Alabama Studio Style & Sewing Green
How do you choose a craft or sewing book? Do you have a criteria? I had the "day off" on Saturday to do some shopping and basically be out-and-about sans kids and with no curfew. I decided part of what I wanted to do was go to a real live bookstore and look at some of the sewing books I see around blog-land. Oftentimes I will check out craft or sewing books from the library first, to get a good feel for the projects. But that's a very time-consuming process as I have to wait for inter-library loans and the new ones always have waiting lists. I felt like just sitting down and looking at a bunch - so that's what I did! Now, finding a bookstore in Milwaukee with a decent selection of craft and sewing books was a bit of a challenge. In the end, Barnes & Noble was the winner with about four times the number of books as it's nearest competition. I checked both independent stores and another chain. Do Milwaukeens not sew? Or, is the market underserved here? Hmmmm.
From the beginning, I decided I didn't have to buy a book, just get an idea of one I'd maybe want to buy someday. Then I thought I should have some sort of criteria as to how to pick one. With the proliferation of free patterns and instructions online, how does one choose to buy a book?
Here's what I ended up looking for:
1. Projects I actually want to make. Obviously. But how many projects I want to make would justify buying a book? Only one if it's great. Or a bunch of little, easy-ish ones.
2. A collection of projects not found easily online. Sometimes online instructions are not as detailed as those in books, or they can be hard to find. Or you have to go to this blog, then that blog and can't remember where you saw it. Sometimes it's just nice to have a bunch of things you always wanted to make in one book.
3. Can't put it down. Can't imagine leaving the store without it.
The two books I ended up with met all three categories.
Alabama Studio Style by Natalie Chanin is a beautiful book that is as much about the photographs and style as the techniques taught. The projects revolve around hand stitching (which I really want to work on improving) and cotton jersey fabric. I love cotton jersey, I love working with it and wearing it.
All of the clothing projects revolve around one basic sewing pattern - a very flattering tank/dress/skirt pattern. It actually reminds me of my favorite-dress-ever that I bought in Portugal when I was in college. Sadly, it no longer fits me - you know, it shrunk ;)
There are a few other interesting projects and many, many ways to embellish the fabric with applique and stencils. A fabulously inspiring book. (Oooh, and there are recipes, too!)
Sewing Green by Betz White is the book with a bunch of projects that I've always wanted to try. I love having them all in one place - totes, pants, blankets, napkins, pillowcase dresses, stuffed animals and much, much more. And so many clever ways to reuse other materials. It's a great reference for the many techniques that Betz White has perfected and teaches.
Look for my version of some of these projects on the blog in the future. Once I get through all the other projects I have started!
What do you look for in a sewing/craft book? Have you bought any good ones lately?
Monday, April 5, 2010 at 7:37PM
Reader Comments (2)
Awesome, Melanie! I had not seen the first book, yet! Looks wonderful :-)
What an interesting post.
I have some different requierements. Because I am not one to follow directions, I tend to appreciate books that illustrate concepts more than anything. A book of detailed patterns for projects is interesting, but I'm not likely to buy it. But one that goes through concepts, using projects as illustrations is more my speed.