Weekend Sewing: More Than 40 Projects and Ideas for Inspired Stitching [Hardcover]

Heather Ross (Author), John Gruen (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2009

More than just a pair of days, a weekend is also a state of mind—a feeling of relaxation and freedom to immerse ourselves fully in a favorite activity. In Weekend Sewing, designer Heather Ross presents creative projects for clothing, accessories, and home items that can be made in a weekend or less. Some, like the Quick Garden Gloves and Ruby’s Bloomers, take a few hours; others, like the Weekend-Away Travel Bag and Trapeze Sundress, require a day or two—but all of them capture that weekend feeling.

 
And because weekends are often the most fun when they’re social, Ross features ideas that encourage us to share our stitching and our time, such as a recipe for soup to simmer while sewing, then serve to guests later in the day, and tips for transporting a sewing machine to a friend’s house for an afternoon of social stitching.

The sewing instructions are beautifully illustrated, and patterns for the projects are included on pullout sheets.
 
 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Heather Ross designs fabric, fashion projects, sewing patterns, and stationery goods. Her two lines of fabric, Heather Ross for Free Spirit and Heather Ross for Kokka, are sold in quilting and fabric stores in the U.S. and abroad. Ross lives in New York City. Visit her website at www.heatherrossdesigns.com.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book (March 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584796758
• ISBN-13: 978-1584796756
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.8 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #520,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Heather Ross is an illustrator, author, and textile designer with a large following in the crafts and sewing markets. Her textile designs are among the most recognizable in the retail fabric market and are a favorite among home sewers of clothing, accessories, and decor for children.

Heather is the author of Weekend Sewing, a best-selling how-to sewing book, Heather Ross Prints, and is the illustrator of the Crafty Chloe picture book series as well as numerous chapter book titles. She teaches sewing and crafts to women and girls of all ages through her popular sewing retreats and online at Creative Bug. Heather's client list includes a wide range of product lines and companies, including high end home decor and fashion fabrics for Kokka of Japan, paper goods for Chronicle Books, original artwork for Polar Bears International, for whom she acts as artistic ambassador, and even surfboards (Walden Surfboards, Artists Series Signature Line).

Heather Ross's home and studio are in New York City.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

105 of 107 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars It does take all weekend to sew one of Heather's Patterns April 18, 2009

By C. Jowers

Format:Hardcover

First off, I would like to note that I have successfully sewn many outfits for myself using patterns, as well as create bags and quilts. However, this book has so many errors I do not know where to begin. The sewing patterns do not have strait seem lines, nor do they have marks to match things up. They are mere sketches. The directions lack most basic information, as well as details about which pieces go where. The yard sale skirt is way too small, which Heather even states on her blog that 7 panels would work better than the printed suggestion of 6. I spent about 3 hours attempting to get the waistband correct, and finally attached it using a different method as hers seems impossible. I did use 7 panels and extended the waist band a full 2" on the large- x-large pattern, I am a size 10-12 and I can barley tie the skirt on. The fabric cutting diagram shows two skirt panels cut side by side on a folded piece of fabric (22"wide), yet the panels are about 21" wide each. You could never cut it that way. The yardage requirement for the Everything Tote is printed wrong at 1/2 yard for the exterior and 1/2 yard for the lining, yet you would need at least 1 1/4 for each.

I am so very disappointed in this book, and frankly I am afraid to attempt another of Heather Ross' projects and waist expensive beautiful fabric.

144 of 154 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Odd Man Out March 4, 2009

By Soapmaker

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I must be a less educated seamstress that the other reviewers, because I found the directions to be less than complete. There is an assumption in this book that you know what the seam allowance should be in some instances, that you know which is the "right" side as opposed to the "wrong" (not to be confused with the right and wrong side of the fabric), and that you can interpret drawings without having a clue as to which side is truly right or left or why that makes a difference. Also, as an example of deficient instruction, the photo of the trapeze dress is shown with ample box pleats while the pattern show meager ones and none in the back. However, when you try to put it together it's clear that there should be some in the back. I will have to rework and adjust the entire pattern to come up with anything that looks like the photograph. It's a sad lesson to learn after using material that I could not afford to waste. I also made the wrap around skirt in large/extra large and after struggling to interpret the minimal directions, I find that it is too small. Granted, I'm a size 14 to 16, but the pattern is a 10 to 12 and that's not large/extra large, to me. Measurements would be a good thing to have for reference on the patterns.

All of this is regrettable as her pictures are so appealing and her styles are so lovely with such clean lines. My ultimate opinion is that the author is a talented artist with, as many artists are, an inability to translate into precise, detailed instruction. Again, perhaps I am simply too much of a beginner, but beginners should be able to make lovely things too.

58 of 61 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars I really want to love this book... March 29, 2009

By Crafty Mom

Format:Hardcover

This book has gorgeous patterns and is just what I've been looking for. I've made two items and both have major errors in the patterns! bummer. The yard sale skirt is missing a panel or two so after I made it - it let me quite indecent. The tunic top doesn't have markings on the pattern that it refers two for gathering the sleeves. I'm very disappointed.