Alabama Stitch Book: Projects and Stories Celebrating Hand-Sewing, Quilting and Embroidery for Contemporary Sustainable Style [Hardcover]

Natalie Chanin (Author), Stacie Stukin (Author), Robert Rausch (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2008

“Haute homespun out of the Deep South.” That’s how Vogue magazine has described the fashion of Natalie Chanin. Alabama Stitch Book brings us a collection of projects and stories from her clothing and lifestyle company, Alabama Chanin, known for the cutting-edge twist it puts on tried-and-true sewing, quilting, and embroidery techniques, applied mostly by hand to recycled cotton jersey.

This long-awaited book from Chanin begins with her story. After living in New York and Vienna for over 20 years, she began to transform cotton T-shirts into high fashion using the needlework skills she learned as a child in Florence, Alabama. When she moved home, Chanin hired local women (many of whom had worked in the state’s now defunct textile factories) to stitch her couture collections with her.

What follows is a step-by-step guide to the stitching, stenciling, and beading techniques used in the 20 projects showcased in the book: T-shirts, skirts, and corsets that are sold at chic shops around the world, plus a journal cover, sampler quilt, and tablecloth, among others. Also included are a pullout stencil, perforated postcard for bead-embroidery, and reusable patterns. Throughout are Robert Rausch’s beautiful photographs set against the back roads, farms, and homesteads of the rural South.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Natalie Chanin, a former costume designer and fashion stylist, is the founder and head designer of Alabama Chanin. She has been featured in Vogue, Time, The New York Times, and on CBS News, and her work has been recognized by CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards, the Alabama Council for the Arts, and Aid to Artisans, among others. In 2006 she was selected for membership by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Robert Rausch is an award-winning photographer and creative director whose client list includes Anthropologie, Whole Foods, Saks Fifth Avenue, Elton John, and Paloma Picasso.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584796383
• ISBN-13: 978-1584796381
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Needlecrafts & Textile Crafts > Embroidery
  • #52 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Needlecrafts & Textile Crafts > Needlework

More About the Author

Natalie "Alabama" Chanin is owner and designer of the American couture line Alabama Chanin and author of Alabama Stitch Book (STC - February 2008, Alabama Studio Style (STC - February 2010, and Alabama Studio Sewing + Design (STC - February 2012). Her designs for hand-sewn garments constructed using quilting and stitching techniques from rural America have been lauded for both their beauty and sustainability. Made from 100% Certified Organic Cotton combined with up-cycled and re-purposed materials by artisans located near Natalie's home in Florence, Alabama, her designs have earned accolades from peers and journalists alike.

Natalie's work in the fashion industry began in the year 1988 in the New York City fashion district working in the Junior Sportswear industry. From New York, Natalie moved to Europe in 1990 where she worked for ten years as a stylist and costume designer for film and photography.

However, Natalie's life work began in the year 2000 with the invention of Project Alabama. Natalie returned to her home in Florence, Alabama to produce a collection of 200 one-of-a-kind, up-cycled t-shirts, along with the 22-minute documentary film "Stitch" - about old-time quilting circles in her community. Project Alabama grew quickly and became a full collection fashion company, added business partners, lost business partners, all the while earning respect from editors and stores around the world.

In the year 2006, Project Alabama ceased operations in the state of Alabama. Rather than choosing to outsource, Natalie made the decision to adhere to the original mission of Project Alabama and launched Alabama Chanin where she continues to create limited-edition, rendered-by-hand, jewelry, clothing, home furnishing and textiles using a mixture of organic and recycled materials with local talent. Based on the thought that good design should be a part of everyday living, Alabama Chanin gives modern context to techniques that have been passed down through generations of women and men.

The artisans who work with Alabama Chanin represent this generational span. Stitchers aged in their early 20s work alongside those in their late 70s, producing garments in the spirit of the traditional quilting bee. Each collection emphasizes quality, detail, craftsmanship, and style while each piece is a labor of love signed by the artisan who hand-stitched every seam.

Natalie has a Degree in Environmental Design from North Carolina State University and works simultaneously as designer, manufacturer, stylist, filmmaker, mother, artisan, cook and collector of stories from her home in Florence, Alabama.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars BEAUTIFUL STITCHING BOOK March 7, 2008

By Kathy L. Martin

Format:Hardcover

I had pre-ordered this book and kind of forgot about it. When it arrived on a particularly over cast day it was a wonderful surprise. This is a beautiful book. I love the history that she starts out with as well as the incredibly beautiful projects. I am going to be making the skirt that is featured in the book. Natalie also has a Alabama Stitch blog that lists tons of sources for materials in which to make the garments. What I like about the projects is one you have the base garment finished you can bring your item with you where ever you go and stitch to your delight. I love some of the beading that is added to some of the projects. If you want to get your socks blown off check out Natalie's Project Alabama website. If only I was rich I would be buying every single garment she makes. I have been truly inspired by this book and I think that is what it is designed to do. I am going to take her basic technique and make it my own by designing my own stencils. This book is worth every penny if you haven't figured it out by now. Destined to be one of my favorite craft/sewing books ever. Enjoy!

