More Fabric Savvy: A Quick Resource Guide to Selecting and Sewing Fabric Completely Revised and Updated Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am a sewing professional, and I also own Clare Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide, which is excellent and does cover more fabrics. However More Fabric Savvy is really the indispensible guide that should be right by your sewing machine. MFS is not as big, so one is more inclined to open it up and take a look at the suggestions. Also, the spiral binding on MFS lets it lie open flat so you can refer to it easily. MFS is a re-issue of the original Fabric Savvy, and it addresses all the shortcomings of the original - far more fabrics are covered. There is also an extensive list of alternative fabric names, so you can really find the details for any fabric one needs. The size of MFS means you can put it in your bag and take it with you to the fabric store, and I'd recommend doing this, as it will make you more aware of interlining needs, or fastening limitations, BEFORE you spend all your heard-earned money on the fabric of your dreams, only to find out you really need to spend an extra $40 (which you don't have) on silk organza to interline the garment. All the review for the original Fabric Savvy spell out the great features of this book - this edition really just fixes the few criticisms people had.

Click Here to see more reviews about: More Fabric Savvy: A Quick Resource Guide to Selecting and Sewing Fabric Completely Revised and Updated

America's best-selling quick guide to selecting and sewing fabrics is now completely revised and updated. More Fabric Savvy brings over 100 new tips, over 400 new color photos and drawings, the latest new fabrics, and entirely new and useful features, including a handy guide to stain removal. From Sandra Betzina, the dynamic host of HGTV's Sew Perfect, this easy-to-use reference belongs on every sewer's bookshelf.

Click here for more information about More Fabric Savvy: A Quick Resource Guide to Selecting and Sewing Fabric Completely Revised and Updated

Read More...

Six Color World: Color, Cloth, Quilts and Wearables Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If all you were in the market for was an excellent resource book covering fabric surface design, the investment in this book would be more than worth your while, but the bonus found in Yvonne Porcella's "Six Color World" lies in her fabulous quilt and wearable patterns. Leafing through the pages of this instructional art textile book, one will find some of the most creative fabric surface design ideas in print. This book is a celebration of color and image design, and Yvonne is not afraid to explore every possible permutation of the color wheel in her foray into textile surface design. Basic Color Theory and History, Surface Design Technique, Dyeing and Painting Principles, and Image Transfer are thoroughly covered in the first third of Yvonne's well-written and informative text, followed by a sampling of general surface embellishment techniques. The book wraps up with Home Decor, Quilts, and Wearables, along with some very creative Banner ideas. Not for the rank beginner, but for those who are looking to expand their talents and skills in textile and fabric design, as well as venture into the fiber art world, this book promises some stimulating and challenging projects for the experienced quilter and textile designer. Another fabulous book by Yvonne Porcella!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Six Color World: Color, Cloth, Quilts and Wearables

Shows how to paint and embellish fabrics, then turn them into one-of-a-kind quilts, clothing and home accessories. The book discusses cloths to work on; fabric paints, resists, and other supplies; brushstrokes; unexpected colour combinations; and methods for transferring images.

Click here for more information about Six Color World: Color, Cloth, Quilts and Wearables

Read More...

Fabric Dyeing For Beginners Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Fabric dyeing is one of those things that appeals to our primitive finger-painting urges. It's messy, colorful, and very satisfying. Vimala McClure's book for beginners, which grew originally from a popular magazine article, is just the ticket if you've been contemplating giving this a try. McClure approaches the somewhat daunting prospect of chemicals, rubber gloves, and stained sinks with enthusiasm, but also with practical sense. She knows that busy women need ways to fit these processes into their other responsibilities, and so breaks the processes up into small, manageable pieces that can be done over several days. Several different dyeing techniques are explored, including pickle-jar, fabric-fold, tie-dye, and stencil methods. The technical details are nicely balanced by photos of many styles of quilts that make us of hand-dyed fabrics.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fabric Dyeing For Beginners

For the many people who love hand-dyed fabrics but think they are too difficult to make, Vimala McClure presents an easy to do technique that is convenient and gentle on the pocketbook. The author says, 'I use methods that are simple to understand and that can be broken down into steps to be completed on separate days.' Because her dyeing process is done in small batches, there is minimal mess to clean up. Worked in small jars or a plastic bin, luminous fabrics with exciting patterns can be made in a total of two to three hours. Using widely available dye products, which are listed in the resources section, the author provides dye recipes for mixing batches of 12 different colors or, for more variety, 24 colors. She shows how to make intriguing color mixtures, single-color gradations and multiple color gradations. With a cookbook approach and step by step photos, the author demonstrates tie dyeing, Shibori-like dyeing, fold dyeing, and overdyeing, each method illustrated with examples of wonderful fabric swatches and quilt blocks. She also describes how to make simple stencils for sponging or spraying to add pizzazz to any fabric.

Click here for more information about Fabric Dyeing For Beginners

Read More...

Cutting Garden Quilts: Fabulous Fusible Flowers (That Patchwork Place) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I notice that fusible web is being used more and more to make quilts. CUTTING GARDEN QUILTS is no exception. This book makes beautiful flower quilts using fusible web. They are extremely detailed and use thread painting to detail the flowers even further.
Melinda describes her working area and I can only wish I had something similar. A 6' x 4" cutting table is a dream of mine, right down to the 15 drawers to keep things organized and the ability to raise and lower the sewing tables. She also describes what tools/supplies you will need She is very detailed about how to get from a photograph to a quilt with the descriptions of making an outline drawing, enlarging it and choosing colors for the fabric. She includes information on painting with thread to make your quilts pop.
There are five quilts in the book, complete with the outline drawings ready for you to enlarge. Each project has a descriptive paragraph about the quilt subject. Then there is a materials list, assembling instructions, thread detail instructions and how to finish the quilt. A fabric key is also given which shows which color fabric and how much of that fabric is needed.
These are quilts that will take you more than a weekend to complete but will be a beautiful wall hanging when done.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Cutting Garden Quilts: Fabulous Fusible Flowers (That Patchwork Place)

Use a simple paint-by-number process to create these gorgeous floral-appliqué quilts! A quick layer-and-fuse technique, along with step-by-step color placement tips, will have you quilting your own cutting garden in no time. *Five how-to patterns feature a rose, pansies, clematis, coneflowers, and apples; a photo gallery provides even more inspiration *Easy fusible designs feature numbered color charts--they'll help you choose the perfect hues *Learn how to use machine quilting to "paint" with thread, adding extra dimension and detail to each project

Click here for more information about Cutting Garden Quilts: Fabulous Fusible Flowers (That Patchwork Place)

Read More...