Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects (Spiral-bound)

by Amy Butler (Author), Colin McGuire (Photographer)
Key Phrases: sleeping mask, lounge pants, matched raw edges, Desktop Organizer, Floor Cushion, Place the Right (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Celebrated designer Amy Butler brings her fresh, modern style to the timeless craft of sewing. In this lavishly illustrated collection of patterns, she presents more than 25 charming projects ranging from cushy floor cushions to smart aprons to stylish handbags. Our innovative packaging makes for easy use—pattern sheets are neatly tucked into a folder on the inside cover of this full-color, lay-flat spiralbound book. Lush photographs inspire, while how-to illustrations and straightforward text (minus the confusing sewing lingo) make it a cinch to achieve beautifully finished projects. In addition, Amy offers thoughtful tips on finding and treating new or vintage fabrics, an easy-to-navigate techniques section, and a glossary and resource guide at back. Whether it's chic placemats and napkins for the kitchen, a luxurious kimono-style robe for the bath, or handy organizer baskets for the home office Amy Butler's In Stitches makes it easy to create beautiful accessories for every room and every mood.

About the Author
Amy Butler designs fabrics, home accessories, fashion projects, sewing patterns, and stationery goods. She distributes her products globally from her studio in Granville, Ohio. She also designs fabrics for licensed manufacturers in the U.S., U.K., and Japan. Amy co-authored Found Style with her husband, David, and has produced and written lifestyle and décor stories for Country Living Magazine since 1998. Colin McGuire, whose work appeared in Found Style, is a photographer for magazines such as Country Living. Originally from Ireland, he now lives in Columbus, Ohio.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 176 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811851591
• ISBN-13: 978-0811851596
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,115 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some simple patterns and inspiration, September 12, 2006

By	J. Ballot (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love Amy Butler's fabrics and patterns, and I've been waiting for months for this book to come out. I'm afraid I was a little disappointed when I finally received it. If you have never purchased Amy Butler patterns, then you will probably enjoy this book. But for me, there was nothing new. And I felt that many of the patterns have been done a million times -- such as scarves, pillows, aprons, drawstring bags. Amy always has very clear instructions, so this would probably be good for a beginning sewer. But, the book is not as exciting as her individual patterns that can be found on her website.

78 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cute, but..., May 12, 2007

By	Cikk "cikk" (Malta) - See all my reviews

Cute book with some nice ideas and designs. The fabric is gorgeous which of course makes a huge difference. There are projects for the living room (Patchwork throw, floor cushion, kitty tunnel, and the cushions on the book cover), kitchen - placemats and napkins, recipe card bags, apron and pot holder, Bedroom - patchwork duvet cover, bedside organizer (very clever idea), lounge pants, and sleep mask, Bathroom - bathrobe, hanging toiletry basked, laundry bag and decorative towels, Office - organisers, document duvet(huh?!), checkbook clutch... and personal style... a beaded sash which is a bit of a filler (free pattern on her site too), simple leather handled shoulder bag (which is so simple it shouldn't even be there - it feels like another filler - and personally I would never make or use a bag like this except for stashing yarn), and a patchwork handbag and clutch bag. I actually bought the book for the last two, as I love making bags and like her patterns. The checkbook clutch was a bonus as I had no idea it was there. Very cute.

The reason for the three stars is because the office projects intro mentions a business card holder - something I would find really useful - and the pattern isn't there, neither are any instructions. I wrote to her site to ask why, and was told that they couldn't fit all the projects in the book and thank you for pointing it out. When you consider how much space in this book is taken up with repeating instructions (for instance, every project that uses a certain interfacing has details on what it is and how to wash it - why not just have this in the techniques section?)

At the very least this should be included as a free pattern on her site.

67 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Underwhelmed, September 12, 2006

By	Julie H. Rose - See all my reviews

I, too, was avidly awaiting this book. It is underwhelming. I even thought about sending it back, but I'm sure I'll find something of value in it; the instructions are quite detailed and may be useful for designing my own projects. There are just not enough photographs! Amy Butler's fabrics are SO beautiful and fun and I was surprised that with the combination of Chronicle books and her that this book was so, well, dry. Oh well!