2 comments about Special Techniques & Stitches in Crochet.

1. This elegantly presented book is a real surprise. There are several innovative techniques in crochet presented along with accompanying projects by top-name designers. The techniques include: No-chain foundation, diagonal crochet, wiggly crochet, Irish crochet, knit-look crochet, and punched fabric. In addition to the techniques are 44 stitch patterns and borders. The book includes fabulous designs by Margaret Hubert, Lisa Naskrent, Bendy Carter, Susan Lowman, Tammy Hildebrand, Kim Kotary, and more. It is a good choice in adding to your crochet reference collection.



2. I agree with the previous review. The 33 projects are arranged by technique or stitch. The basics are at the back for new crocheters. Full page color illus of everything and good print. Each pattern has skill level and type of yarn. For example the first pattern is a cardi by Hubert using #5 chunky wt yarn and the skill level is intermediate and it uses the no-chain foundation for the special technique. Most projects are intermediate skill with only one marked advanced. About 4 marked easy. There are some really nice vests, a few children's patterns, some afghans and a lovely wrap. Also some thread patterns, purses, and valance. So there's a good variety. In addition there are about 30 stitch patterns not given as projects. Designs are by well known crochet designers such as Hubert, Annie Potter, Bendy Carter, Martha Miller and others. Recommended for anyone who wants information on the new stitches and techniques.

5 comments about Fit for Real People: Sew Great Clothes Using ANY Pattern (Sewing for Real People series).

1. I'm glad I got this book. The pictures alone can give you a great start to understanding pattern fitting. Photographs of real people of different sizes are shown with the pattern tissues on them. The corrections and explanations are then given to help you see and understand what is being done. It has information for many different body scenarios, especially for those of us who aren't built like runway models. It did seem to jump around a little. You may have to go to another section of the book to check on full explanations. I noticed that was just how the book was designed, and I was able to know where to look after awhile. Additional information on fitting is also included, which is always nice to have.



2. This book helps you fit any pattern to your body. Full of lots of great tips. Very easy to understand and use.
   Using their method, you first fit the paper pattern, adjust, try on, adjust if needed, cut your fabric, fit, finish, then have a great item of clothes.



3. I have been sewing since I was 10.My Mom passed away when I was 17 and I never had the opportunity to learn from her what the book teaches me. At first I was a little overwhelmed (Im an over achiever) and had to put the book down for a few days. Now, ITS MY BIBLE!!!



4. This is the book I've been looking for. I really liked the photos of the real people and their different body types. It just simply demonstrates to the novice to pattern alterations how to overcome the challenges when it comes to the unique shapes we all have. I use this book all the time now, love it.



5. I have a few other fitting books and after taking a class on fitting, this is the book the teacher recommended. I didn't want to buy ANOTHER fitting book so I took it out of my local library. After reading it thoroughly I realized why it is a MUST HAVE fitting book. This is definitely the best book of its kind. But you have to read it - not just look at the pictures! I would recommend to everyone that they check it out of their library. Once you read it through you will want to have it. If you are new to sewing or even if you've been sewing for years, you will learn so much from this book. While they don't show pictures of men, the fitting techniques will be similar. And they have a fitting book for pants Pants for Real People: Fit and Sew for Any Body (Sewing for Real People series). [...].

5 comments about Thread Painting: Simple Techniques to Add Texture and Dimension.

1. This book is GREAT! I found the technique so easy to learn and very effective. I especially loved the cat portrait in the book, and as a cat lover (I have 9 cats at home), I thought I could "thread paint" a few of their portraits. I'm so pleased with the results that I'm going for all 9!



2. This book is wonderful! The instructions are so easy to follow. The creative ideas are endless. It definitely takes you to next level with quilting. The best part is, you don't have to be able to draw!!!!! You can feel the author's energy, it's contagious!



3. Kudos to Leni for her book. I have bought a panel and started thread painting. It is great. I am finally an artist.



4. Although I love the cat instructions, I found nothing else in the book that was good for me. I didn't like that it has all clothing things to make and not nice scenic or more animals, or even some flowers.
   Very disappointing book for me.



5. I am always interested in Thread Painting and one day I will devote me to trying this faboulous art. This book is inspiring me to being NOW.

5 comments about Simple Seasons: Stunning Quilts and Savory Recipes (That Patchwork Place).

1. I purchased this book in the hopes of completing a quilt top or two prior to Kim coming to Fort Wayne and being a guest speaker. Simple patterns. Easy to follow instructions.



2. This book has some great patterns. They are all warm and will be fun to put together.



3. What could be better than a book full of beautiful pictures coupled with great recipes, instructions and tips? This book is for quilters of all experience levels. For beginners, Kim includes clear, precise and easy to follow instructions. For the more experienced quilter, Kim's clever tips are always worthwhile. I never cease to be amazed at the author's fresh use of time worn patterns and techniques. She leaves me shaking my head saying, "Why didn't I think of that?" Buy this book even if you are just thinking about making a quilt.



