Author Archives: Iiiireader

“Stitch It Simple” by Beth Sheard is a cute book of 25 fairly simple projects which can be hand sewn or by machine. The emphasis of the book is on hand sewing, which is great, as it teaches a hand art that doesn’t rely on an expensive machine or electricity to accomplish. I first learned to sew in elementary school using some of the same stitches that are illustrated in this book and to this day, many years later, I am as likely to pick up a needle and thread to repair a seam as I am to pull out one of my sewing machines.

(more…)

“Handbag Workshop: Design and Sew the Perfect Bag” by Anna M. Mazur is a gorgeous book which walks the reader through the process of making handbags.

I have a lot of experience both in sewing and in crafting so many of the skills needed to make these handbags are ones that I am comfortable with. I would hesitate to recommend this to someone with no sewing machine machine experience though the crafting skills are ones that could be learned on the fly.

(more…)

This is a fantastic book on many facets of quilting. While the book focuses on modern quilts, the skills taught in the book apply to all genres of quilting.

As the book is a compilation of ten workshops, rather than a book written by a single author, each of the segments reads as a small book written by someone who is an expert at that particular quilting skill. The workshops include: The Principles of Color, Working with Solids, Working with Prints, Improvisational Patchwork, The Alternate Grid, Circles and Curves, Paper Piecing, Large-Scale Piecing, Modern Machine Quilting and A Study of Modern Quilts. Each workshop (except the last) includes a project or practice exercises that involve that particular field of study. There is also a good number of templates are included at the end of the book. The section on A Study of Modern Quilts has a large number of color photos of various modern quilts, along with a blurb by the quilt artist regarding the making, inspiration, or comments about the making of the quilt.

(more…)

This is a gorgeous book with 25 patterns of adorable hats for babies. The sections are divided by season with a great choice for each one. I really liked that the book included some hats for girls, some perhaps a little more for boys but the majority of which were fairly gender neutral.

I have crocheted hats for babies and for infants but have only knitted standard preemie hats. I have been looking for baby hats which would inspire me to try my skills at more advanced knitting.
I am an intermediate knitter with visions of someday being more advanced. The projects in “Holiday Hats for Babies: Caps, berets & beanies to knit for every occasion” look to be an excellent way for me to try new skills and techniques on smaller, easy to finish projects.

(more…)