Sewing Books

Book SynopsisCreate unique patchwork gifts! This book incorporates a range of patchwork and sewing techniques such as traditional piecing, English paper piecing, foundation paper piecing and appliqué. You can create baby quilts, pincushions, place mats, pouches, quilted trivets and more. Each project comes with step-by-step instructions and is suitable for the beginner as well as the more experienced crafter.

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Book SynopsisEvery vintage-obsessed sewist dreams of having a closet full of gorgeous dresses. The follow-up to the popular Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing and Gertie Sews Vintage Casual, Gertie’s Ultimate Dress Book is packed with all the information and patterns you could ever need to create a wardrobe filled with stunning vintage frocks. The book begins with all the essential techniques for dressmaking and includes instructions and patterns for 23 dresses for a variety of occasions. Elements of each pattern can be mixed and matched, allowing readers to customise the bodice, skirt, sleeves, pockets and details of each dress for a truly unique creation.

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Book SynopsisFeel the benefits of sewing by hand for your wellbeing and for the planet with these mindful and sustainable makes. Hand sewing is a great way to practise mindfulness through craft. Laura Strutt has designed these 35 projects specially to develop your hand-sewing skills, but also to help you slow down, enjoy the moment, and appreciate the rewards of your work. Using a number of different techniques including visible mending, sashiko, embroidery, thread doodling, boro and abstract embroidery, Laura shows you how to incorporate these methods into making something useful, creative and sustainable. For the home, you can make a boro bowl from scraps of fabric, or adorn a simple cushion cover with an embroidered mandala. From your wardrobe, revive a beanie hat by adding some floral embroidery to the rim, or use sashiko stitching on fabric-covered buttons for a new look. Decorate your home with a floating embroidery design in a hoop, or a simple banner using colourful couching stitches over twisted rope. Think of the planet as you upcycle a blouse with detail stitching and new sleeve trim, or make elbow patches to cover the holes in your favourite sweater. Whichever project you choose, take time to enjoy the process and simply sew.

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Book SynopsisA crochet border is the perfect finishing touch on the edges of any fiber project, but creating one often means shaping the edging around an unforgiving 90-degree angle. It’s no easy task, but Edie Eckman guides you through it with style and poise. This collection includes 150 vibrant crochet frames to suit every fiber need, with color photographs by John Polak that showcase the beautiful details of each technique. Now painless, marvelous crochet borders are just around the corner!

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Book SynopsisA super-stylish new handbook from Merchant & Mills containing all the answers to sewing’s most frequently asked questions. Providing an overview on the art of sewing, this handy volume is packed with information on the tools and materials you will need, seasoned with homegrown tips on essential good practice. Topics given the full Merchant & Mills treatment range from the planning stages through to putting the finishing touches to your project. Measuring and marking, form (including darts and gathering), seams, ease, hems, interfacing and closures such as buttons and zips are all covered. There is expert advice on using and understanding patterns, performing basic alterations, and of course plenty of tips on making the most of any dressmaker's best friend – the iron. Successful sewing is very achievable: just make sure that you have this book to hand at all times, and bear in mind the Merchant & Mills motto: do it once, do it well.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing an on-trend avocado, woodland toadstool, cool cacti and not-so-scary spider, these furry and felted projects are suitable for beginners and require very few tools - an ideal combination for some enjoyable and relaxing crafting time! Each project is made using a fun selection of readily available and affordable ultra-cosy fabrics. A detailed tools and materials section, plus techniques and templates, will cover all the basics you will need to complete these cuddly designs. AUTHOR: Emma Herian has been creative ever since she leanred to knit on two pencils at school. Having studied ceramics and plastics at Brighton University, UK, she went on to work for a furniture design company in London. Emma's needle felting work evolved when she was asked to teach the craft at a workshop. Learning about the craft itself first took her love of making in a whole new direction. Emma has written features for Making magazine, and her work was featured on Channel 4's Kirstie's Handmade Christmas.

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Book SynopsisSew more, waste less. It’s never been more important to be mindful of what we consume. This book will help you to make 25 small but meaningful life swaps to help reduce waste and live more sustainably. Replace disposable face wipes with skin-friendly, washable pads; make beeswax fabric wraps so that you never have to buy single-use plastic food wrap again; make a sturdy shopping tote to replace plastic bags; trade in gift wrap and tape for stylish fabric wraps and gift bags. Packed with all the easy-to-follow instructions and friendly sewing tips you expect from Debbie Shore, this book also contains hints and tips for face scrubs, bath salts and more to use with your new projects, or to make a perfect eco-friendly gift. Vegan alternatives are suggested where possible.Trade ReviewGreat ideas and useful hints. This is my first Debbie Shore book, I wasn’t sure what to expect but I love the Christmas stocking bags and repair kit. Great for beginners and many of the patterns would be easy to alter the size and would be suitable to up-cycle fabric you already have. -- Rebecca Orrin * Customer Review *As always, Debbie writes and presents her projects in an easy-to-use format with clear instructions. The book doesn't overwhelm you with lots of jargon and difficult techniques, making it accessible to all levels and abilities, but at the same time it gives you the opportunity to develop your skills by adapting the projects to suit you. There are two things I particularly love about this book. The first are the recipes for the wax coating and face scrub because they are simple and I can't wait to make them. The second thing is Debbie's use of natural eco-friendly fabrics. I would never have thought of using cork for lining, and now can't wait to try it. -- Shani Dukes * Customer Review *Eco-friendly products can carry quite a price tag, but with encouraging words and easy-to-follow instructions, Shore's collection of simple sewing and crafting projects can inspire readers to create their own and reduce, reuse, and recycle, all at the same time. Items here can be used for food (wax wraps, lunch bags, grocery totes), personal care (makeup remover pads, reusable wipes and a way to carry them, face coverings), and other household purposes (gift wrappings, cleaning wipes). Many projects are suitable for absolute beginners, but some, like structured bags with bias trim, are better to build up to. Throughout, Shore emphasises using organic, repurposed, and eco-friendly supplies, and reminds readers that using what they have is just fine, and better than buying new. Only one project requires a printed pattern, and the shape for this is included in the book for easy tracing onto paper. An approachable guide. -- Heather Booth * Booklist *The book contains tips for beginners, information on fabrics, tools, useful stitches and key techniques. There are lots of photos and clearly written instructions for the projects making it ideal for beginners. The tips for natural face scrub, bath salts, stain remover and kitchen spray are a nice addition. Unlike a lot of project books where I only find one or two projects of interest I can see myself working my way through all the projects in this one. I especially like the stocking gift bags which can be resized. A couple of the projects can also be adapted for alternative use, the repair kit case would be ideal for storing small sewing projects and the cutlery wrap could be adapted for pens/brushes etc. An excellent addition to my collection of sewing books. -- Ann Hewison * Customer Review *I have a few Debbie Shore books, all of which I love and this latest addition did not disappoint. The book is suitable for beginners to competent sewers alike and contains lots of hints and tips. Each project (there are 25 in all) has detailed instructions supported by step-by step-pictures. I've already made a set of make up remover wipes and some bowl covers. This book is a great addition to any crafters book collection and I cant wait to make more of the projects. -- Sazzie Jessop * Customer Review *It's never been more important to be mindful of what we consume. Debbie Shore's latest release Sew Eco-Friendly will help you make small meaningful swaps to help reduce waste and live more sustainably with 25 step-by-step projects - you'll be able to replace plastic bags with a sturdy shopping tote bag, trade in gift wrap for stylish fabric wraps and much more. * Crafts Beautiful *I have a couple of Debbie’s books already (purses and bag making books). One of the projects was a really lovely double compartment bag (it's called a wipe bag but you could use it for anything – so it is really nice to have a nice bag project in there, that you could use it as a clutch bag or purse). There is a great variety of projects which is what I liked about the book. There was tips to decorate the shopping bag and I was impressed with her method to dye the fabric. I was pleased to see one of the projects is beeswax wraps, which you can make easily. They are a great replacement for cling film/ tin foil in some cases. There are some fantastic projects such as the food coverings. My mum has now borrowed my copy as she was so impressed. -- Deanna Shellard * Customer Review *Lots of projects, some easy enough for the complete novice, with plenty of tips. Good explanation of 'how to', easy to follow and lots of pictures for the visual learner. Plenty of upcycling/recycling and reusable completed projects. Problem is which project to start first! Definitely recommend for someone who is/would like to become eco friendly. -- Dianne Renneberg * Amazon *Another excellent book from Debbie Shore. Simple instructions and great photos for reference. I think everyone may be getting a foldaway washable bag in the stocking this year. -- Bernadette McGowan * Customer Review *This book covers 25 projects for eco friendly minded people who enjoy sewing small craft projects. Instructions are clear and concise and contains step-by-step pictures. Projects include bags, bowl covers, face masks drawstring bags and fabric gift wrap ideas plus more. Debbie Shore is well known for her sewing books and this takes a step towards more thoughtful sewing projects. -- Ros Woo * Customer Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 10 tips for the complete beginner 7 Materials & tools 8 Useful stitches 12 Key techniques 13 Make up remover pads 18 Wax sandwich wrap 20 Wax snack pouch 22 Bath sponges 24 Hemp tote bag 26 Baby wipe bag 30 Bottle bag 38 Stocking gift bags 40 Grocery bag 44 Plant pot covers 48 Fabric gift wrap 50 Gift cube 54 Gift bags 58 Repair kit 62 Bowl covers 68 Apron 70 Wipes: baby wipes, tumble drier sheets and kitchen wipes 74 Foldaway bag 76 Cork lunchbag 80 Cutlery roll 84 Face coverings: simple mask, shaped mask, carry pouch 88 Template 95 Index 96

