Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(20)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This book is absolutely gorgeous! If you look through the reviews, that is what prompted many to purchase it. Heather Ross has a sharp eye for visual appeal. After purchasing this book I flipped through it for a week dreaming of projects. Come the weekend, I was inspired to get out my sewing machine and begin.

Once you start to actually USE this book - the patterns, directions, illustrations - the scales fall quickly from your eyes. Sometimes the seam allowance is indicated, sometimes not. Sometimes the directions say 'wrong side' and the illustrations say 'right side'. If you look at Heather's website, the errata is growing. Egregious miscalculations in yardage and sometimes 'panels' (check out everyone who has mentioned the yard sale skirt from the book's cover!).

This book is beautiful, but the instructions are inaccurate and misleading. Presentation is important, but so is testing of projects and editing. If you are looking for a coffee table book, this one is lovely. If you would like to lose yourself in a weekend of sewing, pass this one by.

Note the trend in the reviews - the five-stars come primarily from people who haven't actually tried to use the book yet - they're still dreaming.

I'd consider myself an intermediate level seamstress. I feel compelled to write a review and save someone the trouble of trying to use the patterns/instructions in this book. I'll admit, I was attracted the the cute photos of all the projects, and thought it would be fun to whip some of them up in a few hours.

The person who created these patterns obviously has not much knowledge in pattern design, or even estimating fabric yardage for that matter.

I don't usually write reviews, but after my third project from this book turned out wrong or disastrous, I thought I would vent a little.

I'm very disappointed.

Before purchasing this darling little book, I read all the reviews and found a few common themes - the book is beautiful, the projects are smart and creative, and there are bugs in some of the patterns. After reading the 20+ reviews, I realized that all the fuss stemmed from a grand total of 6 of the 40 patterns... not a lot, but enough to make me keep digging before buying. I then followed the trail of the more helpful reviews to Heather's blog. I don't have the gift of words to describe how entertaining it is. But I can say that it convinced me to buy this book. Most helpful was the POSTED ERRATA (I can't include a link, but search "heather ross errata" and it will take you right there!). I'm happy to say that I'm already on my third project. My Yard Sale Skirt from one of my favorite Marimekko prints is dreamy (with a little extra help from that sixth panel!), and the Everything Tote turned out better than I could have hoped (again with the help of an extra 1/2 yard). And there is a free pattern for a sundress on her blog that I've got on my list!

I wish the book got all the patterns right on the first printing, but 34 of the 40 seem perfect, and the remaining 6 (which happen to be my favorites!) are clearly addressed in the errata. Not bad for twenty dollars.

The list of problems with this book extends beyond the yard sale skirt. I made my daughters the PJ bottoms, which were just darling. When I tried to make them for my husband I ran into problems. First of all, they don't tell you the fabric width you'll need, just the yardage. Most mid- to lightweight fabric is a standard 44" wide. There is no way to lay out the large PJ bottoms on 2 1/4 yards. You would need to lay out the pattern pieces end to end, which would require 3 yards. After buying the 2 1/4 yards and having only one piece fit (which wasted 3/4 yard), I had to go out and buy another 1 1/2 yard piece. This is, of course, after I had already made him a pair of size medium, which were supposed to fit up to a 35" waist and they were obscenely tight on his 32" frame.

I also attempted the size Medium (women's 7/8) slippers and I couldn't even begin to fit them on my size 8 feet. There are no dots to transfer, as the instructions say when you are supposed to gather the front of the slipper. The instructions say to use felted wool for the footbed lining and the sole, but the pictures all show felt only being used as the sole.

The Weekend-Away Travel Bag is in desperate need of some interfacing. I used home decor weight fabric for the exterior and linen for the lining and it is still a floppy little thing. If you make the optional interior pocket you will soon realize it is completely unusable. Using the measurements and instructions given, you end up with most of the pocket lying on the bottom of the bag and the rest of the pocket barely extending up the sides. If my toiletries were L shaped it would be perfect.

