Patricia Hoskins

nonfiction/sewing - beginner/intermediate stashbusting, bags and gifts (with 9 sheets of paper patterns included*)

I was expecting another book full of the usual humdrum ideas for pot holders and coasters and baby smocks and tote bags, but was very pleasantly surprised to also find a wealth of unique and creative ideas for projects that I never would have thought of (but which now I kind of want): a cleverly constructed faux "chenille" clutch bag, a stuffed manatee, boxer shorts, a tiny show more kid-sized cozy chair, a padded bag for carrying wine bottles, a super-fancy looking pillow with a 3-dimensional fabric folds (I forget what that technique is called, but it looks very high-end), and on and on.
Projects are organized by fabric type--lightweights, quilting weight, denim/heavy decor-weight, flannels, coated oilcloths, etc. Because of the 1-yard restriction, the clothing patterns are going to be limited mostly to small tops for small women and baby/toddler clothes, but there are also some interestingly textured neck scarves, and the totebag/handbag/dufflebag/etc. selection is quite respectable.

The introductory chapter is full of helpful tips, providing the basics for choosing thread and stitch lengths, adjusting your thread tension, using different presser feet, and all the things I need to go back and read again, even though I've been sewing for years. The various projects also cover a range of techniques (shirring, smocking, quilting), so that with this book and my trusty sewing machine manual, I feel like I can do so much more than I could before, and am tempted to go through my entire scrap fabric stash creating a mountain of home-made gifts.

*at the time of publication for this review, I have not yet inspected these pattern sheets for completeness or obvious errors, but at first glance they appear to be of good quality--not full of confusing overlappings of different patterns on top of each other like you sometimes see. show less

While many books featuring blogger contributors have a few rough edges, this book is meticulously designed, photographed, and executed. Projects are sorted by fabric type -- quilting cottons, fleece, wool, etc. -- and can be executed with a single yard of fabric. The designs are hip and feature clothing for boys, girls, and women, along with accessories like purses and wallets. A visual knockout, this book has equal appeal for stitchers and those who just like to browse. One desired element show more would be to include either a diagram or a photograph of both the front and back of clothing patterns. Highly recommended. (150) show less

There's a really nice variety of projects, especially since they all use only a yard of fabric. I like the cutting guide diagrams to reduce fabric waste. However, there are few step-by-step illustrations and the text instructions often seem confusing. There's an insert with full-size pattern pieces (which is great), so I don't understand why they included a page with applique shapes that need to be enlarged instead of including full-size pieces.

Some nice patterns here, but also quite a few that aren't to my tastes at all. I know tastes are subjective, of course, so someone else may love these. There are a lot of items for children - girls in particular - and unless I missed something, none of the clothing items are for men at all. Lots of home items and accessories, which is understandable given the one yard limitation.