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Book SynopsisAdd sass to your quilt labels and gift tags! Featuring 100+ snarky designs you can stitch, colour, or paint, these customizable iron-ons give your handmade treasure the label it deserves.

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Book SynopsisStart sewing in no time with basics broken down to the simplest form! Professor Pincushion's Beginner Guide to Sewing assumes the reader has no sewing experience and has five projects to get you started.

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Book SynopsisEveryone can make softies with this simple three-step method. Sew any of seven animals, including a bear, elephant, or mouse! Customize with accessories to bring out their unique personalities.

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Book SynopsisThe complete guide to pattern fitting and sewing your own knit clothes. Learn how to alter knit sewing patterns to achieve a perfect fit on everything from tight-fitting tops to casual knit pants. Fit for Knits also teaches you the best sewing techniques for stretchy garments, including garment industry secrets that will take your sewing skills to the next level. Every step-by-step tutorial is explained in an easy-to-understand, visual format. Fitting and sewing knit clothes doesn't have to be hard; with the techniques in this book, you'll be able to create beautiful garments you'll love to wear.Table of ContentsPattern fitting for knit tops, pants and skirts Alter knit patterns to suit different needs. How to pick the right knit fabric Cutting and preparing knits for sewing Troubleshoot and fix common issues Best stitches for sewing knits Hemming Sewing neckbands Sewing darts on knits Sewing waistbands Sewing pockets Sewing pants, tops and skirts

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Book SynopsisDenim Upcycled contains 25 creative projects using old pairs of jeans to create fabulous, customised clothes & homewares. Jeans are such a wardrobe staple that most people end up with at least one or two pairs of that don’t fit any more, have worn out in places or have gone out of style. But instead of consigning them to landfill, why not repurpose them? Denim is a durable and versatile fabric that’s perfect for upcycling into stylish, sustainable and useful items for you, your family and friends, and your home. With clear instructions and handy tips throughout, projects are suitable for all levels. Projects include: Flower Brooch, Decorative Cuff, Phone Case, Coin Pouch, Zippy Pouch, Water Bottle Carrier, Tote Bag, Messenger Bag, Storage Baskets, Drawstring Bag, Notebook Cover, Luggage Tags, Shorts, Skirt, Pendant Bottle, Gift Bag, Love Cushion, Home Cushion, Plant Pot, Hanging Hearts, Tooth Fairy Pillow, Pencil Case, Tablet Storage Pouch, Wall Hanging Organizer, Three-in-a-Row Game. 25 quick and easy projects for useful items from upcycled jeans Projects for bags, tags, covers, baskets, cuffs and clothes Suitable for those with little or no sewing experience as well as more experienced crafters Will appeal to those wanting to counteract throwaway culture, buy less and reuse more Table of ContentsIntroduction A Brief Background to the Iconic Blue Jeans The Deconstruction Phase Other Materials Measurements and Templates Equipment Stitching Denim Hand Sewing and Embroidery Stitches Turning Through and Finishing PROJECTS Flower Brooch Decorative Cuff Phone Case Coin Pouch Zippy Pouch Water Bottle Carrier Tote Bag Messenger Bag Storage Baskets Drawstring Bag Notebook Cover Luggage Tags Shorts Skirt Pendant Bottle Gift Bag Love Cushion Home Cushion Plant Pot Hanging Hearts Tooth Fairy Pillow Pencil Case Tablet Storage Pouch Wall Hanging Organizer Three-in-a-Row Game Templates Resources Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisForget fast fashion and cheap trends - Serena Baker is here to help you craft the sustainable wardrobe of your dreams!In 2021, Serena Baker became the youngest ever - and first Scottish - winner of The Great British Sewing Bee. She thrilled the judges with her incredible attention to detail and wowed viewers with her distinctive 'refashioning projects', putting sustainability at the heart of her creations. Whether you're brand new to sewing or already know the ropes but fancy trying something a little different, Serena will take you on a journey to reinvent your wardrobe.In Serena Sews, you'll learn how to:- master must-have skills - from zip insertion to pressing perfection - to boost your sewing confidence and give your garments a professional finish- work with basic pattern blocks to adapt and rework as you build your repertoire- 'refashion' existing items like an oversized shirt into a summer dress, or an old pair of jeans into a cute crop top- save money and work sustainably by choosing pre-loved garments and fabrics for your projectsSerena Sews breathes fresh life into the craft of sewing to make one-off, versatile, long-lasting items to cherish. The magic of this approach makes Serena Sews a book to come back to again and again. It's brimming full of sewing happiness - for you, your friends and family, and the planet.Trade Review‘Really, really talented sewers . . . have fairy dust they throw over the garment and it doesnt look like it has been touched by a human hand.’ -- Esme Young

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Book SynopsisWelcome to the wonderful world of Maddie! Inspired by the Half Yard™ Sewing Club's favourite heirloom rag doll, join a brand-new Maddie on her adventures throughout the seasons. Beginning with advice on all the fabrics and tools your need, along with handy techniques, learn how to make your 66cm (26in) tall Maddie doll and her fun wardrobe. Choose from dresses, tops, jeans, shoes and more; the instructions for each are explained clearly with step-by-step photos and tips. And who can forget Maddie's cuddly (and mischievous) dog, Mo... learn how to make him too! Every item in Maddie's wardrobe, and Maddie herself, has a pattern printed at full-size on template sheets stored in an envelope at the back of the book. Each garment's template has multiple variations – from adding collars to turning trousers into shorts – so you can tailor the garments to your own Maddie! Make a Maddie for your family, so that you – or your giftee – can love her for years to come.Trade ReviewWhat a beautiful book, I have made Maddie doll and am really looking forward to sewing more of her lovely clothes. Easy to follow instructions and I'm thrilled with the results. -- Jacqui Hawker * Customer Review *Another fabulous book from Debbie Shore, full of patterns, hints and tips on how to make the adorable Maddie and her dog. Lovely that the full size pattern pieces for the doll and clothes are included in the back of the book. Instructions are clear and well illustrated so can’t wait to get started. -- Lynda Packer * Customer Review *Inspired by the Half Yard Sewing Club's heirloom rag doll, designer Debbie Shore's striking book centres around the marvellous Maddie. Standing at 66cm tall, this chic dolly comes with a variety of seasonal wardrobe options, including dresses, tops, jeans and shoes. There's even handy step-by-step photos and helpful tips and tricks for your convenience. Plus, don't forget to make her cuddly dog Mo! Why not make a sweet Maddie doll for your friends or family. * Sew Magazine, March 2023 *Make a 66cm (26 in) tall Maddie doll, her fun wardrobe and dog Mo. There are clear instructions, step-by-step photos, handy techniques and tips. All items have full-size patterns on template sheets and there are multiple pattern variations, so you can tailor the garments to suit. * Machine Knitting Monthly, April 2023 *Table of ContentsIntroduction Getting started - Fabrics - Tools for sewing small - Techniques - Top tips for sewing small - How to use the patterns Making Maddie Maddie’s wardrobe - Pyjamas - Pleated Tunic & Dress - Apron - Summer Dress - Frilly Blouse - Plain T-shirt - Trousers - Regular Shorts - Turned-up Shorts - Knickers - Shoes - Hooded Jacket - Romper - Reversible Hat - Dressing Gown - Party Dress - Messenger Bag Mo the dog - Making Mo the Dog - Mo’s Leash & Bandanna Acknowledgements & Index

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Book SynopsisLearn the art of smocking from award-winning cosplayer Maggie Hofmann! With 20 American and English smocking techniques, you can add 3D textures, historical accents, and special effects to your costumes.