I'm still giving the book two stars because it is a beautiful book with lots of great ideas and I'm desperately hoping some of the patterns actually work. I want to try the Summer Blouse, but I'll be searching online for anyone's comments before attempting it.

Let me start by saying that I have done a lot of sewing over the years, and own many sewing books. This book is really stylish, and the pattern ideas are super cute. So many books suffer from frumpy, out-of-date patterns, but Heather's projects are fun and modern. The layout is lovely and her writing style is accessible. With all that being said, though, I have never seen a sewing book so riddled with errors. I wonder if they will actually do a re-print because most of the patterns have errors in yard requirements, layout, or other areas. This can mean spending money on a yard and a half of fabric only to find out you need two yards, turning your $16 shirt into a $32 shirt. Or spending hours making a skirt to discover that you needed an extra panel and all your work was for naught. You get the picture. I hate to say it, but I would not recommend this book - it's just too filled with mistakes and it ends up being an exercise in frustration.

This is a fun sewing book! I would have given it 5 stars except the fabric amount listed for the "Everything Tote" is inaccurate. The directions call for 1/2 yd's of fabric for tote and 1/2 yd for lining. This is not possible for even 54" wide fabric. You will need more fabric -
1 1/3 yds of each to get the body of the bag and the straps/handles on the bias. Otherwise, great book with humor and cute projects.

This book is very pretty, and fun to leaf through. I bought it to make the simple wrap skirt, I'm not a newbie seamstress but I'm not an expert - (I've sewn a Folkwear dress, miscellaneous bags & such, and a quilt.)

Now, the only criticism I am going to lay down is with regards to the wrap skirt specifically. It's not just me who thought it was odd, but also my mother who's been sewing for 40+ years.

First, the pieces will not fit on standard 44" width. The author suggests buying an extra half yard if you aren't using 60" fabric, but somebody didn't test this out because with shrinkage from washing none of the pieces fit. I had to buy new fabric and even then I was barely able to squeeze in the panel pieces, forget anything else.

The only solution I can see is buying 60" fabric to do this piece, but as I haven't tried this I don't know if that even works out properly, either.

Then, there's the sash debacle. I bought an extra half yard of fabric to do the sashes because that's what she says to do in the book. This is besides the fact that 2.5 yards of 44" washed/pre-shrunk fabric wasn't enough for my skirt pieces, let alone the sash pieces.

Here is the thing, You can't fold a half of a yard of fabric & cut those long sashes on the bias. The only way to do it was to cut them out 1 by 1 (for a total of 4 sash pieces.) (And forget fitting the middle sash pieces on .5 of a yard, they won't fit! I had to use a third fabric!)

The best part was when I went to put the sash together and realized that because I'd cut them out 1 by 1, the sash corner/edges did not match up at all when I had to sew them together (they were angled in opposite ways, which wouldn't have happened if you were cutting 2 pieces at a time with your fabric folded - but I am too dumb and inexperienced to anticipate that end and flip my pattern piece while cutting to avoid that happening.)

And another thing - sizing - My measurements make me a size medium. I made a size large because I wanted to be safe in case I screwed up I'd rather have a wrap skirt that was too big than too small.

This skirt barely makes it around my waist. It's got a really pretty shape to it, and the sash is certainly long enough, but it barely closes over my presumably flubby midsection. I'm 5'9" and if I were to pose on a tree like the woman in the photo on the cover of the book - not only would the skirt be above my knees, it'd be flopped open and everyone would be looking at my knickers. I know wrap skirts show some leg but when you close the ties there's a centimeter of flesh left gaping where the top edges don't touch.

Now, I accept, it's very likely I am the worst seamstress ever. But it seems to me if you are going to publish a book and a pattern you ought to check and make sure pattern pieces fit on the amount of fabric you suggest.

But, it is a pretty book!