Sept 09
The subtitle for this useful book is Design ideas and essential skills for stylish and professional results and this is a good description of what you can find in here. Make a whole houseful of window treatments, bed and table linen, cushions and more as well as learning about your sewing machine and what it can do. I love the way this book starts with a guide on how to use it, and how the pages are laid out to enable you to get the most out of them. The first chapter is all about the tools you will need, not just for sewing but also things like curtain poles, pillow bats, various tapes and pelmet boards to name a few. The next chapter is all about the stitches you need to know about and when to use them, seams, hems and methods unique to this type of work such as lead weights. Then it is on with the projects; there are a lot of these, guidelines on how to make all kinds of practical and pretty things for the home. Measurements are not always given as these are going to be different every time, but everything else is and in as few steps as possible so nothing looks too daunting to tackle. There is always a combination of words, diagrams and photographs as well as skill level number, what you need and anything else you need to know. There is a chapter on decorative details such as tassels, pipings, etc and another of designs for curtains, blinds, valances, cushions etc and how skilled you need to be to make them, what fabric to use and how to measure up. Finally there is a directory of fabrics, their care and uses and how to handle them when making up. There is a glossary and list of fabric manufacturers' headquarters as well as where to buy hardware, trimmings and more some of which are in the UK and others in the US, plus websites and sewing magazines. This is a fairly exhaustive book as you can tell, and I haven't seen a better one on this subject - highly recommended for telling you what you need to know directly and simply.
* Myshelf.com *
Oct/Nov 09
Ruth is a textile designer-maker specialising in hand embellished textiles for fashion and interiors. In 2006 she was selected as one of the best new designer-makers of the year by the British Crafts Council. So here is the work of an expert and everything from curtains, to cushions, from bed to table linen is here. It's a well illustrated book with diagrams and being spiral bound makes it easy to use by the sewing machine. The Design Directory at the back shows many different examples of curtains, pelmets and cushions and is followed by an interesting Fabric Directory. If you are decorating your home, then this book would be an ideal one to have handy and you can of course add your own personal touch with the addition of applique or embroidery.
* Fabrications *
Dec 09
Almighty help for home makes. Comprehensive, clear and sensible, this is the book to have by your side when making curtains, blinds, bed linen, table linen and cushions. There are colour-filled illustrations and diagrams on every page which make the step by step techniques understandable (they're also graded by difficulty level), and there's also essential information on stitches, tools and materials, a useful explanation of different types of fabric, and a design directory which helps you choose the right window treatment to make. Invaluable.
* AllAboutYou.com *
June 09
Save money and stamp your own personal style on your home with this complete resource of techniques for designing, cutting and stitching soft furnishings. Easy to follow step-by-step illustrations explain a range of essential home sewing techniques from estimating yardage, preparing fabric and making patterns for curtains and cushions, to hemming, stitching seams, making bias binding, using fusible web, linings and interfacing. Learn all the essential hand and machine stitches, as well as how to add zips and buttonholes, decorative edges, piping, ruffles, frills, pleats and tucks. There's a stunning collection of cushion and curtain designs to inspire and whether you are creating for your own home or sewing as a business, this will be an invaluable resource.
* Machine Knitting Monthly *
Nov 09
It's great to find a book devoted exclusively to home decor sewing techniques and presented in such detail. Every aspect of home sewing is included in a handy, spiral bound format that can sit by the sewing machine and serve as a guiding hand for every step of the way. The first part of the book focuses on tools and materials - both in terms of sewing equipment plus other hardware such as curtain tracks, poles and battens. Projects include window treatments ranging from basic curtains through to more elaborate styles with interlining and valences along with a selection of blinds. The book then progresses to toher areas of home decor with designs for cushions, bed and table linen. Finishing touches are not forgotten with ideas for adding piping, trims, tassels and frills. All the projects are rated for difficulty and include a checklist of tools, materials and techniques required. The book concludes with design and fabric directories to help guarantee success, plus a suppliers list to help source what is needed.
* SEWING WORLD *
