I Love Patchwork: 21 Irresistible Zakka Projects to Sew [Paperback]

Rashida Coleman-Hale (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2009

Offering a modern approach to traditional fabric design, this charming instructional illustrates how to create sophisticated patchwork projects by combining linen and print fabrics using simple quilting procedures. Presenting a diverse collection of projects—many inspired by the Japanese zakka aesthetic—such as a travel sewing kit, sewing machine cover, table runner, apron, eco bag, towels, calendar, lap quilt, tote bag, pillowcase, and shoulder bag, all designs are fun, functional, and easy to master. Combining sewing, appliqué, quilting, and patchwork techniques with thoughtful advice on how to select, work with, and care for linen, this colorful handbook is brimming with sophisticated and innovative projects to challenge and inspire both beginning and intermediate sewers and quilters.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A beautiful new book." — Cate Prato, editor, Studios magazine

"[Coleman-Hale] has an amazing eye for color and combining fabrics, and is able to infuse a ton of impact into unfussy, beautiful sewn objects...we can all try our hands at these Japanese-inspired, happiness-inducing projects." — TrueUp.net

"A modern approach to this sewing technique that will appeal to beginning to intermediate sewers and quilters." — FabTalk

"If you're a fan of the handmade aesthetic with a clean simplistic look, this is a must-read." — CraftCritique.com

"The author grew up in Japan and her first-hand experience with zakka style shines through in this collection of functional and beautiful designs." — Grand Rapids Press

"Unique ways to combine simple sewing with various applique techniques, fabric ties and buttons." — The Detroit News

"A great introductory book...Love it for anywhere from a kitchen to a kid's room." — McClatchy-Tribune News Services

"Coleman-Hale's created a fellow linen-lover. I just droooool over I Love Patchwork." — Euphoria Blog

About the Author

Rashida Coleman-Hale studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, sells her designs on Etsy.com, and has contributed to Stitch magazine. She lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (December 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159668142X
• ISBN-13: 978-1596681422
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rashida Coleman-Hale has been making things ever since she can remember. Sewing is a gift passed on to her by her mother, grandmother, and grandfather, who was a tailor. Rashida studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Not sure if fashion was her calling, she traded her sewing machine for a computer and worked as a freelance graphic designer. Her passion for sewing was rekindled in 2006 after the arrival of her first child, and she began the blog I Heart Linen to document her re-born creative life and her life as a stay-at-home mommy.

Having spent much of her youth in Tokyo, Japan, where her love of linen began. Her experiences there have completely influenced her work and its style. Her work has been featured in SewNews, Stitch, SewHip!, ReadyMade, Burda Style, and Quilting Arts magazines, as well as on popular blogs such as Ohdeedoh, Design Sponge, Decor8, Craftzine, Sew, Mama, Sew, and True Up. She is also a fabric designer with Timeless Treasures Fabrics.

Rashida lives in Atlanta with her husband and their three children. Read more about her crafty life at iheartlinen.typepad.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EEEK- I love it!, December 22, 2009

By 

crafty brit chic (SF Bay Area) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: I Love Patchwork: 21 Irresistible Zakka Projects to Sew (Paperback)

Yippee! Finally a sewing book that has something refreshing and new, but 100% achievable and fun to read at the same time. As soon as I put the book down, I wanted to run to my sewing machine and make the Little Lamb Softie and the Sewing Machine cover, and the Lap Quilt. Rashida includes great information about linen and her resources sections is excellent. There were a couple of projects that were not for me or I had seen elsewhere, but for the most part, some solid projects, a great voice and a design aesthetic that is flawless. Much better choice than the Zakka Sewing: 25 Japanese Projects for the Household (Stc Craft) which I thought was hopeless.
Well done!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you love quick and easy projects, you'll love this book!, March 10, 2010

By 

Lauri Smith (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Love Patchwork: 21 Irresistible Zakka Projects to Sew (Paperback)

I really like this book...of course, I love any Zakka book! I have found that Zakka, in and of itself, are always very easy craft patterns. That's why so many people can buy the Japanese Zakka books and have no problem making their item, even though all the directions are in Japanese and they do not know the language. Most, if not all, of the projects are simple enough that you really don't have to have a sewing machine, as they can easily be handsewn.

This is a good book for beginners of any age with all of the easy step by step directions in English and lovely illustrations. It's a nice introduction to sewing. For the advanced or intermediate sewer (I consider myself an 'intermediate' sewer), I think it is always fun to try a new book and possibly see ideas and projects you haven't seen before. Want to give someone a quick, handmade gift? There are projects in here for everyone, and everyone will be amazed that YOU made it JUST for them!

Basically, if you are interested in Zakka crafting but have been afraid to try because most of the books out there are written in Japanese, this is a great book to begin with. Or, if you are just looking for quick and easy sewing projects, it's great for that, too!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beaten by the Buttons..., October 6, 2010

By 

Astrid (College Station, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Love Patchwork: 21 Irresistible Zakka Projects to Sew (Paperback)

One thing I like about this book is that it contains several projects that I haven't seen before. Sure, you've got the mandatory apron, cosmetics bag, kitchen towel, tote bag, coasters, and pillow, but you've also got inspired ideas such as a linen sewing machine cover, a paper-pieced baby's ball, a utensil basket, and the button calendar.

Ah, the button calendar. Let's talk about that. It was the project that made me buy the book; I was so excited and ran right out to buy the supplies. Ouch. Anyone know just how much self-covering buttons and velcro circles cost? But I went with it... you know, sometimes things you love cost a little more. (But seriously, if you're making a re-usable calendar to save money, you'd better plan to pass it down to your kids if you want to break even). The calendar was fun to make, good instructions, nice photos, clear diagram. I finished it up over several evenings, and then stood back proudly. But... oh, wait a second... if a month starts on a Friday or Saturday, there aren't enough spaces for all the buttons!!!! So, all that money on supplies, all that time, and it turns out the silly thing wasn't even designed properly, which was a little frustrating.

So far, the calendar is the only thing I've made, and though it was a little disappointing, I will definitely give the book another shot by trying out the sewing machine cover.