Customer Reviews

Sew & Stow: 31 Fun Sewing Projects to Carry, Hold, and Organize Your Stuff, Your Home, and Yourself!

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you already have Betty Oppenheimer's prior book, "Sewing Packs, Pouches, Seats & Sacks, then don't buy this one!! It is exactly the same book except the projects are renamed, and there is a color photo of each one. I was incredibly disappointed. I was really looking forward to her book and expected new projects. My book is going back.

That being said, if you DON'T have the prior book, and like to make useful items, this is one of the best. Her instructions are very detailed, and will give you the confidence to invent your own projects.

I go by the rule of not buying a book unless I'll do at least 3 of the projects in it. This book barely made the cut. I didn't find anything terribly innovative, and the format of the book was not nearly as good as some other craft books I've gotten. All of the pictures are in the front, and the instructions for the projects follow. This results in a lot of flipping back and forth, which is never very handy when it comes to craftiness.

I am terribly frustrated with this book. The only project I really wanted to make was the handy catch all for scissors and such. It is pictured on the back cover. There are no actual directions for it. It is included in the design section. Why not include the directions for this project and then address the design aspects?

For the most part the projects seem fairly easy and although actual patterns aren't included, many of them simply require measuring and cutting rectangular or square pieces of fabric. However, the author also encourages the reader to do their own thing and come up with their own designs which isn't a bad idea in itself for things like customizing the size of pockets for some of the organizers, as an example, but nothing in the title or book description indicates that this is the tone of the book and because of that readers will assume they are getting a book of projects with exact instructions and patterns.

For example, the two projects I really wanted to make - the customized hobby tote and the fabric file box - came with little or no instruction at all because the author herself admitted she hadn't figured out the best way to make them yet. There were nice finished prototypes of these projects included in the photos so I felt the least the author could do was give the instructions for those even if they weren't perfect. Instead she encourages the readers to ask themselves a series of questions about what they want out of these two projects, how they think they should be put together, etc., and then basically wishes them luck in figuring it all out.

There were projects that seem useful such as a tote bag, a gardening apron, a cleaning caddy with pockets that fits around a 5 gallon plastic bucket, a clever sling for a water bottle, and a knitting needle tote. Some are easy enough for a beginner to figure out, and others require more know-how and the ability to adapt along the way. The section outlining the basics of sewing, equipment, and differences in fabrics was good.

For someone who likes to create their own patterns or customize someone else's ideas, this is a great book for inspiring that kind of creativity and has enough projects to make it worth the price so that's why I gave it four stars instead of three. But those who want exact instructions and patterns will likely be frustrated.

I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher and the opinion of it is my own and wasn't solicited.

I really like the patterns in this book. They solve problems in a practical way. I had been wanting to make grocery totes and had an idea of what I wanted to do - Betty did it for me!

This book has some decent ideas. I am all about organization, so I had hoped to LOVE this book. Several of the projects I had already come across free online tutorials for. I've also got other craft books that have a few of these projects in there. It is organized a bit awkwardly, with all the photos of completed projects in the front and all the instructions in the back. I've had this book for almost a year and have done no more than flip through it. I've yet to make the first thing from it. Nothing particularly stands out. I do plan on making a couple hammocks as Christmas gifts this year from this book, but honestly, did I really NEED detailed instructions on a large rectangle? Probably not. But the idea is good, so thank Sew and Stow for that. It is a good looking book and looks snazzy just sitting on my table.

This is a great little resource book. Lots of pictures and ideas. Not a pattern book, but more of a 'how-to' with ways of adapting it to your needs. Includes a few different ways to finish edges, measuring for pockets based on what you need it for, straps and handles, etc.

Sew bags, purses, totes and more with over thirty projects suitable for all skills, from beginners to neo-pro sewers. The whole idea goes beyond purses to bags to tote and store household and travel items: SEW & STOW offers the basic techniques for cutting, sewing and finishing along with pink sidebars of information and plenty of illustration. Needlework libraries will find this a fun addition.

Had been looking for a book to give me the basics so i could take off on my own fun. this fit the bill. it has some simple patterns for making odd little things. with that info, i can do whatever i want to change the design or even function.

oddly enough, i read this book for pleasure. again and again.

the reference material about the basics of sewing was helpful too. i have been a hobby sewer for years, and i still learned new info.

would and have recommended this book to friends, both with and without sewing expereince.

only issue is the "refer to another section of the book for the rest of the instructions." ugh. hate that in any book. just put the instructions in the same section of the book. and could have had more illustrations or pics of the projects. as a visual learner, struggled a bit with reading then having to visualize the process in my head.

My only beef with this book is the fabric file box I wanted to make was something they didn't have an actual pattern for....I had to figure one out myself using their ideas. It seemed as though it would be too hard (since I was having to come up with the measurements myself...) But once I actually started, my fabric file box actually came out really nice:) I've also made the simple laundry bag (makes a good gift for a college bound student btw). The grocery tote looks wonderful and BIG. Every thing in here is very practical and useful stuff. UPDATE: I needed some aprons and used the "cook's helper apron" pattern from this book. It the typical chefs apron with pockets. Instructions for it were very simple and one can make it as complex or as simple as they want (meaning that you can make your neck strap adjustable with D rings, or just not to as I did.) I made it very simple, but it looks very nice. I was able to whip up 2 aprons in an evening....ran out of bias tape for the back ties on the 2nd apron and was actually able to use some new boot shoelaces I had. LOL. Don't knock it, it worked and coordinated with the yellow fabric I was using. I like practical and I like to be able to use up stuff that's already laying around my house..... The idea of this book is to come up with practical storage solutions for everyday items. 2010, further update: I used the "shoulder relief strap" pattern in here to make a shoulder strap for a large messenger bag. Very nice! (Altho, I simplified the pattern by lining mine with quilt batting that was sewn in, instead of the foam that they recommended in the pattern.)