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Book SynopsisSewing is fun – learn how to do it yourself with this step-by-step guide. Pick up this book and you’ll soon be a sewing whiz, using a wide variety of hand stitches and learning how to sew on a zip, attach buttons, embroider, and appliqué. In Jewellery and Accessories, you can make adorable watermelon slice brooches or a fun raccoon scarf, while Toys and Dolls features a fake fur teddy bear that would make a great gift – he’s so sweet, though, that you might want to keep him for yourself! Next is Stationery and Storage, which makes being organised fun – you’ll be the star of your class with the monster pencil case and the customised tote bag to carry your books in. Finally, in Gift Ideas, you can learn some beautiful embroidery stitches with the monogrammed pillowcase, or surprise a friend for their birthday with some personalised bunting. All of the projects have simple step-by-step artworks to guide you, plus a clearly marked skill level so that you can start with the easier projects and move on to more challenging crafts as you become a more confident stitcher.

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Book SynopsisA collection of Half Yard™ sewing projects for springtime style, designed by the award-winning and best-selling author Debbie Shore. Debbie has chosen her favourite spring designs from her much-loved Half Yard™ series, including five brand-new projects for you to sink your needles into. Whether you're spring cleaning and tidying, working in the garden or entertaining, this book contains everything you need to do it in style! Choose from useful bags, boxes and storage solutions to give your inside space a new lease of life; create gorgeous bags for days out and table decorations for days in entertaining; and finally, make your outside space just as inviting as inside, with a peg bag for your laundry and a gardener's kneeling pad for all those spring jobs in the garden. Each item requires no more than half a yard of outer fabric, plus all the necessary hardware, trimmings and lining. As always, every project features Debbie's friendly, easy-to-follow instructions and a beautiful photograph of the finished make. Trade ReviewOnce again Debbie has brought out an amazing book to add to her brilliant Half Yard collection. There are 40 springtime sewing projects to get cracking on. Some are taken from her previous Half Yard books plus an extra five projects to get your sewing machine on full power. This new book is packed full of ideas for every type of sewing fanatic, from small projects to more challenging ones but nothing too difficult to make. Debbie has a excellent way of explaining step-by-step instructions for even the newest convert to easily follow. I am looking forward to making the new additions from this book. -- Jane Thickett * Half Yard Sewing Club Member *I thought I had every single one of Debbie's books but I then came across this one while I was browsing sewing books. I am so glad that I found it as there are so many good and practical projects to make. I also found that this particular book seems to be a lot bigger than some of the other ones in this collection, which is unbelievably good value for money. -- Sarah-Anne Hook * Amazon Customer Review *This new book, just by its cover, implies that the inspiration inside is 'fresh' and is inviting you to make something new and different from what you normally would. In the opening pages Debbie has given tips for complete beginners plus more pages of advice regarding every project in this book. The book is split into four sections so there is something for everyone from bag making to a garment protector to gardeners kneeling pad to name a few. I'm more of a visual learner and am thrilled that not only are the instructions written very clearly but there are photographs to go with every stage of your make. Before you know it you will have made a list of what you would like to make to gift to friends and family as well as for yourself. Happy sewing, I know I will be. -- Penelope Mason * Half Yard Sewing Club Member *Debbie has chosen her favourite spring designs from her Half Yard series, including five new projects. Each item needs only half a yard of outer fabric plus hardware, trimmings and lining. Every project has friendly, easy-to-follow instructions and lovely photos. * Machine Knitting Monthly *Table of ContentsIntroduction 15 Tips for the Complete Beginner Sewing Kit Before You Start Projects Spring Days Out Templates & Index 

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Book SynopsisThat Handmade Touch showcases Svetlana Sotak's talent for creating everyday essentials with signature style through the use of thoughtful fabrics, clean patchwork, and precise construction techniques. Sotak believes in the spirit of generous living and sharing her love of sewing through her popular online tutorials and Craftsy class. Now, in her first book, she teaches you how to create your own cohesive, sophisticated projects, to make for yourself or to gift to someone special. Struggling to select just the right fabrics for your sewing projects? Sotak has you covered by including a detailed discussion of colour, texture, and fabric weight for each project as well as exploring what types of fabrics to use in each project element, including working with small touches of leather. Beautiful projects range from small to large and feature quilt-as-you-go, basic piecing, and expert bag-making instructions to achieve a polished professional finish to every project. Accessories projects include clutches, pouches, and bags; home decor projects include a quilt, baskets, and cushions. With Svetlana Sotak's guidance, you can create delightful sewing projects that will rival what you can find at any upscale boutique. Uncover your own signature style with That Handmade Touch.Trade ReviewLooking to hone your sewing skills? Take notes from Svetlana Sotak whose talent for creating everyday essentials comes from her thoughtful use of fabrics, clean patchwork, and precise construction techniques. Now, in her first book, she passes on her expertise in projects ranging from quilts, baskets, accessories, and home decor. See the full list of Martha Stewart's craft book recommendations here. -- Martha Stewart * 9 Crafty Books We're Reading in 2019 *New from online sensation Svetlana Sotak, That Handmade Touch showcases the author's talent for creating everyday essential using thoughtful fabrics, clean patchwork and precise construction. The book features more than 20 sewing projects including a quilt, baskets and cushions. There's also useful advice on colour, texture and fabric weight for each design. The retail prices is £23.99. * Craft Focus *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of the best-selling The Overlocker Technique Manual now comes The Coverstitch Technique Manual. 'Julia is an excellent teacher and totally demystifies the world of the coverstitch machine. She gently takes you step by step through the functionalities of the machine and then gives you some easy projects to put into practice what you have learnt. I would highly recommend this book to anybody who owns or is thinking of buying a coverstitch machine.' Josie Hawes - founder of Fabric Godmother Aimed at sewers of all abilities, this is the perfect guide to help you get the most out of your coverstitch machine. Use it for hemming and finishing garment openings, especially when working with stretch fabrics. Create seams, stitch corners, finish necklines and other raw edges, and make decorative stitches. Jam-packed with useful information, Julia shows you how to set up your machine, how to adjust the settings and how to finish and secure ends. Comprehensive step-by-step instructions and photographs demonstrate the essential stitches and sewing techniques. From stabilizing fabrics to finishing cuffs and necklines, this book covers it all! Put these skills into practice to create a simple summer dress, gift bag, table runner, bikini, washbag and more. The coverstitch machine is so versatile! The troubleshooting section equips you with strategies and hints for fixing mistakes. There is also a buyer’s guide to different coverstitch machines, to help you select the right machine for you.Trade ReviewThis is the perfect guide, for sewers of all abilities, to get the most out of a machine. Create seams, stitch corners, finish, necklines and other raw edges and make decorative stitches. Look out for Julia's equally useful Overlocker Technique Manual. -- Machine Knitting Monthly * Machine Knitting Monthly *This takes you through understanding what the machine does, and the difference between this and overlockers, through equipment and threading, to techniques and projects. Instructions are accompanied by clear pictures. It helped me see where all sorts of projects could be enhanced by using the machine and there are lots of things to practice to help you gain confidence. One to refer to over and over. -- Heather Haigh * Amazon *I wish this book had been around when I first got my coverstitch machine, it would have been such a help. Well presented book with clear photos and easy-to-follow instructions covering setting up your machine and maintaining it, explaining all the techniques you can achieve with a coverstitch using a host of stitches and fabrics and some great projects to try out the skills you learn. Many people think a coverstitch machine is 'just for hemming' this book shows you how much more you can get from your machine. I've had my machine a few year but found it very informative and I will keep this book next to my machine for future reference. -- Bernadette McGowan * Amazon *I'm new to sewing with a coverstitch machine and found this so useful. The projects look great and the techniques and pictures make it easy to understand. All that's needed now is time to practice! -- Cheryl Dawe * Amazon *Search Press really know what they're doing with their manuals - always well laid out, beautifully photographed and full of useful hints, tips and information. This book is no exception to this rule and guides you through every aspect of using a coverstitch machine. From how to thread it, clean it and maintain it all the way through to a selection of projects this is an extremely comprehensive manual. Whether you are a novice or experienced machinist there will be something here for you, I'm sure I'll be referring to it again and again. -- Angela L Paul * Amazon *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Coverstitch machine basics 8 Stitches 54 Techniques 66 Projects 142 Quick and easy gift bag 144, The Brighton skirt 146, Buenavista beach wrap 150, Santorini summer dress 154, The Hove skirt 160, Weekend in Whitby washbag 166, The Cambridge table runner 170, Belle Mare bikini 174 Useful information 180 Buyer’s guide 180, Troubleshooting 182, Guide to fabrics and machine settings 186, Maintenance 188 Glossary 190 Index 192