4. Fabulous quilts, Kim's colour sense is excellent, she also tells the reader how she selects fabrics & colours for her quilts. Alot of quilters have trouble with colour, so I found this info. very helpful.I haven't made any recipes as yet, if they are as good as the quilts they will be delicious.



5. Simple Seasons: Stunning Quilts and Savory Recipes (That Patchwork Place)
   I did not know what to expect of this book when I bought it, as it's my first of Kim Diehl.
   As the title tells the book contains works from each season.
   I have not done any of the patterns yet, but I'm going to. The authors explanations of "how to" is visualized in a very good way. I am looking forward to sit in my garden with my sewing machine (if the weather allow it) this summer, sewing quilts from this book.
   The recipes seem lovely too. I have to try some of them, all though I have to translate them in to Norwegian first.
   This is a book I highly recommend.

1 comments about 501 Rotary-Cut Quilt Blocks (That Patchwork Place) (That Patchwork Place).

1. This is actually all three of Judy Hopkins previous books combined for the cost of only one!!! (Around the Block, Around the Block Again, & Once More Around the Block) This is NOT a how to book. You need to KNOW how to SEW and have basic quilting background. These patterns are meant to be ROTARY cut! Here you will find a color example of the block and then you will have a diagram that shows the basic construction in MINIMAL detail but the most excellent part is that you are given VARIOUS size blocks. You need 6" blocks fine, 12" blocks no problem. There is a HUGE reason why the original books are all sold out and selling for greater than the cover, it is because the patterns are solid. You need this book, use it for centers, swaps, borders, and you won't be disappointed!

5 comments about Sew & Stow: 31 Fun Sewing Projects to Carry, Hold, and Organize Your Stuff, Your Home, and Yourself!.

1. This book is pretty good but the projects are not as innovative or different as I would like and the instructions are not the clearest.



2. I go by the rule of not buying a book unless I'll do at least 3 of the projects in it. This book barely made the cut. I didn't find anything terribly innovative, and the format of the book was not nearly as good as some other craft books I've gotten. All of the pictures are in the front, and the instructions for the projects follow. This results in a lot of flipping back and forth, which is never very handy when it comes to craftiness.



3. I really like the patterns in this book. They solve problems in a practical way. I had been wanting to make grocery totes and had an idea of what I wanted to do - Betty did it for me!



4. I love this book. It is fresh and fun and has extremely well thought out plans. I am a novice seamstress so the techniques and tools section is very helpful.



5. Sew bags, purses, totes and more with over thirty projects suitable for all skills, from beginners to neo-pro sewers. The whole idea goes beyond purses to bags to tote and store household and travel items: SEW & STOW offers the basic techniques for cutting, sewing and finishing along with pink sidebars of information and plenty of illustration. Needlework libraries will find this a fun addition.

4 comments about Sew Many Bags. Sew Little Time.

1. This is a great book for bag makers who've been struggling to find innovative ideas which mirrors what the Japanese bags makers have accomplished. We need more books like this - in English. Thanks Sally!



2. Sew Many Bags. Sew Little TimeThis book doesn't say how much fabric or ribbon is needed to make any of the bags. It gives only the finished size of each bag. This makes it hard for a beginner to begin! I told my daughter it was important to make a shopping list so she can assemble her materials and be sure she has enough of everything. I couldn't believe it when she said the book didn't tell her how much of anything she will need!
   
   We were pleased with the book until we realized this. The pictures of each step look clear and helpful. We love the embroidery and appliqué techniques and the accessory crafts. The techniques in the book look easy to follow and some of the bags are intriguing.



3. Sewing newbies may be frustrated by the omission of fabric and trim quantities needed for each project. But that glitch aside, there's much to love about Sew Many Bags, Sew Little Time, particularly the smaller projects-within-projects. For example, one bag is decorated with a fabric corsage that could be worn separately as a brooch, and a bag crafted from recycled denims is embellished with quirky fabric luggage tags and keyrings that would make great gifts in their own right. Inspiring.



4. This book was not what I was expecting. It does not have many bag styles and none that I will be sewing. For me it was a waste of my "sew little time" and money.

5 comments about Getting Started with Seed Beads (Getting Started series).

1. The title of this book should really be "Getting Started AND Continuing with Seed Beads!" The book has everything a beginning beader needs to not only get started, but to successfully complete the projects. I'm NOT a beginning beader but I've still found many of the projects to be ones I want to make--and I have.
   
   Directions are terrific; diagrams are terrific, and the projects are things you'll actually want to do (well, maybe not the sequined Easter eggs, but hey...that's SO minor and just a matter of personal taste!)
   
