Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts: Basic Techniques for Sewing, Applique, Embroidery, Quilting, Dyeing, and Printing, plus 150 Inspired Projects from A to Z
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Product Description
Whether you just bought your first sewing machine or have been sewing for years, Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts will open your eyes to an irresistible range of thoughts. A comprehensive visual reference, the book covers everything a home sewer craves: the basics of sewing by hand or machine, along with five additional time-honored crafts techniques, and step-by-step instructions for more than 150 projects that reflect not only Martha Stewart’s depth of experience and crafting expertise, but also her singular sense of style.
Encyclopedic in scope, the book features two main parts to help you brush up on the basics and take your skills to a new level. First, the Techniques section guides readers through Sewing, Appliqué, Embroidery, Quilting, Dyeing, and Printing. Following that, the Projects A to Z section features more than 150 clever thoughts (including many no-sew projects), all illustrated and clarified with the clear, detailed instructions that have become a signature of Martha Stewart’s magazines, books, and television shows.
An enclosed CD includes full-size clothing patterns as well as templates that can be easily produced on a home printer. Fabric, thread, and tool glossaries identify the properties, workability, and best uses of common sewing materials. And, perhaps best of all, when you need it most, Martha and her talented team of crafts editors offer you the reassurance that you really can make it yourself.
The projects are as delightful as they are imaginative, and include classic Roman shades, hand-drawn stuffed animals, an simple upholstered blanket chest, a quilted crib bumper, French knot-blown up pillowcases and sheets, and Japanese-inflated table linens, among many others.With gorgeous color photographs as well as practiced instruction, this handy guide will surely encourage beginners and keep sewers and crafters of all experience levels wonderfully busy for many years to come.
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As a dressmaker, I was excited to get the chance to review this book, but it fell flat of my expectations. Like the title says, the book is very basic, proposed for persons who have small experience with sewing. Essentially, it’s a primer for sewing and related leisure activities, such as embroidery, applique, and quilting. It does include a few useful techniques that you won’t find in most remedial sewing books, such as instructions for dyeing fabric. There are reasonably a few projects that you can make, such as Roman shades, stuffed dolls, baby clothes, pincushions, etc. So, on that front it’s a decent book. But. . . .
I realize that I was agreed an advance copy, but I have no way of knowing which fundamentals are temporary and which will really be included in the publication of this book. If these things are fixed before the book is unrestricted, then I will certainly revise my opinion! First off, it says there is a CD attached with patterns for the many projects, but my copy didn’t include the CD. Hence, the majority of the book is useless to me. Second, all of the illustrations are black & white, which in and of itself would be okay, except that the photos are of extremely poor quality. They look like cheap photocopies: grainy and out of focus. If the illustrations are cleaned up, and the CD included, then I would say that this would be a honest book for a name unfamiliar with sewing or crafting. If you have any experience whatsoever, you might find some of the projects appealing, but overall you’ll find the book too remedial.
As an alternative, I would suggest the Reader’s Digest guides to sewing and needlepoint. They are simple, simple to know, they have brilliant illustrations in full color, and they include many projects for both beginners and more advanced sewers.
Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
This book is mini a Home Economics class. Very useful and practical information not to mention fun stuff as well.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
Martha does it again with this monster of craft and perfection! Perfect for these snowy days and you are going to have months of fun making gorgeous things to wear, give to loved ones, or delight in in your home.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
What can you say? The woman is encyclopedic all by herself, so you can bet that anything she publishes related to any topic close to her heart will be, too. Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts is comprehensive, perfectly laid out and simple to know for users of all experience levels. I only wish this book could free up more time in my schedule to DO more of the projects!
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
If you’re a newcomer to sewing and fabric arts, you’ll like Martha Stewart’s take on the craft. With simple-to-follow instructions and inspiring patterns, she shows you the ins and outs of everything you need to know to get ongoing on simple sewing, quilting, embroidery, and more. The CD with patterns is a nice addition. I’ll be referring to this book over and over again!
Reader’s Rating: 4 / 5