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Book SynopsisThis is the first UK edition of the cult darning book by Hikaru Noguchi who has become a guru of visible darning in Japan. With 12 different darning techniques and 63 inspirational examples, this detailed step by step guide makes the methods easy to follow.The stylish photography shows off the artistic and minimalist style of the designer's work.

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Book SynopsisAdd warmth and texture to your home with wool appliqué. Sewing in the popular folk-art style, you’ll stitch fifteen projects, including thirteen heirloom-worthy table mats and two versions of an Advent calendar, on a cotton or wool base. Learn how reverse appliqué brings depth and colour to your handwork without the bulk of additional layers. This guide offers advice on choosing and using wool (even scraps!), plus valuable techniques and tips for wool hand stitchers.

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Book SynopsisCreate adorable animal applique with this sweet and whimsical hand-quilting patchwork pattern book. From favorite critters like perky penguins, smiling lions and gangly giraffes to unexpected friends like jellyfish, vultures and a unicorn, this book includes an animal for each letter of the alphabet. In Charming Quilted Animals, world-renowned quilt artist Yoko Saito shows you how to:Make over 40 different animal appliquesCreate 26 animal patchesfrom A-ZIncorporate the animals in 25 unique projectsImplement essential quilting techniquesMake fun items like a tapestry incorporating all the animals, a clasp purse, pin cushion, accessory tray, pencil case and tote bag for the kids in your lifeor the kid in you! This charming collection of designs is accessible to quilters of all skill levels. A generous how-to section with photographic illustrations takes you through the basics of hand quilting, while instructions and diagrams for each project show you how to assemble your pieces fro

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Book SynopsisSewing Techniques for Theatre: An Essential Guide for Beginners distills the intimidating art of sewing down into simple, quick, and effective lessons to prepare readers for an entry-level position in a costume shop. The lessons follow an hour-by-hour structure, offering detailed instructions to creating 11 sewing samples, a scrub shirt, and a tote bag. Embedded in the projects' directions are lecture materials on safety, irons, fabric, and patterns. With a wealth of hands-on exercises, review questions, photographs, and step-by-step instructions for compiling a portfolio, this guide teaches aspiring costume technicians about the culture and machinery of the costume shop, and equips them with the necessary skills to begin their career as members of a costume shop team.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1. Introduction to the Costume Shop, Shop Safety, Fabric, Introduction to the Overlock Sewing Machine, Introduction to the Portfolio 2. Overlock Machine, Sewing Notions, Irons, Right and Wrong Side of Fabric, Hemming Stitches 3. Introduction to Sewing Machines, Maching Stitching Projects, Curved Seams, Dart 4. Introducing the Scrub Shirt, Constructing the Shirt, Finishing the Neck Edge, Pinning and Attaching the Sleeves, Hemming the Sleeves 5. Tote Bag, Portfolio Master Supply List Chapter Review Answers Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewEasy to follow. Nice graphics, visual imagery and layout of pages. Another excellent offering from Basics Fashion Design range - Complimentary to fashion design use. * Jayne Littlehales, Staffordshire College, UK *Table of ContentsChapter one: Planning Planning the project Essential equipment Lockstitch Machine accessories/ lockstitch needle Sewing threads Activity 1: Basic seams Troubleshooting Interview 1: Mada Van Gaans Chapter two: Preparation Design interpretation Crucial measurements Shaping Fabric types and selection Pressing and steaming Sample folio Activity 2: Needle control Activity 3: Curved seams Troubleshooting Interview 2: Ada Zanditon Chapter three: Closures Zips Buttons and buttonholes Hooks and eyes and press studs Sample portfolio – recording/reviewing the process Activity 4: Inserting a zip into a seam Troubleshooting Interview 3: Jonathan Jepson Chapter four: Professional finishing Behind the scenes Interview 3: Yvonne Lin Interview 4: Emma Hardstaff Interview 5: Funmilayo Deri Interview 6: Louise Bennetts Case study 1: Elie Saab Chapter five: Toile/muslin/prototype development Fit model/mannequin/form Form and silhouette Garment balance Making alterations Deconstruction and reconstruction Developing your own portfolio Texture Darts Sleeves Collars and cuffs Pockets Case study 2: Victoria Whittaker Interview 7: Léa Peckre Chapter six: Innovation within industry Introduction to technology Technology vs. traditional methodsFuture textiles Conclusion; Glossary of sewing terms; Online resources; Bibliography; Index;Acknowledgements and picture credits

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Book SynopsisChristmas at Cowslip is a compilation of the best festive sewing projects from Jo Colwill's two books Cushions and Quilts and Patchwork Quilts and Gifts. This collection of festive projects is the perfect resource for all your seasonal sewing.

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Book SynopsisA Guide to Fashion Sewing, 7th Edition, provides a comprehensive fashion sewing resource for beginning and advanced sewers alike. Readers will learn how to assemble and construct designs of various styles using proven industry methods for more than 100 sewing applications. Chapters cover everything from sewing equipment, measurements, and fabric selection to actual garment assembly. Filled with easy to follow, step-by-step instructions and large, clear illustrations, this book is an indispensable resource for constructing quality garments. Accompanying video demonstrations help readers learn at their own pace for basic sewing skills and techniques such a seams, darts, bias binding, zipper, and garment assembly.New to this Edition:- Discusses sustainable fabrics- Addresses the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic as it pertains to the fashion industry- Includes troubleshooting tip box which covers common pitfalls and how best to work around themSTUDIO FeatuTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements 1. The Sewing Machine and Sewing Equipment 2. Identifying Fashion Fabrics Equipment 3. Body Types and Size Charts 4. Planning a Design and Selecting Fabric 5. Method to This Madness 6. Stitches 7. Seams 8. Darts 9. Pleats and Tucks 10. Bias and Bias Treatments 11. Sewing with Knits 12. Zippers 13. Pockets 14. Sleeves 15. Collars 16. Necklines 17. Facings 18. Linings 19. Tailoring 20. Waistlines 21. Hems 22. Closures Glossary of Sewing Terms Appendix A: Project Checklists Appendix B: Pattern Blocks Appendix C: Yardage Conversion Table Appendix D: Fabric Resources Index Video Contents: Lesson One: The Sewing Machine and Sewing Equipment Lesson Two: Seams Lesson Three: Darts Lesson Four: Bias and Bias Treatment Lesson Five: Zippers Lesson Six: Planning a Design and Selecting Fabric Lesson Seven: Garment Sewing Process

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Book SynopsisBeautifully styled and exquisitely detailed, this compendium of techniques will give you all the skills you need to make individual furnishings for your own home. Each technique is explained with clear step-by-step instructions and photographs, then applied to a range of pretty contemporary projects.Working through these will help you to learn and practise sewing skills, which you can then use to make all sorts of other projects, specially designed to suit your own windows, chairs, tables and beds. The early techniques are aimed at complete beginners and teach simple skills, such as pinning, cutting and making seams. Later techniques introduce slightly more complex skills, including hems, curved seams, casings, borders, linings and decorative touches such as edging, frills, ruching and tassels.This book provides everything the home sewer needs to make beautiful, stylish and individual projects to enhance every room of the house.

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Book SynopsisThe projects are all made from soft fleece, which is fantastically versatile and very easy to work with. Basic sewing skills, some brightly coloured fleece and a few accessories are all you need to make these wonderful toys and most can be sewn by hand in a matter of hours. With easy-to-follow instructions, full-size templates and step-by-step photographs, the projects are so simple to sew you'll want to make them time and time again.

