straight-line quilting? Now you have the perfect tool! This spiral-bound book is full of designs—JUST designs—and will lie flat on your work surface or your quilt to keep your hands on the quilt and that needle moving! The fourth in our Quilting Inspiration series, this visual guide is filled with more than seventy-five distinctive straight-line designs from your favourite designers to get you stitching.

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Book SynopsisTraditional quilt blocks are made up of common elements such as Flying Geese, Square-in-Squares, and Quarter-Square Triangles. Each of the elements can be constructed in a variety of ways—choose the ones that are easiest and most efficient! In this one book, you will find each method carefully broken down, explained, and illustrated, along with comprehensive sizing information. It’s the ultimate no-maths, no-stress reference for all common quilt block elements!

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Book SynopsisDesign your own gorgeous gemstone quilts! Learn the basics of abstraction and colour theory as you create stunning works of art with gem quilt expert MJ Kinman. Build skills as you sew a sample diamond quilt top, with step-by-step instructions.

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Book SynopsisAmanda Murphy shares an in-depth guide to everything you need to know about rulerwork quilting on both domestic and longarm machines.

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Book SynopsisTake your modern quilt designs from concept to completion with practical advice, colour and fabric ideas, quilting tips, and more. Includes four modern quilts patterns from award-winning quilt designer Heather Black.Trade ReviewA comprehensive book on how to approach the design and making of a modern quilt. There are also four projects showcasing different design concepts. Beginning with the Tools of the Trade, not the sewing tools you would expect but design tools. Low tech items such as pens, different types of graphs paper and design walls, to high tech tools where several computer programme options are discussed. Making a list of sewing skills, likes and dislikes is recommended. Inspiration and design concepts are discussed. Colour theory is next followed by an excellent section on quilting design and how this relates to modern quilting design. Backings, binding and fabric selection is then covered. The four projects include simple construction instructions that require some experience. Full sized templates are included. For those interested in developing their modern quilt designs this book is an ideal starting point. * British Patchwork & Quilting *Starting with just a pencil and some graph paper, you can create a quilt that is truly and uniquely yours! With guidance from award-winning designer Heather Black, you'll complete the whole quilt-making process, from the initial idea all the way through to the finished product. There's advice on choosing patterns as well as matchin colours and fabrics, meaning you can confidently master a brand-new design. * Sew Magazine *

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Book SynopsisGet the mini pocket guide to paper piecing that everyone’s talking about – perfect to take on the go! Follow step-by-step instructions from expert Tacha Bruecher for preparing and piecing using a foundation, then try out the technique with ten fun and graphic paper-pieced blocks. Including techniques for both traditional foundation paper and freezer paper, as well as where and why to use each, this petite paperback is the perfect size for your purse or sewing kit.

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Book SynopsisMasako Wakayama shares 12 feel-good projects in the American design aesthetic. Sample techniques feature sewing, wool appliqué, punch needle, quilting, and embroidery!Trade ReviewWOW! This book is amazing. 12 different projects using quilting, sewing and embroidery techniques that are absolutely stunning. I know everyone may believe that quilting is quilting, but whether it is English, American or something else, each style is completely different in both design and techniques. I love Americana, and this book really is a delight. Applique, foundation piecing and even punch needle are included in the creations. You will learn several techniques and be given the chance to learn new skills as well as advance your current know how. The New York bag is delightful but my favourite was the Thank you America quilt design. These projects use up the tiny pieces in your stash box and there are template sheets included. This book is fabulous! -- Tracy Shephard * Postcard Reviews *Be inspired by designs from across the pond with this collection of charming homemade projects. Featuring detailed instructions for a multitude of techniques, you can master new skills while enjoying all the colours and motifs of Americana with a unique Japanese twist, thanks to author Masako Wakayama. From applique and embroidery to punch needling and quilting, there's something for everyone to enjoy - just let the influences of the USA guide your work. * Sew magazine - December 2020 *

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Book SynopsisPick one great fabric to create a stunning block! Learn how to arrange one-block wonder hexagons around a panel, how to blend colours into the panel, and how to sew it all together.

