French General: Home Sewn: 30 Projects for Every Room in the House [Spiral-bound]

Kaari Meng (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 3, 2008

As the founder of the renowned crafts and notions store, French General, Kaari Meng scours the French countryside and Parisian flea markets for vintage treasures. Now, this beloved designer has gathered her favorite patterns into a charming sourcebook sure to be coveted by crafters, Francophiles, and home decorators. She offers 30 simple sewing patterns for French-inspired projectsa scalloped tablecloth, piles of pillows and bedding, a festive party garland, totesand more. Lay-flat spiral binding and ready-to-use pattern sheets and embroidery transfers, plus step-by-step directions, gorgeous photographs, and helpful illustrations make it easy to bring the palettes and pleasures of traditional French living into any home.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Kaari has an impeccable eye. Her take on French vintage is an inspiration, and the projects in this book are no exception." John Derian, artist

About the Author

Kaari Meng sells vintage and new textiles at her store in Los Angeles and to retailers in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. She and her husband, photographer Jon Zabala, live in southern California.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 176 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; Spi edition (September 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811864030
• ISBN-13: 978-0811864039
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 1.2 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #611,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Book September 29, 2008

By Nature Girl

Format:Spiral-bound

This is a lovely book, inspiring whether you sew or just love simple French-style decorating. The projects, everything from totes, a berry-basket liner, a lavender-filled cushion or large sachet, an apron, napkins and various pillows to a scalloped tablecloth, bed skirt, shower curtain and more, range from beginner to advanced skill level, though the advanced don't even seem that difficult, and an envelope of patterns and iron-on embroidery transfers inside the front cover make things even easier. If you don't have a stash of old fabrics (and you certainly can use new), there are resources listed in the back of the book, along with notes on care of vintage fabrics and general sewing and embroidery techniques. Beautiful photos and clear directions.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Book September 28, 2008

By Diana Young

Format:Spiral-bound|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an absolutely stunningly presented book, and I would buy it just for the presentation, even if it didn't have any patterns. The pattern sheets are in a beautiful envelope pocket inside the front cover and are good and large - not the size one usually gets with a book. The book 'inside' the covers is spiral bound - great for referring to as you sew. But the pattterns and ideas are fairly simple, although I do love the idea of the Hanging Notions Organizer. As the name suggests, it is French style and to enjoy the book you must have a liking for this look.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ooo La La! September 24, 2008

By Stacey M Smith VINE™ VOICE

Format:Spiral-bound

Kaari's charming style blossoms in the pages of her new book! The look is flawless, simple European. With a little basic sewing you can bring a bit of French style to your own maison (home). You don't have to be an accomplished seamstress to get the job done, either. The projects vary from basics (sachets & napkins & bags) to floor pillows, throws & duvets, and Roman shades (and so much more!). There are even several cute patterns for items that would make great gift giving. Plus, resource guide listed in back and general techniques are included for beginners.

I sew quite a bit, so I can see making many of these projects. The patterns are adaptable and straight forward. You could easily use vintage French fabrics (find great fabrics at Meng's FrenchGeneral.com) or even go with contemporary patterns (think Amy Butler or Fresh Cut) to show off a different look. The book is spiral bound, which makes it easy keep open while working on a project. The pictures are inspiring, deserving of a French decor magazine themselves. Fun!

42 of 53 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars French General Home Sewn September 12, 2008

By F. Horton

Format:Spiral-bound

This is a lovely to look at book. It is mostly pink in prints of antique French fabrics. Apparently these fabrics and antiques are for those people who like to collect unusual items. I bought the book because it is about sewing, but really it is probably more about collecting/displaying expensive fabrics and antiques. There are 30 plain and simple projects, mostly for things around the home like bed sheets and pillowcases, Roman blinds, bath mat and wash mitt, ottoman cover, pillow covers and scalloped tablecloths among other items. An inexperienced seamstress would have a VERY hard time putting these things together with the pictures and instructions presented. The diagrams are hand drawn. MANY other books with much better directions are already in print, but the items are pretty and might be inspirational for some of us. This book will appeal to those who have lots and lots of money to spend and not much experience sewing. French General: Home Sewn:30 Projects for Every Room in the House

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Merde!! September 20, 2008

By J. Cohn

Format:Spiral-bound

I must disagree wth the first review of this book - I found this book to be fresh, inspiring and exactly what I needed in my life right now. What a wonderful, comforting book French General has written. Interesting projects and crafts all sewn out of someones personal collection of fabric. Kaari not only gives all sorts of options and ideas on what kind of fabric to use, she gives away a wonderful list at the back of the book... resources which are both unusual and some of my favorites.
Thank you French General, for following your own unique style and creating a prettier world for many of us. I hear you are designing for Moda - I am over the moon!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, but sewing experience a must for most projects April 12, 2011

By bsmithbrown

Format:Spiral-bound|Amazon Verified Purchase

When a book has patterns included, I assume I'll be able to grab some fabric and start sewing...this book is more for inspiration than it is for projects to run with. The book is beautiful and a real pleasure to look at. Practically speaking, though, it is difficult to use many (not all) of the instructions. I have been sewing for 40 years and have made many things that are more complicated than the patterns in this book, but I will have to fall back on my experience to make this book useful for actual sewing projects.

I can't understand why the instructions and yardages for "natural sheets" are given for one twin flat sheet, one full fitted sheet and one pillowcase. Who owns that bed? So, while the instructions are clear enough for an experienced seamstress, you will need to be able to figure out how many yards of fabric you need for a REAL bed (which would be either twin, full, queen OR king--not some strange combination of those), and you will need to re-work the sizes of the fabric pieces that you will cut and sew. Once you've done all the math (twice) you might be able to do the project, but a simple table of yardages and sizes to cut would have made this book so much easier to use! A pattern for a specific size and shape of basket is not very useful (how many people really own that exact size and shape of basket?) It would be more helpful to give directions on how to determine the sizes of fabric to cut based on the size of a basket you are trying to line, along with generic instructions on how to make a basket liner.

I am glad to own this very pretty and inspirational book, but I really wish the author or editor had gone that extra mile and given more practical instructions. The book "as is" is a bit of a tease......look at all these beautiful things you can make if you figure them out! Read more ›