Sew Fab

How to make beautiful fabric crafts for your home, from the GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE's Stuart Hillard. Stuart Hillard reached the semi-final of BBC2's GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE, bringing a fantastic sense of invention, passion, creativity and style to all things fabric. Stuart's first love is sewing for the home - transforming everything from tablecloths, cushions and curtains to garden chairs and quilts. He is an enthusiastic home sewer and teacher and his mission is to make sewing for the home accessible and aspirational, and his message is clear: sewing is for everyone. He introduces the novice sewer to the basic skills, kit and trimmings and also endeavours to teach even the most experienced sewer a new range of techniques. Ranging from the super-easy, no-sew projects for those who are enthusiastic about fabric but are under-confident, to gorgeous quilts that take a few basic sewing skills, Stuart's brilliant designs and simple-to-follow approach will help everyone to sew for their own home, their own way.

Have you ever seen a fabulous pillow in a boutique or catalog and thought: "I wish I could make that”? Fortunately, you can! Pillows are one of the easiest home decorating items to sew, and these 15 styles will appeal to today’s hip readers. A short introductory course provides all the basic skills--seaming, installing a zipper, stitching buttons and buttonholes, adding flanges--and then it’s time to sew. Start simple with a knife-edged square pillow, move on to a boxed cushion with piping, and create a bolster to showcase a fabulous fabric. Each project builds on the one before, so readers progressively develop a repertoire of skills. Many of the pillows feature popular embellishments such as ribbon trim, appliqu�, and embroidery.

Sew Fab is a style and sewing workbook for any girl aged 8–13 who loves fashion. It will teach you not just to sew, but how to wear your creations with flair. Start by finding your style tribe, learning to accessorize, identifying the best colors for you, and more. Now get ready to sew. Make yourself a mini studio, stock your sewing basket, and try out some hand stitching. Finally, make some Art to Wear. There's a mix of easy step-by-step projects to sew by hand or using simple machining, from a hair bow to a little black dress (but in the color that suits you best!). Packed with gorgeous illustrations, step-by-step projects, tips, and fun activities, you will be creating unique clothes and accessories in no time.

It takes a fabulous top to top off an outfit perfectly--and these smart and trendy choices are right at the height of fashion. Plus, they’re simple to sew, with each project building on the one before so novices can progressively develop their skills-including seaming, adding darts, setting in sleeves, and inserting a neckline flounce or collar. Newcomers, or those who feel a little rusty, can begin with the mock-wrap blouse or an extremely easy-to-make pullover tank with topstitching. Ponchos remain cool as ever, and the lightweight version here showcases wonderfully interesting fabric. A jacket with contemporary cropped sleeves goes smoothly from a day at work to an evening out.

“Applicable to a variety of projects despite the handbag focus, this spirited primer will leave readers feeling well-prepared and ready to start sewing.” —Publishers Weekly Sew stylish shoulder bags, totes, clutches, and drawstring bags! Whether you’re a total beginner or a confident sewist who loves to finish a project in one sitting, you’ll love this modern collection of thirteen bags you can truly make your own. Turn flat fabric into handbags of any shape when you learn the basics of construction, transferring a pattern, and finishing details. A must-have primer for the beginning sewist! “Not only does this book have 13 cute and unique bags, but Hilarie also gives insight on how to think like a designer, and some really cute embellishments . . . If you have sewn before, but have never made a bag this will be great, and if you have made multiple bags and are looking to improve your skills this is also great!” —Brooklyn Sewcial “Full of different styles of bags that are fun and easy to make for yourself or as gifts! . . . All of the patterns and designs are easy to customize.” —Needle, Ink and Thread “One of my favorite parts of the book, however, was the section where Hilarie writes about learning ‘How to think like a designer.’ She gives several exercises that help spur one’s creativity.” —The Sewing Room

Black Girls Sew supplies tools, builds skills, and offers encouragement to help young sewists create a powerful sense of self and style Black Girls Sew is a nonprofit organization built on strong messaging: teach and empower young girls to take ownership of and have pride in their clothing. Their first book offers the tools, knowledge, and vocabulary to help young people take back their fashion narrative. Black and brown girls and boys need a space where they do not have to encounter misrepresentation of their culture, and this book provides them with a safe space in which to explore their creativity. Primarily the book teaches basic sewing skills and design principles so that readers can create one-of-a-kind looks. By encouraging them to follow their curiosity, rather than telling them what to create, Black Girls Sew helps young fashionistas learn to take risks and explore creative play in clothing design. The way we dress is a means of expression, and by encouraging boys and girls to immerse themselves in the world of fashion, providing projects to create their own wares, and offering historical looks at prominent Black figures who have impacted the industry, Black Girls Sew is a guide for all who are interested in fashion, design, and building their own powerful sense of self and style.