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Book SynopsisThis title teaches the home seamstress how to make 5 classic garments for both men and women. It shows how to take proper measurements & make common adjustments as well as the basic order of construction for each garment. What are the building blocks of a great wardrobe? For men the shirt and trousers. For women the blouse, skirt, dress and trousers. "The Illustrated Guide to Sewing: Garment Construction" will teach the home seamstress how to make them all, as well as learn how to design and sew garments that flatter their figure and reflect their personal style. From learning how to take proper measurements and make a muslin, to fitting and making common adjustments, the basic order of construction for each garment, such as fitting the bodice before attaching sleeves, is covered. Detailed chapters on elements; sleeves, collars, waistbands, hems and more provide valuable insight on how each piece is created and joined to the whole. This is a perfect book for those who want to make their own clothing for style, fit or just for fun.Trade ReviewPros: step-by-step colour photos for everything, left and right handed instructions for hand sewing, progresses through basics to quite advanced techniques Cons: some later instructions may be hard to follow without referring to the accompanying photos and even the glossary The Illustrated Guide to Sewing: Garment Construction is a great guide for beginner and intermediate sewers who want to give their sewing a more professional look. It starts with the basics, touching briefly on some machine and hand sewing techniques, fabric preparation and essential notions. It assumes some knowledge and suggests reading through your sewing machine guide if you're a complete beginner before starting with this book. This book teaches garment construction specifically. From the hand stitching techniques of basting (to check fit before sewing) to hemming, the book moves on to the correct construction order for garments and then to professional style finishing techniques. Each set of instructions is accompanied by a series of full colour photographs with the different steps numbered for reference. The photos certainly help with clarity. Actual beginners will find themselves flipping to the glossary at the back of the book and to earlier sections where some procedures are given in more detail. I imagine many of the techniques taught (as with everything skill related) take time and practice to master. The book recommends taking extra time with pre-sewing adjustments to ensure that you only sew once to create flattering, well constructed garments. And this is certainly a great book to help you achieve your sewing goals.I own a lot of books about sewing and fashion, but rarely do I just sit down and read them. Mostly I use them when I need to know something specific. For this one, however, I actually sat down and looked through it from cover to cover and noted some of the things that differentiate this from other books. This book is for a beginner and they do a very thorough job of taking you through the construction of a garment. Some of the things that stood out to me: -Explanations of the different type of machine stitches. That's usually only in the manuals that come with the machine -The illustrations of hand sewing were very detailed and helpful -Assurances that space shouldn't be an issue when setting up your sewing area -Guide to the use of color and pattern to enhance different body types. That's usually in books about fashion, not sewing -Detail about how to straighten fabric and concise and clear instructions on preparing fabric to sew -Rudimentary instructions for altering patterns made the process seem not so intimidating -Directions on pinning patterns to fabric and matching plaids and checks. Good for those of us who are slaves to the pattern instructions -Shows how to assemble five basic garments based on logic not pattern instructions -Includes men's clothing -After showing basics, goes into more details with seams, zippers, pockets, etc. Good for a beginner and also a great addition to any sewing library.New stitchers or those looking for a refresher course in garment sewing will find this title particularly useful as it provides a step-by-step guide to making a basic wardrobe of clothes designed to flatter and fit. Using classic sewing techniques it guides the reader through each stage required to make a dress, shirt, blouse, skirt and women'slmen's trousers with detailed sections on seams, hems, closures, sleeves, collars, pockets, hems and facings. Presented as a photo guide it is easy to follow and improve skills while learning the basics of hand and machine stitching, working with patterns, adjusting to fit, assembling and finishing. All in all, a great introduction for those looking to progress to advanced techniques or who want to boost their wardrobe with some wellfitting staples.' a great introduction for those looking to progress to advanced techniques or who want to boost their wardrobe with some well fitting staples.'Not for the outright beginner, these books provide in-depth instruction on creating classic wardrobe basics and professional clothing for both men and women. Readers learn how to select patterns that fit their body shape and measurements, choose fabrics, and construct seams, cuffs, collars, and waistbands.Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Basics *Machine sewing *Hand sewing *Pressing and ironing *Cutting *SBS: Hand stitches Chapter 2: Patternmaking *Pattern markings and symbols *Taking measurements *Adjusting patterns to fit Chapter 3: Fabric *Selecting fabrics for style and fit Chapter 4: How to make classic garments *Dress *Shirt *Blouse *Woman's pants *Men's pants Chapter 5: How to construct garment elements *Seams *Darts *Pleats *Zippers *Waistbands *Sleeves and cuffs *Collars *Faces and hems *Pockets *Closures

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Book SynopsisOne of the simplest ways to add personality to a home is with fabric accents in the form of window dressings, bed coverings, pillows, slip covers and more; this book shows readers how to do so. Sewing for the home is a great place for many beginners to start, as this book proves. With the expert techniques shared in this book, homeowners no longer have to rely on the limited options offered by ready made items or pay the price for custom. They can learn to sew their own soft furnishings, from taking measurements and estimating fabric yardage, to sewing techniques with step by step projects and over 200 detailed diagrams. Luckily, sewing for the home is a great place for many beginners to start, as there are no patterns, fittings, zippers, or sleeves. By selecting fabrics with a proper mix of colour, pattern and texture, anyone can create home made decor with a designer's flair.Trade ReviewWith the expert techniques shared in this book, you can sew your own soft furnishings. From taking measurements and estimating fabric yardage, to sewing techniques with over 200 detailed diagrams, you'll learn the simplest and most affordable ways to add personality and warmth to your home. A chart will guide you through the best fabric choices, and the step-by-step projects will inspire you.Fox Chapel Publishing's illustrated guide to "Sewing Home Furnishings" provides you with the "how to" steps to sew everything from drapes to slipcovers, to bedskirts. Taking you from the beginnings of selecting the right material for the project, (I was surprised by how many factors should be taken into consideration), through gathering the right tools for the job, sewing your home accessory, to adding those finishing touches that takes your creation from "good" to spectacular. Detailed instructions and photos are provided to sew ruffles, round corners, shirred welting, and add zippers to cushions. With over 200 images throughout the book, each step is clearly described not only in words but the diagrams as well. This is very helpful, making the book a superb resource for those with beginner to advanced sewing skills. If you are thinking about sewing something for your home, this book is a resource you will want to have at your side! My Ratings of The Book Layout and Appearance: Good balance of pictures, diagrams, and words. Thumbs Up! Instructions: Easy to follow. Thumbs Up! Project Selection: From window treatments, to sofas, to bedding. Great combination. Thumbs Up! Overall: Thumbs Up!Sometimes the best way to redecorate a room is to refresh it - change the curtains and some of the accessories. Whether a bedroom, living room, bathroom, or kitchen, any room can look dramatically different - better - with a few updates. If you've shopped for curtains, you are struck by two things: 1) the price of good quality curtains; and 2) the limited selection. It's so disheartening to have an idea of what you'd like to do, but be unable to find the right elements needed for the look you want to achieve. However, stroll into an upholstery fabrics shop, and be amazed. Bolt upon bolt of fabrics to suit every taste - solids, patterns, striking color combinations - with prices ranging from about $7 a yard into the hundreds of dollars per yard. Most upholstery fabric shops also create custom curtains, upholstery, and accessories or can recommend people who do. But with very little effort, you can do the work yourself. Many home decorating projects require few sewing skills and produce rapid results. Throw pillows and café curtains nearly put themselves together, while more complicated items like slipcovers require more time and planning. The end result, though, is having exactly what you want, not settling for what everyone else has. Illustrated Guide to Sewing Home Furnishings: Expert Techniques for Creating Custom Shades, Drapes, Slipcovers and More from Fox Chapel Publishing is a do-it-yourself guide for the inventive decorator who is willing to do a little work in order to make decorating dollars go further. Detailed illustrations guide the user through every step of projects that include curtains, bed spreads and skirts, pillows, and Roman shades. There are also instructions for a variety of techniques used in custom decorating, and guides to fabrics, tools, and sewing supplies. Especially helpful are the "Checklist for Fiber Qualities" that lists fabrics, their suggested uses, advantages and disadvantages, and care, and "A Glossary of Fabric Usefulness" which explains what every type of fabric is and where to use it best. Beginners will be surprised at the variety of fabrics available to them. Edited by Peg Couch (how perfect is that?), Illustrated Guide to Sewing Home Furnishings provides all the information needed to give a home a beautiful makeover or some much-needed tweaks. From project start to finish, every step is included and illustrated, while photos provide a look at the finished product. With its projects and instructions, nearly anyone can have custom-designed style without paying interior designer prices.It demonstrates how to create a lovely home with techniques that can be applied to any style of décor.'Readers interested in giving their homes a makeover will find this excellent resource for creating furnishings full of projects like professional-looking covers and cushions for windows, chairs, sofas, and beds.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Fabric, Tools and Supplies Chapter 2: Techniques for Sewing Home Furnishings *Welting *Trims *Shirring and Ruffles *Hem Shapes *Closures *Pleats Chapter 3: Making Curtains and Drapery *Calculating fabric *Pinch pleat drapes *Shades *Cafe Curtains Chapter 4: Making Slipcovers *Blocking the cover *Determining yardage *Cutting *Fitting *Pinning *Stitching Chapter 5: Bed Coverings and Accessories *Pleated bed skirt *Fitted bedcover *Basic coverlet *Basic bed skirt *Pillow sham *Covering for bedside table Glossary