Since writing the above review I have made 4 skirts and two bandanas and I am working on a very complicated skirt right now. I have bought my own air brush machine and have made my own stencil designs. I have emailed Alabama Chanin a number of times and they have been quite helpful. Natalie has a store on her website in which you can buy all the supplies that are talked about in her book. The t-shirt fabric that she sells is just wonderful. I have gotten so much satisfaction from making these garments. Don't be put off by the multiple steps in which to complete a project. She does a fantastic job explaining all of the steps and it really isn't as difficult as it seems.... You can have a $1500 designer skirt for less than $50. When people see these skirts they will ask, "Where did you get that skirt?" When I tell them I made it they are blown away. By the way the skirt pattern is just designed perfectly. It is so comfortable and flattering. Give this book a try it will really make you happy to create some of the projects in this book. Read more ›

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Book! I am BLOWN AWAY! March 19, 2008

By Wendy McCormick

Format:Hardcover

I have admired Natalie Chanin's clothing for some time now. I have completed the corset shown in this book, completely hand-stitched and beautiful! Chanin gives you all the tools and information needed to complete this project and many more. It comes with stencils, full-scale patterns, and so many projects... I can't wait to do them all! I am by no means a seamstress, or even that good at sewing, but these projects are so easy, with such beautiful pictures and illustrations, even a novice like me can make amazing clothing! Thank you, Natalie, for sharing your vision and creative gifts with us all!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars You Need this book February 24, 2008

By Monica K. Teem

Format:Hardcover

I had long anticipated the arrival of this book -and- am not one bit dissapointed with it.
It is beautifully photographed and written. I find it incredibly inspiring and easy to understand in the explanation of the process involved in producing Project Alabama styled garments & accessories.
With that said, it definitely helps to have a background in sewing and needlework to created their pieces. I wouldn't reccommend jumping into the projects without first having built up basic sewing and embroidery skills.
If you have admired anything from Project Alabama, you need this book.

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Complicated but interesting September 23, 2008

By E. Primrose-Smith

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a nice book though the directions and techniques are complicated and expensive to make if you go buy knit fabric. And for most of the adult stuff like the skirt, you do need to buy fabric as ther is no way you could find the number of t-shirts at Goodwill of the same color to make it look decent and not like you are a bag-lady. The "fold-over" elastic is very difficult to find and there is no indication that you have to dye it to match your fabric. So there is alot of reading in between the lines if you want to do this technique.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a lovely,lovely April 9, 2008

By madame poisson

Format:Hardcover

book! if i had to write about growing up in the south (nc) it would look something like this.i was taught at a very young age to sew with with a needle and thread from my great grandmother the exact same way the author teaches.
to this day, it is easier for me to take a scrap piece of cloth,draw out my pattern with a pencil and sew it up on my hands than it is for me to sew on any machine.the black eye peas and biscuits would have been prepped at dawn so they would be ready to eat by lunch, then at dinner,fried chicken and rice would complete it.
my husband's job sent him to alabama for a few weeks and the entire time he complained bitterly that it had to be the most backward state in the union,where the worst southern stereotypes were a all day long indignity to endure.
the projects are gorgeous and inspiring and i was pleased to see some beautiful truths emerge from the pages of this book,proving that alabama,like everything else, only needs a loving eye to be seen through.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Lovely but complicated August 18, 2010

By Jaime Hayes

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Let me begin by saying that I am a self taught intermediate level sewer. The book was beautifully photographed and well written but I found most of the patterns a little bit too complicated and time consuming. I made the t-shirt corset on pg 155 first, using an old t-shirt of my husbands and hand sewing- it took about 6 hours from start to finish and it didn't turn out well enough to wear. I found the exposed seams looked a little sloppy and 'homemade' but not in a good way. Next I tried the reverse applique corset, it took 3 hours just to make the all over stencil and the finished product looked primitive, not couture. I don't think you could really use old t-shirts to make the skirts unless you are very small, I am a size 10 and couldn't find enough matching t's to complete the pattern. Maybe a more experienced sewer could make these patterns work but I found them all a bit too tedious.