Customer Reviews

Sew Pretty Homestyle

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is an amazing compilation of beautiful crafts and decoration items. Every page invites you to get the fabrics and start sewing! (Note that although the book looks very pinkish, the crafts could actually be as beautiful with any fabric). The pieces are very pretty, well done and presented with a lot of taste and style. The embroideries are very delicate. You will find gifts ideas for all your family and friends, as well as many decoration pieces for your own home.

The first chapter of the book goes over the techniques, then the projects are organized per room (chapters). The Entrance Hall chapter contains Floor Mats, Slippers, Bags...; the Kitchen chapter contains a pastry panel, beautiful decorative strawberries...; the Dining Room chapter covers a cute coffee pot dress, Table Mats, and Chair Cushions; the Living Room has another cute tapestry and some cure angels/dolls. The Conservatory will make you wish to collect these pears, roses and Garden Angels. The Hobby Room chapters will delight the sewing fan with Needle Case, Small Button Bagsot water Bottle Cover, Sleeping Masks and Puches, and finally, the Children's room gives you Teddy bears and Strawberry Cushions. The book ends with address and pattern pages.

The explanations are nicely described and easy to follow (especially with the illustrations that go with them). I would not recommend this book to a person who just started to sew because the crafts are not marked with difficulty rating. However it would work well for an intermediate level (and above).

I have only one regret about this book, it is too short. When you close it at the end, you wish to continue to read it. This is one of the most cherished books I have on my shelves.

Wow! Just got this in the mail today and I cannot wait to get started! Both myself and my daughter were "oohing and ahhing" over the beautiful pictures and the great ideas. I have a lot of sewing books, and this one ranks right up there! If you like cottage or vintage style, or just simply "pretty" things (as the title suggests), then this is the book for you! Highly recommended.

This is an inspiring and charming book! The directions are clear and concise. The photos are bright and beautiful. There are simple projects--like the cloth pear-- that can be made quickly and are highly attractive and satisfying. There are also projects that take longer like a quilt or a doll (could be an angel, or skip the wings and make a doll) that would make lovely gifts. I have pegged several items I know friends and family would be touched to receive this Christmas. The projects are remarkably appealing. I highly recommend this book!

I like pink, red, and blue, so needless to say, I think the author's crafted items are cute. Likewise, the book's photos are pretty and done well.

That said, however, I purchase a craft book in order to craft, not just browse through the pictures. Of all the craft books I own (and that's quite a lot), this one has the most unclear and confusing project instructions. Worse still, there are math errors (not just typos!). The two projects I chose first to make, the cake platter design quilt and the house/heart design quilt, both have wrong fabric/cutting dimensions (in inches). The time it takes to check everything kind of takes the pleasure out of the projects.

So if I had to do it over again, I would not purchase the book. While in the bookstore this week, I noticed the author has another similar new book out. I glanced through and saw the cute items, but, needless to say, did not buy it. Instead I came home and wrote this review!

Those who sew, quilt, and have done other similar crafts can look at the author's finished project and probably figure out the method to make it. However, I don't get the impression that this is supposed to be only an idea generating book, and I just personally don't have the patience for craft books that have technical information that has not been properly proofread. It was disappointing to discover that what I thought was a good book, turned out not to be so great once I actually started using it. Let's hope there aren't too many more errors.

If your style is not of the pink, cute, heart-shaped and/or otherwise "primitive" country variety, then steer clear of this book. The book is written in a pleasant, folksy manner (though this lends nothing to its supposed use as a how-to book) and the photography is nice. The fabric patterns (vintage-y floral) are my favorite part of the book, I'm afraid. Most of the items in this book are not utilitarian. They are decorative items, like fabric roses, dog and cat and angel dolls, etc. If that is your cup of tea, then you'll like this book. But if you're looking for less cute/pink/heart-shaped/"prim" country stuff, then you will probably flip through this once and never open it up again. If you happen to have a young daughter, niece, sister, etc. who likes "girly" items, then this book might be useful to you.

I am so very pleased with this book. It is full of pretty projects that I can't wait to get started on. Usually craft books have a couple of projects that I actually like enough to make myself, however, this one has so many that I'd do that I don't even know where to start. The pictures are lovely, the materials are pretty, the patterns are all so nice (without being too cutesy). I'd definitely recommend this book. I hope the author comes out with more!

When purchasing ANY book full price in a brick/mortar store, I am extremely picky about the publication. After all, many books can be obtained online in a perfectly good used condition for much less than new price. So, after reading it and examining the patterns for over an hour while sitting inside the store, I decided it was worth every penny.

With that said, I continue to be delighted at the fresh, female, timeless and relatively easy to construct craft items in Tone's book. The directions are not for a true beginner seamstress, but that is obvious when one examines the book. Every room of the house can be freshened up with one or more of the adorable projects. Bamboo handles and something akin to a pillowcase form an adorable handbag, total time an hour and a half. Small to large zippered and drawstring bags can be made with an endless variety of fabrics, reflecting the crafters personal taste and style. Stuffed toys and dolls can be made as simple or complex as desired. All the projects I have made have been truely satisfying.

For anyone that loves the cozy shabby pink look in decorating, this book will be one of your favorites for a long, long time.

The projects are all clean and easy. I think it's her better book, although I loved all of them.

After buying so many craft books that I was disappointed with, I have to say this one is really nice. Perhaps a bit cutesy but the patterns and ideas are well done and well explained. A few translation issues...but over all it works, and her style is not mine but I enjoyed the ideas very much. A sleeper, and I hope the other books she has out will be just as good.

I think there is a mistake on page 55 of this book - "my house" tapestry. The diminsions seem to be off - it says the quilt is supposed to measure 47 inches across - with the layout and the 4 inch border and a one-fourth inch seam allowance - I don't see how this is possible. Also, rectangles 8 and 9 are the wrong size - can anyone good with math let me know what the diminsions should be? I would appreciate any help I can get as I would love to make that cute quilt! Thanks.