   The instructions on all the various beading techniques are some of the best I've seen. Wish I'd have had them when *I* started! Life would have been SO much easier!
   
   So YES, this is a "gotta have" book! It'll also make a great gift for your favorite beader!



2. This is a good book for someone who is just beginning to be interested in beading. It starts with the types of seed beads. Who knew that there were so many!? It clearly explains the basic materials and even has some patterns. Right now I'm gathering the beads to make the bracelet on the cover. I'm glad that I bought it.



3. This book is specifically geared for beginners and uses no-nonsense language to explain how to do things in such a manner that it actually WORKS. Great care taken with the instructions and wonderful pictures/diagrams help people (like me) who have never even picked up a tube of beads and a beading needle before, and the projects are interesting enough to keep me going as I learn. I would recommend this book to ANYONE wanting to get started in beading.



4. If you are a beader this book is for you. It is fun and easy and something for a beginner or advanced beaders.



5. I think this is a very good start on how to use seed beads. There are a number of lovely necklaces, bracelets and earrings with the pattern and explaination on how to make them. I gave this 5 stars because I am just learning to bead and this seemed like a really good book to help with getting me going.

5 comments about Power Sewing Step-by-Step.

1. This is a good book if you are an intermediate or advanced sewer looking for ways to create designer quality garments at home. The photography in this book is amazing, and is great for ideas. Power Sewing is very much geared towards mimicking upscale clothing that lasts a lifetime. Some of the techniques are good for everyday clothing, but in general if you want to follow her techniques and suggestions be prepared to spend some time and money. Many of her suggestions require using expensive materials that can be difficult to find locally.
   
   For beginners, I suggest any of the Easy Guide to Sewing books published by Taunton. They are easier for a beginner to follow, and really go into "why", not just "how". Power Sewing is more of a manual for more experienced sewers looking to solve sewing problems.



2. Of all the excellent books that I own on the subject of sewing, "Power Sewing" is the book that I pull out every day for reference. As I make my pattern, cut it out and then assemble the garment, there is always some little trick that I recall seeing in this book that causes me to flip through the pages once again until my memory is refreshed by one of Ms. Betzina's bullet-points or by one of the pictures. There are no long paragraphs in this book -- all instructions deal directly with the matter at hand and are clearly illustrated in a format which leaves no question unanswered. Without a doubt, this book alone has guided me so that I have been producing wonderfully-constructed projects. This is a book that is practical and extremely useful for anybody that sews.



3. This is one of those books that should be in every sewing library no matter what you like to sew because you learn techniques that can be carried over from sewing clothes to sewing home decor, etc. I have been sewing for 50 years, and sewing has changed considerably during that time. This book is like going to class once again. I purchased it to go with my new computerized sewing machine, and I'm learning new skills to go with my new machine.
   
   Great instructions. Wonderful close up pictures. Well worth the purchase price.



4. This book is not a learn to sew book. This book is to refine the sewing skills that you already have. This book is what would turn a beginner into an intermediate sewer.
   
   This book is hard to categorize. It is not a typical reference book as the topics included appear to have been selected at random, it appears to be an assortment of loosely related tips and techniques.
   
   I love the creativity this book encourages.



5. Whether you are new to sewing or an old pro, you are sure to benefit from the wealth of information and ideas in this book. The fly front instructions are worth the price of the whole book!

3 comments about Sublime Stitching Craft Pad.

1. This is, as it says in the title, a craft pad full of embroidery patterns. If you are looking for a book with detailed instructions on embroidery, you should look elsewhere. There are literally 3 written pages in the book, and the only instructions are for how to iron on transfers, and get as many uses out of each transfer as possible (it states each pattern will give 3-9 imprints). I was, however, just looking for new patterns - so this was a fun little book for me to get. Since you can't really search the patterns through Amazon's "search inside" feature for this book, here are some of the highlights for me - There are a lot of big patterns such as a fairy on a toadstool, a devil/demon, unicorns, jellyfish, flamingos, partridges, and hummingbirds (lots of birds). Some of the patterns I believe you can also see on the Sublime Stitching website - drum sets, guitars, a Lucha libre/Mexican wrestler head, and Chinese good fortune cats (two of them, same size, but facing different directions). Several of the patterns are of the same image, but different sizes. There are also some new patterns (new to me at least) such as rocket ships, Chinese lanterns, robots, chandeliers, a fortune teller, flies, grasshoppers, and laboratory beakers. If you're a fan of Jenny Hart, or just want some funky new iron-on embroidery patterns, then this is a good buy - especially for the price.



2. I love the designs in the book! So many transfers for cross stitch are too "grandma." This had more of a Diva feel. I think that if book 2 is made, it should be even more edgy. Punk rock tea towels, anyone?



3. This is a really good collection of patterns and I will use quite a few in whole or part but just not my cup of inspiration. That said still a good bargain.