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Book SynopsisStitch a story! Create bold and colourful narrative embroideries from the best-selling author of Joyful Stitching, Laura Wasilowski brings six new hand embroidery projects with full-sized patterns and step-by-step pictorial directions.

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Book SynopsisContaining 40 coloring illustrations, the book includes chakra imagery, power yantras, planets, and scenes of Hindu gods and goddesses, such as Ganesh, Hanuman, Shiva, and Parvati. Coloring the chakras enables you to visualize the energy centers in your own body, enhancing your ability to open the chakras and balance your flow of energy. Coloring the power yantras allows you to align your mind and spirit with the energies of good health, tolerance, prosperity, peace, and love, attracting these virtues to your life. Coloring the planets, gods, and goddesses allows you to connect with these powerful entities, inviting their help and influence in your life.

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Book Synopsis Drawing on the imagery from her popular Sacred Geometry Oracle Deck and Sacred Geometry Cards for the Visionary Path, this coloring book contains 45 illustrations of Hart’s renowned Sacred Geometry paintings and drawings. Each piece is accompanied by a brief yet insightful commentary explaining the meaning behind the symbols and animals shown and offering inspiration to open your awareness to how these shapes influence our reality and tune your energies. From dolphins and dragonflies, the elements and celestial bodies, to the power of the torus, labyrinths, and the Flower of Life, this coloring book will lead you on a contemplative journey into the interconnected realms of Sacred Geometry, Nature, and Spirit while supporting your sense of wholeness and joy.Trade Review"Powerful and compelling images for personal divination. Hart has created very good medicine indeed." * Hank Wesselman, author of Spirit Medicine and the Spiritwalker Trilogy *

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Book SynopsisA compilation of a popular 90 s zine that offers hundreds of do-it-yourself tips, skills and life hacks for adventurous souls.

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Book SynopsisHistorically, marbled paper has been used for decor projects from book-binding to wallpaper and everything in between.This Florentine Blue is a mesmerising design, very challenging indeed for any puzzle enthusiast! We are excited about the mind-bending fun of putting such a puzzle together but this box looks just as beautiful on the mantle or desk. 500-piece jigsaw puzzle Durable, compact, 2-piece box Gift box: 152 x 198 x 50 mm Completed puzzle: 482 x 355 mm teNeues NYC Stationery keeps up with fun and games at home with our museum-quality printed 500-Piece Puzzles.Packaged in durable, compact boxes, our 500-Piece Puzzles feature full-colour artwork, expertly-printed with nontoxic inks on sturdy, puzzle grey board.

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Book SynopsisHistorically, marbled paper has been used for decor projects from book-binding to wallpaper and everything in between. This Florentine Black and White pattern is a mesmerising design, classic for Playing Cards. This box looks just as beautiful on the mantle or desk. Standard deck of 54 playing cards including 2x joker cards Full-colour, richly -printed artwork on embossed, blue-core card stock Giftable flip-top box with magnetic closure Box measures: 95 x 68 x 25mm.

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Book SynopsisNew from teNeues Publishing, our sleek, portable case of 8 ball point pens. Our expertly printed pen set is made with coils of paper, making it softer and more eco-friendly than any other pen set. Anisa Makhoul is a favourite illustrator at teNeues and here we feature her homage to New York City. Each case contains 8 paper-wrapped pens in 2 designs, 4 of each.

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Book SynopsisThis 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle from teNeues creates a big 20 x 20 inch finished piece. Beautifully printed images on puzzle board using the best art, past and present. Packaged in a compact 2-piece box with bonus folded art poster to use as a guide.

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Book SynopsisA challenging collection of word searches to exercise the mind and provide hours of engaged entertainment for those mental muscles. Includes:126 new puzzles 20 hidden-clues puzzlesLove word searches? Book five of this challenging series by expert puzzler Christy Davis will test puzzlers of all skill levels on mental endurance and puzzling prowess. With 126 puzzles and produced on high-quality, erasable paper, searchers will be entertained by a wide variety of puzzle themes. Includes 20 hidden-clues puzzles sure to challenge the most experienced of word searchers.

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