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Book SynopsisThis title helps you learn the timeless skills and techniques of sewing designer quality fashions and creating one of a kind, custom fitted pieces that have shape, strength and beauty. "Illustrated Guide to Sewing: Couture Techniques" guides readers through the characteristics that separate basic sewing from couture such as a custom fit, meticulous handwork and quality construction. Starting with an overview on important topics such as working with fine fabrics, custom fitting garments and hand stitching, readers will go on to learn how to create one of a kind fashions that have shape, strength and beauty with close up chapters on creating couture collars, necklines, sleeves and more.Trade ReviewI've been given the opportunity to review a few books in this line, and I chose Couture Techniques first because I knew I didn't have the slightest clue about what constitutes couture. And I was right! I thought couture was just a fancy schmancy term for "expensive clothing made by famous designers." But really, these garments are set apart for a reason. So much thought and care goes into how these pieces are created, resulting in well-fitting, long-lasting, beautiful clothing. This book was surprisingly easy to understand. I wondered if I'd just be wading through fashion-industry-gibberish accented by pretty pictures of clothing. Instead I found user-friendly charts and lots of great diagrams that teach you how to do everything, from choosing the right fabrics for your purpose to trouble-shooting common problems in clothing design. You won't learn how to draft patterns here, but you will learn a lot about fitting existing paper patterns to your measurements. It has never been quite clear to me how to execute those changes, and I'm certain this will be a valuable resource next time I'm working on my pieces. The only thing I actually missed were more pictures of the final products. Partially so I'd have a better idea of whether or not I'd like to attempt some of the techniques (a tie collar?? I've got to see someone looking cute in that before I'll attempt it!), but mostly because I like to look at pretty pictures I'd be surprised if any intermediate seamstress was disappointed in this book. It might be overwhelming for newbies, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to check it out. I could have benefitted from some of these tips long ago!This illustrated sewing guide takes readers through the characteristics that separate basic sewing from couture such as a custom fit, meticulous handwork, and quality construction. Learn how to create one-of-a-kind fashions that have shape, strength, and beauty.Following on from Tailorit1g - A complete course 0" Making a Professional Suit featured in last month's book reviews and also edited by Peg Couch, the Illustrated Guide to Sewit1g Couture Teclltliques contains similarly comprehensive instruction. Including lots of dressmaking tips and techniques, the book guides the reader through the processes of creating designer quality clothes by graduating from basic sewing techniques to the elements that make up couture garment construction. This book is not aimed at beginners to making clothing and the reader will need some degree of experience. Instructions include laying out fabric, pattern adjustment and useful shaping and couture techniques that include inserting invisible fasteners and handwork.Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Premium Fabrics *Handling fine fabrics *Selecting and caring for fine fabrics *Working with bold patterns: stripes, plaids, flowers *Laying out and matching bold designs Chapter 2: Fitting *Taking measurements *Matching pattern to figure measurements *Matching pattern to muslin (in depth) Chapter 3: Couture Techniques *Basic stitches of couturier *Collars *Linings visible and invisible *Pickets discreet flat welting *Hemlines flared or reinforced *Waistlines inset, contour, seamed *Seams welt, corner, etc. *Fasteners concealed or revealed

