127 of 129 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The raves are warranted - read on for specifics ..., October 22, 2004
This review is from: Stitch-It Kit (Misc. Supplies)
Yes, Jenny Hart does have the coolest-of-the-cool do-it-yourself craft websites out there, SublimeStitching.com. I could rave about Ms. Jenny and her Stitch-It Kit, but everyone else has beat me to the punch-ola. So, I'll give you the low-down on what you'll be getting in exchange for less money than the cost of a McDonald's meal for four ...
First, there's the instruction guide. The book begins with the "Introduction," which explains exactly why embroidery is so cool - it beats the heck out of a night of couch-potato-ing, and you end up with something unique and not a la Target. The "Tools of the Trade" section quickly (notice I didn't say "laboriously") describes the needles, floss, material, hoop, and patterns necessary for a quick-and-simple embroidery project (is there a cheaper hobby out there?). In "Let's Get Started," Ms. Jenny explains how to apply the pattern to the fabric and get the fabric into the hoop - voila! From there, you can quickly jump to the "Stitch Diagrams" section, where the techniques behind the simple stitches known as split stitch, stem stitch, back stitch, running stitch, satin stitch, chain stitch, scalloping chain, detailed chain (aka laisy daisy stitch), and French knot are explained with step-by-step illustrations. If all you ever did was learn the simple back stitch, you could pop out fabulouso embroidery for the rest of your days. "Behind the Seams" contains some helpful hints, as well provides a platform for Ms. Jenny to decry the evils of fusible interfacing (aren't you glad to know you don't have to search for, buy, or use something as evil-sounding as "fusible interfacing"?). The book ends with one page of online and hard copy resources for embroidery techniques.
For inspiration, sprinkled throughout the book are full-page color photos of items embroidered with Ms. Jenny's creations, including a blouse collar embroidered with cherries; an embroidered napkin sporting a teapot, tea cup and strawberry; a baby's onesie decorated with a demure poodle; a skirt with a simple decorative border; pillow cases adorned with Paris motiffs and beauty aids; a tank top bearing one large anchor; a fabulous tiki sitting atop a shirt pocket; ties displaying a dancing hula girl and a vintage guitar; and a baby's bib decorated with a 1940s blue bird. What more do you need to get your creative juices juicing?
Just so you'll have no excuse to not immediately begin stitching, the kit includes a medium-sized plastic embroidery hoop, an embroidery needle, two tea towels, and seven skeins of embroidery floss (light blue, pink, red, yellow, light green, tan-brown, and black). Oh, wait - I've forgotten Ms. Jenny's reason for being - THE PATTERNS!! Here is what Ms. Jenny has artfully designed and provided to you to begin your swingin' stitchin': a teapot and teacup; the words "Mine" and "Yours"; banners of various sizes in which to embroider such words; a sassy little kitty; a cake and cherries; a strawberry and a pineapple; atomic-style graphics; the Eiffel Tower; vintage guitars; a boppin' hula dancin' babe; the palm trees for the hula babe to dance under; a tube of lipstick, a compact, and a powder puff; a mascara wand and a perfume atomizer; a sweet, demure poodle; a Kelly handbag with matching pumps; a "True Love" skull and anchor; a 1940s blue bird, complete with tattoo-style banner; a dagger-and-heart tattoo replica; the tikiest of tikis; several simple floral and decorative borders; and, last but not least, upper and lower case letters, the numbers 1 through 9 and 0, and the all-necessary question mark and exclamation point. All of this is delivered to you in a little box that can repose on your bookshelf, sit on your nightstand, or hide under your car seat.
Now that, my friends, is telling it like it is. You like what you've read? Hit the button that pops this goody into your cart, and sit by the mailbox until it arrives.
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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thoughts from a guy, July 13, 2005
This review is from: Stitch-It Kit (Misc. Supplies)
My burly friend Bill, who looks like a trucker, laughed when I told him about how I was so relaxed after spending an evening hand-repairing the seams on a vintage shirt. "You should take up embroidery," he said. I thought he was joking until he showed me all the embroidery, cross-stitch and needlepoint stuff he had done himself and was very proud of. Heck, if it's good enough for him....
I researched beginner's kits and decided on this one after seeing Jenny Hart on Style Network's hilarious "Craft Corner Deathmatch" show. Her patterns reflect a wry humor and sly satirical style that's perfectly in keeping with my own outlook on life.
The instructions are easy to follow and I completed the first tea towel in a week. I'm working on the second and plotting what else to do. The reusable iron-on patterns are the real star of the kit. Many of them are open to all sorts of variations. One pattern is of a bird holding a banner in its beak that can be filled in with anything you desire. The booklet pictures it on a baby's bib, brightly colored and "YUM" in the banner. For this sarcastic guy, I'm already plotting to put it on a t-shirt, in the same bright colors only saying "BITE ME" on the banner. Or doing it in all black with "NEVERMORE."
I can't recommend this highly enough to anyone interested in embroidery, and it would probably be a great gift for teens. And guys, don't let yourselves be scared off! I've found it's something I can do while I sit and watch TV, it's a good de-stresser, and you can jazz up your hankies and old shirts and ties and whatever else.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have an tablecloth to embroider...
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28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yes, it really is that easy and fun, December 31, 2004
This review is from: Stitch-It Kit (Misc. Supplies)
Just fabulous. Clear, straightforward instructions and illustrations, and best of all, truly fun and original patterns that REALLY ARE that easy to stitch.
I wish amazon would show some examples of the patterns in their 'look inside' feature because that's really the best part of this cool little kit, but if you want to check out what the patterns are like, then go to sublimestitching.com for a preview.
Even the most fumble-fingered crafter (namely, well, ME) can stitch these patterns! But be warned - read all the instructions (doesn't take long) and take Ms Hart's advice on things such as stitching on t-shirt fabric (a pain to do) and how to properly transfer your pattern. She's experienced and can save you a lot of frustration by steering you clear of common mistakes.
Comes with all you need - needles, fabric, patterns, embroidery thread (called floss). Cute little box too!
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