Best of
Sewing

2020

Mending Life: A Handbook for Repairing Clothes and Hearts


Nina Montenegro - 2020
    It is also an exploration of how mending can be a gently healing practice in our daily lives and a small act of rebellion in a world where many things are discarded without thought.Mending Life encourages us to cherish our things by repairing them rather than discarding them. It also encourages us to change our consumption habits so that with small mends here and there, we extend the life of our garments and other household items. This handbook is for beginners but also offers more advanced techniques to those with some experience in mending. You'll learn basic techniques such as patching, but will have options to take it a step further with decorative sashiko stitching; you'll also learn how to darn socks and mend sweaters, as well as things like a tear in a bedsheet or down jacket. And along the way, the authors share heartfelt stories about the powerful act of mending, which strengthens not only the object we are repairing, but ourselves as well. Vibrant, full-color illustrations are woven throughout the handbook. Mending Life is a timeless, practical guide to cherishing and caring for our belongings.

Tilly and the Buttons: Make it Simple: Easy, Speedy Sewing Projects to Whip up in an Afternoon


Tilly Walnes - 2020
    While life is speeding up, this book will help you slow down and squeeze in time to get your creative fix.Tilly and the Buttons: Make It Simple features a collection of stylish and stress-free projects that you can stitch up in a few hours. It includes 6 full-scale dressmaking patterns, from which you can make 24 projects. All of the garments are quick to sew and easy to fit, with a short supply list and no fiddly fastenings – from a perfect t-shirt and stylish playsuit to a wear-with-everything pinafore dress and cosy cardigan.Make It Simple is for both beginners looking for easy projects and experienced stitchers wanting the instant gratification that comes with a speedy make. Whatever your level, you'll learn the secret of how to take sewing shortcuts while still getting a great-looking finish. With the help of clear step-by-step photographs and Tilly's award-winning instructions, this book will help you create a dream wardrobe in no time.

Playful Precut Quilts: 15 Projects with Blocks to Mix & Match


Amanda Niederhauser - 2020
    Make a sweet sampler quilt with all 15 blocks or repeat motifs for endless variations. Wherever you are on your quilt journey, these precut-friendly patterns make it a breeze to mix colors and prints. With designs that will appeal to every quilter, this book will quickly become your "go to" when you want to make a table runner for your friend's birthday, a baby quilt for your newborn niece, or a throw for your parents' anniversary. - Pinwheels, stars, cats, and hearts! Sew 15 fabulous precut quilts for all seasons- Sample 15 traditional blocks in layouts you'll come back to again and again - Easily piece dozens of projects--runners, baby quilts, bed covers, and more

Darning: Repair Make Mend


HIKARU NOGUCHI - 2020
    This is visible mending, more akin to embroidery and embellishment that will make your favorite clothing even more personal and save it from landfill. Climate change is making us rethink how we use resources and not subscribing to fast-fashion and re-using and mending our clothes has become a mark of pride. This detailed step-by-step guide makes the methods easy to follow even for non-sewers. The stylish photography shows off the artistic and minimalist style of the designer’s work.

Visible Mending: A Modern Guide to Darning, Stitching and Patching the Clothes You Love


Arounna Khounnoraj - 2020
    In the movement against throw-away culture and fast fashion, learn how to pick up a needle and rediscover the forgotten techniques and the joy of mending.In Visible Mending, Arounna explores why we should mend, and how to mend a variety of different fabrics. Work through the illustrated step-by-step instructions that will demystify mending techniques and discover how these can be easily applied to olditems to give them a fresh, modern look. Packed with skill-based projects, this book reveals how to patch jeans, embroider over tears, dye stains and use the Japanese art of Sashiko. Visible Mending is a bookfor those who want to learn how to make the most of their wardrobes, be less wasteful, more sustainable and add a personal touch to their garments.

The Great British Sewing Bee: Sustainable Style


Caroline Akselson - 2020
    

Luna Lapin: Making New Friends: Sewing Patterns from Luna's Little World


Sarah Peel - 2020
    Luna Lapin: Making New Friends is a collection of five brand new animals and their wonderful wardrobes. Choose from Daisy the sheep, Ramsey the ram, Hugh the hound, Rowan the squirrel and more. Fans of Luna Lapin will love these patterns for five of her best friends and their outfits and accessories.Author, Sarah Peel takes classic garments and recreates them on a miniature scale and with exquisite fabrics including Liberty cottons, wool tweed and French lace. Hugh's wool pea coat comes complete with embroidered anchor detail on the pocket - this level of design gives the dolls a timeless 'heirloom' appeal.Full-sized patterns and step-by-step instructions are included - as well as a collection of charming stories about the characters and their adventures.

Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery: Visual Guide to 120 Essential Stitches for Stunning Designs


Sharon Boggon - 2020
    Beginners and seasoned embroiderers will gain the confidence to create new patterns by playing with the stitches--manipulating the height and width, making asymmetrical loops, stacking up designs, or filling multiple rows with the same stitch. With so many creative variations and the author's gorgeous samplers, you'll be inspired to incorporate new techniques in your own crazy quilts and modern projects. Essential guide to surface embroidery! 120 contemporary stitches with step-by-step photosSee how tiny tweaks to each stitch can take your needlework to unexpected placesPlay up the possibilities with modern fill patterns, asymmetry, luscious texture, and crazy quilting

Sewing Face Masks, Scrub Caps, Arm Slings, and More: Practical Projects for Comfort and Care (Landauer) 14 Easy Patterns for Handmade Fidget Mats, Wheelchair Caddies, Adult Bibs, Blankets, and More


Angie Herbertson - 2020
    

Stitch for Cash: How to Make Money from Your Knitting, Crochet, Sewing, Needlearts and Textile Crafts


James Dillehay - 2020
    

Sew Beautiful: Make Stylish Handmade Clothing with Simple Stitch-and-Wear Patterns


Kennis Wong - 2020
    Whether you are a seasoned seamstress looking for fresh projects or just beginning your sewing journey, you’ll learn something new from prolific designer Kennis Wong’s expert advice and accessible pearls of sewing wisdom. In Sew Beautiful, elegance and simplicity go hand in hand as Kennis guides you through 8 different patterns, each a closet staple you’ll be proud to wear. Well known for helping her readers find their most flattering fit, Kennis carefully designed each pattern for sizes 00 through 20, guaranteeing a finished garment that suits your taste, style and body type. And with 18 variations spread across these designs, there are so many options to mix and match! Slip into the luxurious Castlepoint Faux-Wrap Skirt on a breezy summer day, or bundle up in the cozy Taktsang Dolman Sleeve Wrap for a cool autumn night. Going to a fancy event but can’t find anything to wear? Wow everyone when you tell them your Palermo Tiered Dress is 100 percent handmade. With Sew Beautiful in your crafting corner, a vibrant custom wardrobe is at your fingertips.

Sewing Jeans: The complete step-by-step guide


Johanna Lundström - 2020
    

Making Marmalade: Stitch Little Marmalade Rabbit and All Her Pretty Seasonal Outfit and Accessories


Simone Gooding - 2020
    you will find… • Moses basket style bed with warm Winter mini quilt • Hooded cape for those chilly Autumn walks • Head scarf and apron for Lazy Summer days • Butterfly wings to celebrate Spring… and many more. These designs are suitable for most toy makers and contain step by step instructions and diagrams for machine sewing and hand stitching the components of each project. Marmalade is brought to life on the page by Simone Gooding’s adorable illustrations.

Zero Waste Sewing: 16 projects to make, wear and enjoy


Elizabeth M. Haywood - 2020
    Zero waste patternmaking is one strategy for making fashion more sustainable and can also result in innovative garment shapes. This book presents a variety of zero waste cutting themes, some new, some historical, but all influenced by the cloth itself. Follow the clear step-by-step instructions to maximise your fabric usage, grow in confidence and create versatile garments you'll enjoy wearing.

Sewing Animal Dolls: Heirloom patterns to make for Daisy and her friends


Tina O'Rourke - 2020
    Each character has their own complete wardrobe for all of their adventures together, from playing dress up to long summer picnics, sleepovers and weekend walks.Daisy and Friends features easy to follow step by step instructions with full-size sewing patterns for all of the characters, clothes and accessories.

The Modern Maker vol. 3: Handsewing Stitches for Garment Construction


Mathew Gnagy - 2020
    

The Complete Bag Making Masterclass: The Comprehensive Guide to Modern Bag Making Techniques


Samantha Hussey - 2020
    

The Book of Boro: Techniques and Patterns Inspired by Traditional Japanese Textiles


Susan Briscoe - 2020
     Learn about the history of boro and how it is being revived for a new audience using contemporary fabrics including denim, linen and shibori tie dye as well as sashiko and other embroidery stitches.The word boro comes from the Japanese boroboro meaning something tattered or repaired. It refers to textiles that have been mended or patched together for utilitarian, not decorative, purposes to make the fabric stronger and warmer, and to mend torn and threadbare areas.The techniques section includes a short stitch directory with traditional stitches (running stitch and applique) and contemporary stitches (herringbone stitch, blanket stitch, chain stitch and whipped running stitch). Other techniques include instructions on improvisational patchwork; applique: raw, turned edge and reverse; darning techniques and methods for distressing and ageing fabrics to achieve an authentic boro finish. We also look at how boro is being revived for a new audience using contemporary fabrics including denim, linen and shibori tie dye as well as sashiko and embroidery threads. The techniques section includes a short stitch directory with traditional stitches (running stitch and applique) and contemporary stitches (herringbone stitch, blanket stitch, chain stitch and whipped running stitch). Other techniques include: Instructions on improvisational patchwork Applique: raw and turned edges and reverse Darning Methods for distressing and ageing your finished boro

Felt Animal Families: Fabulous Little Felt Animals to Sew, with Clothes & Accessories


Corinne Lapierre - 2020
    

Sewing Activewear: How to make your own professional-looking athletic wear


Johanna Lundström - 2020
    

Cat in My Pocket Embroidery: Ten Purrfect Projects


Hiroko Kubota - 2020
    Hiroko Kubota kicked off a viral sensation with images of the unique embroidered cat shirts that she created for her son. Her online postings captured international attention, which enabled her to sell her apparel for hundreds of dollars. With Cat in My Pocket Embroidery, she shares the secrets of her success, presenting step-by-step directions for reproducing the playful designs. Kubota's technique allows crafters to "paint with thread" by using a small needle and single strands of colorful embroidery floss. Ten original projects, which include making ready-to-use iron-on transfers, allow crafters to transform ordinary items into works of art that feature adorable felines peering at you.

Nordic Knits with Birger Berge: Traditional Patterns, Exciting New Looks


Birger Berge - 2020