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Book SynopsisKawaii is the Japanese work for cute, adorable, or lovable. Kawaii has grown all over the world to inspire cute, iconic characters that are eye-catching in their simplicity. This book is packed with super-cute sewing projects that you'll actually want to make! Though the instructions are simple enough for a beginner seamstress to get dynamite results, more advanced sewers will be impressed by the variety of projects and the quality of construction. Easy-to-use step-by-step instructions, photos and patterns guide you through the creation of 22 fun and simple sewing projects. Sidebars throughout the text will fill you in on techniques to add to your sewing arsenal.Trade ReviewThis book comes with 22 simple sewing projects. The step by step pictures will guide you through sewing techniques to create the most adorable, lovable little creations. The projects are aimed at kids or those young at heart and anyone who can pull off Kawaii bags whilst still looking like an adult. Lots of fun and a must have if you are into quirky little creations. This book would be ideal for anyone who wants to create their own plush toys too or check out Pet Pillows another title by Choly too.This book is full of adorable "kawaii" projects that I can't wait to make! Time and getting ready to move back into a dorm has prevented me from being able to make anything yet, but I hope to buy this book once it comes out and make something for Ohayocon, a convention I'm going to in January. What I liked the most about this how-to book, was the difficulty level. None of the projects looked as if they were too difficult and the brightly colored photos explained a lot. If you are like me, and love all things Japanese, or you just love things that are super kawaii, then this is the book for you!I was privileged to receive a digital copy of Sew Kawaii from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Just looking at the cover makes me want to find some good material and get sewing, and that's just my first impression. Based on the cover alone, this is probably a book I would pick up if I saw it in the store. The book is a relatively thin one that starts off with a little bit of info as to just what kawaii means, not only the literal meaning but also from a cultural standpoint. A good little background for those who may not be so familiar with Japanese words and concepts. (It keeps this up by introducing Japanese words for various projects throughout the book, which is fun to see.) It also does what every craft book does and tells you a little about the types of materials you're going to need, along with an overview of the basic skills needed to make the projects. The projects range from easy to a little more advanced, but none of them are particularly hard to accomplish. The types of projects vary, from cute little keychain or cell phone charms to large items like character hats and scarves. Naturally, there are patterns here for cute stuffed animals, too. The book doesn't stop at giving directions for accessories, either. There are instructions for altering clothes to make them cuter or give them animal attributes, and to make larger items of clothing. Some of the accessories are cute but impractical. While I can imagine someone wearing a plush scarf with a cat face at an anime convention, I can't see some of these things being used in daily life. The charms and stuffed animals, though, are both easy and make great gifts, and can be enjoyed by many people at many times. Most of the larger clothing patterns are more practical, too, while still being stylish and cute. Not all, though. The squid dress, for example, may be cute but goes right back into the realm of something you can probably only wear at a costume party or a convention. And I dread to think about how many times those hanging tentacles could make a person trip. It's safe to say, though, that if you like cute things, you'll find something in this book that you'll really enjoy making. There are more than a couple of patterns that I have my eye on that I think are going to be very cute!Sew Kawaii!: Author Choly Knight has captured the essence of kawaii and turned it into 22 fun and simple sewing projects. Projects include fun hoodies, modern beanie-style hats, handbags, and more.I'm so excited about this book! As soon as I received it in the mail my 8-year-old was on the floor flipping through the pages, and decided she was going to make the smiley-face strawberry keychain - a "very easy" project that can be hand-stitched. My 14-year-old, on the other hand, who is about to start sewing lessons, wants to make the plush bunny for "experienced beginners," giving her all the more motivation to master our sewing machine. Sew Kawaii: 22 Simple Sewing Projects for Cool Kids of All Ages is one of the cutest sewing project books I've seen. Influenced by Japanese manga, cosplay, art and design, author Choly Knight gives us patterns and instructions for irresistible plushies, animal hoodies, character hats, adorable pillows, fun clothing, and more. Even my husband is itching to try his sewing skills with one of the plush cube purses (for our daughter, not him!). When they say it's a book for all ages, they mean all ages!I have not been doing a lot of crafting lately, but I did get my very first sewing machine recently and I purchased a ton of fabric. This book has some really cute and fun projects that I would love to make for my sister, my baby nephew and my fiancees nieces. I'd love to try making these cute altered hoodies, hats and some scarfs - especially the zombie kitty hat, the vampire bunny scarf and the devil kitty hoodie. There are tons of great tips, techniques and explanations in this book and the projects are seemingly easy to create. All of the patterns needed are in the back of the book and there are detailed instructions with full colour pictures to help guide you. If you are looking for some fun, yet easy sewing crafts to do for gifts, this could be the book for you.If you're a go-getter sewing type who hasn't quite go-gotten around to making all of your Christmas presents yet, you need to check out two adorable sewing books by Choly Knight. Sew Kawaii! and Sew Your Own Pet Pillows will have you practically delirious from all the cuteness. Seriously. I can hardly type this post because I'm overwhelmed by the all-out adorableness of the jellyfish purse in Sew Kawaii! I haven't tried any of the projects, but most look doable by a novice like me - only a few are marked as intermediate level. So I love the approachability of both books. Not only would the projects make great gifts, but if you know a tween or teen who might be interested in learning to sew, the books themselves --especially Sew Kawaii!-- would be so great under the tree. And if you're really lucky, maybe she'll even make you a jellyfish purse. -StephanieI requested to read Sew Kawaii because of its fun description and cute cover! This book is super cute and has 22 projects with the patterns in the back to sew! I'm a crochet-er not a sewer but I couldn't pass up on the cuteness of this book and I like how the first chapters has a list of materials needed and tutorials with pictures and clear text talking out how to do certain techniques like attaching appliques and such. Each project has a description, a materials list, and the difficulty level along with pictures and a description of how to make it. I found a ton of projects I'm looking forward to trying to make! There are the cutest pillows and bags that I'm in love with! There is a pattern/description of how to make 3 different animal purses and I'd love to make them all! The patterns are for a bird, seal, and platypus purse. A PLATYPUS! There are patterns for purses, keychains, plushies, and even pages showing how to add the cutest extras ever on a hoodie! I really liked reading this book. I know you don't read books like this cover to cover most of the time but the writing was clear and there were some gorgeous pictures! I can't vouch for the quality of the patterns but I will definitely be trying some of them as soon as I have the time! This isn't the kind of book that you pick through and find 1 or 2 patterns and ideas that you'd like to try. There were actually only 1 or 2 projects I didn't particularly care for! I liked the pictures that went with the descriptions of making the projects or a particular skill. The pictures of the projects were to die for and I can't wait to try my hand at a fox hat, platypus purse, seal purse, jellyfish purse, bird purse (the purses were just so cute!), and make my own super cute animal type hoodie (I'm thinking a fox or maybe a raccoon.) I keep trying to show you a picture of the cute projects you can find in this great book but I am foiled at every turn! So the best I can do is show y'all a project I like but that I don't feel shows off the books ultimate cuteness! Below is the zombie kitty hat that there is a pattern for in the book. I took the image from the author's etsy page where you can buy it from her if you don't want to try the totally approachable projects in the book! If you want to see more of the projects then I would suggest going to the product's Amazon page and looking inside it- just wait until you get to the purses! and while you're over there, go ahead and pick yourself up a copy! I can almost guarantee you'll love it and find some great projects to squee! about and want to make! (see how I slipped in that "almost guarantee" bit? ha! clever me. no legal standing now mwahah!) But seriously, this was a super cute book and I'm so happy I was able to look through it and see so many great projects I can't wait to try! I would say this book is pretty amazing based on the projects extreme cuteness and clear writing that make a sewing noob like me feel like I could tackle the projects in this book! I was able to read and review this great sewing book for free but all the thoughts here are my own and I didn't receive anything to give them a positive review. These are my own thoughts! Hopefully I'll be able to put up posts of my versions of the projects to show y'all how I did! :)That's right! Today I am stepping away from the paper for just a bit to tell you about this great book I received from Fox Chapel Publishing titled Sew Kawaii! I've had this book for a month or so and have been meaning to share but time just got away from me. I finally put it on my calendar so I wouldn't forget because it is one I was super excited about. First off if you have a tween or teen this book will be a for sure hit! Think Hello Kitty cuteness with a trendy twist. Many of the projects remind me of things you would find on Etsy in a do it yourself format. Not only is it fun to use, this book would also be a great gift for someone who is beginning to sew as it not only covers the basics but also has outstanding clear and helpful step out photos. The175 page full-color book begins with an introduction that explains what "Kawaii" is. That is followed by a breakdown of the book that categorizes projects by skill level- very easy, easy, experienced beginner, and intermediate. Next is the section entitled "Getting Started". This section contains a wealth of information including types of fabrics, basic sewing tools, closures and notions, batting and fillings, basic hand and machine stitches and a list of important techniques and terms. Once you have all of that figured out you are ready to get started! There are 22 projects divided among 6 chapters- Key Chains, Storage Accessories, Wearable Accessories, Plushies, Clothing and Home Decor. I love pretty much all of the projects in this book but my favorites would have to be the character hats and arm warmers from the wearable accessories section followed by the fun ponchos and hoodies in the clothing section. Super cute and all tagged with a difficulty level of "easy". In the back of the book you will find 10 pages of patterns that can be copied to make the various projects. I found this book to be of outstanding quality with a wealth of clear and helpful information. For those who already know how to sew it contains some adorable projects that can be created quickly and easily as last minute gifts. For those who don't yet know how to sew it is a great place to start. I also highly recommend this book as a great gift for a teen wanting to learn to sew or a nice project for some together time with your favorite teen or tween. If you click on the book image above that will take you to the page on Amazon. Once there you can click on the image to look inside the book. This will show you the high quality of the publication and give you a taste of what is inside.Everything about this book just oozes kawaii-ness! Kawaii, meaning cute in Japanese, is obviously the main theme of this book. So, expect an explosion of color in the next 175 pages of this book. Sew Kawaii categorizes the 22 projects by skill level (very easy, easy, experienced beginner, and intermediate) and by type (key chain, storage accessories, wearable accessories, plushies, clothing and home décor). I can only do the projects that are very easy because I have zero sewing skills, but I can tell you that the instructions are easy to follow - fool proof! Not only does the author have projects that fun to make, they are actually very useful and cute to boot! (That rhyme was unintentional. Seriously.) Of course practice makes perfect, but a lot of the projects are really easy! You can pick which project to start with as they are all rated according to difficulty level. Not only does she have simple and concise instructions on how to create the project, she has a lot of background information about sewing that can be very helpful if you want to start sewing as a hobby. Choly Knight was also very kind enough to put a treasure trove of information in her book - from different types of fabrics and basic sewing tools to basic hand and machine stitches. It's is a crash course aka Sewing 101. As a bonus, you will find 10 pages of patterns that can be copied to make the various projects in the back of her book. All of the projects in the book seem interesting to make, I do want to make the Sushi Quilt though, but that requires a lot of patience and practice first. So, let's begin with the dumpling key chain, shall we? Helpful hint: You also get a bonus Japanese vocabulary lesson with each project that you make. How's that for added value?In this book, Author Choly Knight, a seamstress from Orlando has created 22 adorable yet simple sewing projects for all. The designs various from lovable Key Chains, plush toys to clothing and home decorations. The book is fully illustrated with vibrant and colourful pictures. Each project has its difficulty level stated, with step by step instructions, which are concise yet easy to understand for all ages. This strawberry key chain plush has been my 5 years old flavourite(pic of page included in post). With assistance from the adults, preschoolers could also have fun creating some simple plush decoration. The book also included pattern pieces for all the projects that helps reader to trace and create the designs. Comment: I really love this step by steps project book! The projects and designs are easy to create, even for a sewing novice like me, and would definitely recommend this book to friends that indulge in sewing and cute crafts. I rated this book 4 stars out of 5 stars.What a fun book! With 22 different patterns to choose from, there is definitely something for everyone. :) I love to make things and especially to make things for kids. This book has six different chapters with multiple projects in each. They are: Key Chains Storage Accessories Wearable Accessories Plushies Clothing Home Decorations I have to admit that I didn't like ALL of the projects, but the ones that I did like, I LOVED. Among my favorites are the towel caddy and the electronic cases. I also think that the strawberry key chains and the octopus plushies are adorable. Each craft has complete instructions and all of the patterns are full size in the back of the book. Each of the instructions have a level of experience needed to make the items. Most of them are beginner. With bright colored photos and step by step instructions, Choly Knight makes her patterns easy to read and to follow. Great for kid crafts and summer fun!Cute is 'in', and kawaii is the Japanese word for "cute". Choly Knight's Sew Kawaii! is a collection of 22 projects for cube purses, electronic cases (think DS and iPhones, and more), and funky pillows and quilts for the home - all with the kawaii theme in mind. Knight (her psuedonym is Shori Ameshiko) has an etsy store, and her products all have a fun anime feel to them, and reflect a Hello Kitty and Japanese art influence. The projects are separated into these chapters: Key Chains; Storage Accessories; Plushes; Clothing; and Home Decorations. The generous Patterns chapter has all the reproduceable patterns needed to finish all the projects. If you enjoy kawaii-style art and figurines, then the sewing projects made by Knight will be right up your alley.The Kawaii craze is one crafters know well, though maybe not by name. In Japanese, Kawaii means cute, adorable, or loveable. Look up "kawaii crafts" on Google and you're sure to find sweet stuffed animals, little cupcakes with faces, and fun wearable accessories that mirror popular cartoon characters well known in Japan. For those who want to get started learning kawaii crafting, there's Sew Kawaii!, a great book filled with 22 simple sewing projects for kids of all ages! This colorful and easy to read book is for the young kid in all of us. These 22 cute and adorable crafts can be worn, cuddled, or even displayed as home décor. My personal favorite has to be the Jellyfish Purse. This fun accessory is so unique and fun to show off! I can't wait to make one! Even if you have little to no sewing experience, there are still lots of crafts in Sew Kawaii that you can make with ease. Each project has several step-by-step photos that make following the instructions so easy. With a cute code of smiley faces, hearts, clovers, and stars, author Choly Knight depicts the very easy patterns from the intermediate ones, making creating Kawaii easy and fun. From simple keychains to the cutest darn sushi quilt you?ve ever seen, Sew Kawaii is a great book for the Peter Pan in all of us, for that one part of you that still enjoys cute cuddly stuffed animals or that takes pleasure out of wearing a dress that slightly resembles a squid!Table of ContentsIntroduction What is Kawaii? Getting Started Supplies and tools needed Common sewing terms Chapter 1: Accessories Plush keychains Simple purse Cube purses Cases for electronics Jellyfish purses Chapter 2: Wearable Accessories Character hats Arm warmers & leg warmers Animal scarf Chapter 3: Plushes Blob plushes Platypus plush Octopus plush Llama plush Sitting plushes Chapter 4: Clothing Character ponchos Character hoodies Squid dresses Jellyfish dress Chapter 5: Around the House Log pillows Simple square pillows Towel caddy Sushi sampler quilt

