Skydyes


Book Description

A veteran fiber artist shares the basics of fabric painting, including step-by-step instructions to master techniques, and a list of necessary supplies. For Mickey Lawler, the sky is never the limit! Mickey’s SKYDYES fabric is well known among quilters and fiber artists as the finest individually hand-painted cotton available. • Perfect for beginning fabric painters, as well as those who have dabbled with fabric paints • Straightforward instructions explain Mickey’s painting techniques • Easy-to-follow exercises show how to create skies, earth, seas, and gardens • Learn how to choose appropriate fabrics, paints, and applicators • Handy “Paint Color and Mixing Chart” • Includes an easy quilt project that uses fabrics you create in the exercises Praise for Skydyes “Skydyes takes an easygoing tutorial approach to teach quilters new aspects of their craft. Known for her beautiful hand-painted cotton fabrics, Lawler here teaches the art of fabric painting to those who would rather paint their own than buy custom-painted fabric. . . . An excellent choice.” —Library Journal




Socks Appeal


Book Description

Enjoy making whimsical stuffed animals using baby socks, knee socks, crew socks--any kinds of socks rock! Give your critter's face plenty of creative expression by embellishing with your favorite buttons and embroidery. Several projects are easy enough for children to make for their own toybox, but you'll want a bunch of these irresistible cuties for yourself, too!




Storybook Toys


Book Description

Kindle the imagination with these loveable handmade fabric toys! Inspired by vintage 1940s patterns, projects include dolls, softies, pillows, puppets, and little girl’s handbag. Learn toy-making tips to give your creation personal style and a sweet disposition. Author Jill Hamor gives ideas for involving children in the process to teach them basic sewing skills. Customize any project to fit your skill level and time commitment, and have fun making outfits for your dolly from your favorite fabrics, scraps, or even upcycled bits from old clothes. Share the love of handmade with your whole family…the young and the young at heart!




Radiant Landscapes


Book Description

Here, readers can discover how to add dramatic depth to their landscape applique quilts using easy-to-follow techniques from master quilter Gloria Loughman."




Winter Lights


Book Description

Rich, luminous fabrics. Eleven miles of thread. An uncountable number of stitches. Clear, sparkling words. With these ingredients Anna Grossnickle Hines celebrates the lights that brighten the darkest season of our year. In poems and quilts she captures each heartening glow and flicker, from the moon and aurora borealis to the holiday lights of Santa Lucia, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Chinese New Year to one lone candle and a hidden flashlight in the deep, dark night.




Feedsack Secrets


Book Description

A quilt historian chronicles the fascinating yet untold story of feedsack quilts made in America during the Great Depression and WWII. Feedsacks weren’t meant for anything more than their name implies until hard times changed the way people looked at available resources. In the 1930s and 40s, quilters facing poverty and fabric shortages found that these cotton bags could be repurposed into something beautiful. Manufacturers capitalized on the trend by designing their bags with stylish patterns, like the iconic gingham. In Feedsack Secrets, quilt historian Gloria Nixon shares the story of the patterned feedsack with research culled from old farm periodicals, magazines and newspapers. Along the way, she reveals how women met for sack-and-snack-club fabric swaps; there were restrictions on jacket lengths, hem depths and the sweep of a skirt; and feedsack prints and bags played a part in political contests, even accurately predicting that Truman would win the 1948 presidential election.




The Upcycled T-Shirt


Book Description

Consume less and create more—by turning old T-shirts into new treasures. Kid-friendly projects included! Did you know the average American throws away more than sixty-eight pounds of clothing each year? Join the revolution to reduce your carbon footprint—one T-shirt at a time! Widely known for her recycling efforts, environmental crafter Jenelle Montilone will show you how to upcycle tees into fun and fanciful quilts, accessories, toys, and gifts for the whole family. With nearly 30 easy-to-make ideas, you’ll consume less and create more!




Rotary Cutting Revolution


Book Description

The Make It Simpler? Way of rotary cutting is a brand new method for cutting your fabric pieces quickly'in just one step! Best-selling author and teacher Anita Grossman Solomon shows you how to cut squares into smaller pieces with precision but without waste. When you use her efficient shortcuts, you'll get more bang for your fabric buck!




DIY Wardrobe Makeovers


Book Description

Unlock your closet’s potential with simple wardrobe fixes and refashions to express your style. These basic alterations and step-by-step restyling tutorials will help you fit and reassemble garments into newfound faves. No sloppy shortcuts here—learn how to alter sweaters, pants, and everything in your wardrobe for a more flattering fit. Take it in, take it up, or let it out—all on your home sewing machine. Spend less, look better!




Pixel Play


Book Description

Piece together fabric strips in a whole new way. Pixelated imagery is part of our pop culture - and now quilters can bring it to their family with these cheerful quilt designs using their favourite solid colours. Use this unique style of strip piecing to make 15 quilt projects for kids, family, and home.