31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Whimsical Book Full of Creative and Fun Projects!, June 13, 2010
This review is from: Small Stash Sewing: 24 Projects Using Designer Fat Quarters (Paperback)
There are a couple things I look for in a book or magazine: high quality pictures and illustrations (eye candy!), useful tips, intermediate to advanced techniques, and a variety of fresh, modern projects. This book has at least 3-4 projects I want to make, so it was worth buying.
Amy Butler wrote the most amazing, heartwarming foreword for this book. You can tell Amy admires Melissa's creativity and creative soul, which just made me smile. Melissa seems like such an open, humble shining star!
This book includes such categories as To Wear, At Home and For Kids. The variety of projects offer challenges for beginners and more veteran sewists, making it a well-rounded book.
The "To Wear" section includes projects like a ruched patchwork belt, a spiced up tee for guys, even custom shoelaces, which would really liven up my gray Converse. The adorable necklace with the pretty ribbon closure is a very artsy, girly project that can be made in probably an hour. I love Melissa's strapping bag because it looks like just my size. (I'm not a big fan of large purses, or leather purses, or designer purses.) I love the way she combined the light blue wale corduroy for the sides with the quilting cotton gusset and straps, which would also look cool as a pieced strap.
The "At Home" section includes a very hip argyle embellished pillow, a fabric-covered magnetic frame for your fridge, a gorgeous apron, and a cool bath mat, which is a couple fat quarters pieced over an old bath towel to spice up that old towel. I also loved the daydreamer lap quilt, a clever way to embellish a strip-pieced quilt top. The Cute-as-a -Button-Clock is a fun way to show off a favorite fat quarter and coordinating buttons from your stash.
The "For Kids" section offers a precious pillowcase dress, a great jester crown for the boys, a yo-yo tiara for the girls, a magic cape, and the prettiest wrap skirt that is reversible. The little ladybug softie is adorable and could be used as a big pincushion. Ah, the imagination in this book is so fun! Of course the unicorn and moon, which represent Melissa's famous Unicorn stories, are priceless.
The pattern pieces are printed in the back, and only a couple of them need enlarging, another bonus since I don't know how to make enlargements on my home copier.
I would have to say the best part of this book is the ability of the reader to actually feel like you are with Melissa as she experiments with these creative projects, using just the treasured fat quarters in your stash. If you're looking for cheerful sewing projects to fill an afternoon, this book offers loads of potential for challenge and satisfaction.
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39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
A let down, May 31, 2010
This review is from: Small Stash Sewing: 24 Projects Using Designer Fat Quarters (Paperback)
I was looking forward to this parcel arriving on my doorstep but upon seeing it when I got home yesterday I was sadly disappointed.
I was expecting a book with projects that mainly used fat quarters (only) but find that many of the projects need a great deal of extra fabric (often the bulk required for the project) and the fat quarter is only an accent.
The projects in themselves were also a let down, one is a pair of shoe laces! And others, like the yoga pants and band tee could be considered embellishment at best.
There isn't anything in here that an experienced, or even intermediate, sewer couldn't sew without this book. It would not be a terrible source book for a newbie looking for ideas but far from what I was expecting.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clever, Fresh Ideas, June 2, 2010
This review is from: Small Stash Sewing: 24 Projects Using Designer Fat Quarters (Paperback)
Melissa's book has new and clever ideas of how to highlight those favorite fat quarters you've been hoarding in your stash. Many of the projects do require additional fabrics, but they cleverly make the fat quarter the star of the show. Yes, there is the standard quilt, purse and pillow projects, but they have a unique "freestyle" sewing approach and offer plenty of opportunities to add your own personality. The shoelace project is so stinking clever I can hardly stand it and the Jester Crown and Cuffs is a project I haven't seen anything like before. Owlie McPillowpants and Unicorn *Hearts* Moon pillow projects you'll just have to see yourself for their cleverness and opportunities for self-expression. Small Stash Sewing is an opportunity to pull out those favorite fabric pieces and have fun with your sewing.
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