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Book SynopsisThis title includes step-by-step instructions, how-to photographs and approachable patterns that show you how to add sweetness to the nursery with darling baby clothes, stuffed animal plushies and practical accessories. Eighteen easy-to-sew projects cover all of the basics that babies need for their first few years of growing. They feature charming applique faces inspired by the kawaii fashion sense - in Japanese, kawaii means cute, adorable or loveable. Projects range from very easy to intermediate, so they're simple to understand and come together quickly. All you need is a sewing machine, some inexpensive fabric and a few basic sewing tools. So go ahead and create some beautiful toys and cute little clothes to make some lasting memories with your one-of-a-kind baby!

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Book SynopsisBags can be functional, stylish, colourful, or whimsical. This book shows you how to sew your own one-of-a-kind bags to satisfy all your needs and tastes. You can create personalised bags that range from sophisticated to indispensable. You can learn the basics of bag sewing techniques, and get tips for going green with upcycled found fabrics. This book demystifies the bells and whistles that go into designer bags so that you can craft your own with the same flair...but not the same price! Whether you want your bag plain and simple or detailed and complex, you'll find plenty of fun options, motifs and ideas to get you started.Table of ContentsIntroduction Getting Started Chapter 1: Useful Bags Collapsible Shopping Tote Technophile Laptop Bag Snack Sack Lunch Bag Artisan's Portfolio Mod Weekender Bag Matryoshka Buffel Bags Chapter 2: Casual Bags Recycled Bag t-Shirt Patchwork Bag On the Town Errand Bag Sling Bag Expandable Retro Messenger Bag Kanzashi Bag Chapter 3: Quirky Bags Drawstring Backpack Reversible Creature Bag Critter Crossbody Purse The Roundabout Purse Hatbox Purse The Wanderer's Satchel

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Book SynopsisPerfect for beginners, this book includes simple projects designed to help readers learn as they sew. It contains friendly advice, clear directions, and easy-to-use patterns. You can create beautiful handmade home decor, including duvet covers, storage cubes, modern quilts and more. Sew Me! Sewing Home Decor is geared towards would-be sewers of all ages, who may never have touched a sewing machine or even threaded a needle before. It's the perfect book for anyone who wants to create handmade home decor to match a personal taste or lifestyle. Decorating a living space has never been easier, with simple and straightforward projects designed to help readers learn as they sew. Choly Knight's friendly advice, clear directions, and easy-to-use patterns take the guesswork out of sewing. Aspiring sewers will gain confidence as they learn to make beautiful accoutrements like duvet covers, storage cubes, modern quilts and window treatments, starting with very easy projects and moving on to more challenging designs.

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Book SynopsisSew Me! Sew and Go will show you how to create fashionable totes, beautiful covers for items such as phones and iPads, handbags and more! It contains plenty of quick one-to-one sewing projects, accompanied by step-by-step photos and detailed instructions.The book begins by introducing you to all the basic sewing techniques, and provides inspiring tips for using colour and patterns. Whether you are new to sewing or just want to repair the odd hole in your skill set, you'll soon be working with confidence and creating attractive, practical accessories that not only express your style and individuality, but also match the way you live!

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Book SynopsisA delightful array of designs and themes for transforming ready-made towels or muslin for applique table cloths, wall hangings, tote bags and home decor.

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Book SynopsisThis book helps you transform fabric into an attractive coin purse, an elegant wallet, a journal cover, cosmetic cases and more. It includes step-by-step instructions and stunning colour photographs. Sewing Pretty Little Things shows how to use small pieces of fabric to make big impressions. This book is packed with creative ideas for using fabric scraps and remnants in classic, beautiful designs. The authors show how to give new purpose to a special piece of fabric, by transforming it into an attractive coin purse, an elegant wallet, or a handy clutch. With original projects like journal covers, travel slippers, key fobs, cosmetic cases and even backpacks, readers are sure to find a use for all kinds of fabrics and patterns. Stunning colour photographs illustrate the potential of the craft. Step-by-step instructions make each project easy to create with whatever material is at hand.

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Book SynopsisWell-made leather accessories add flair and finesse to any wardrobe. You can experience the luxury of custom leather belts, gloves, and clutches without the custom expense. This book shows you how to sew your own finely crafted leather accessories that will last for years and years of use. With the expert techniques shared in Sewing Leather Accessories you no longer have to rely on the limited options of ready-made items. Master the basic methods and equipment used in working with leather. Learn the right way to perform every step of the process, with full-size patterns, detailed instructions, and easy-to-follow illustrated diagrams. You'll find classic, timeless projects here for making three different belt styles, fitted gloves for both men and women, and a chic clutch that also does duty as a shoulder bag. Each design can be adapted to match your personal style with endless customisation options.

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Book SynopsisThis title features 19 stylish, quick-to-make projects for sewn accessories. Scrap fabrics are rejuvenated and reinvented, appealing to the economical sewer. Step-by-step instructions make projects suitable for beginners. Sewing Pretty Little Accessories shows how to use small pieces of fabric to make big impressions. Cherie Lee, author of Sewing Pretty Little Things, reveals new ways to give new purpose to a special piece of fabric, by transforming it into a stylish mobile phone cover, an attractive sun hat, or a cute water bottle cozy. With 19 original projects for bags, pouches, purses, cases, and covers, readers are sure to find a use for all kinds of fabrics and patterns. Stunning colour photographs illustrate the potential of the craft. Step-by-step instructions make each project easy to create with whatever material is at hand.

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