Stitch Savvy Blog Tour

Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes

Welcome to my stop of the Stitch Savvy Blog Tour! I was thrilled last month when author Deborah Moebes (of Whipstitch Fabrics) asked if I would like to review her latest book, Stitch Savvy: 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level. This is Deborah's second book, and in a way a sequel to Stitch by Stitch: Learning to Sew, One Project at a Time.

Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes

When the book arrived and I started flipping through it, I had some initial, non-content related impressions. First, it's spiral bound - yay! Please tell me I'm not alone when I say I seriously get giddy over spiral bound craft books. I love having a book lay flat when I'm working on a project. Yes, it's the little things in life. Second, there is a CD at the back of the book full of the patterns. I love this too! No spending time over at the copy shop scanning and enlarging pattern pieces. Third, this is a long book, there is a LOT of content in here. It's over 200 pages!

The book is broken down into 5 sections - Home Decor, Patchwork and Quilting, Bags, Sewing for Children, and Clothing. That's a huge variety of projects in one book.

I would say I'm primarily a quilter but I do like to try my hand at other things - sewing for my home, bags, clothing, sewing for my kids. There are lots of project in this book I would make. The above curtains would be great for my house. They are simple, classy and have some light embroidery at the bottom. Definitely something my husband and I could agree on for the house.

I am really drawn to this improvisational wall hanging.

So many bags, but I'm especially excited about the clutch with the metal frame. (The project on the cover of the book.)

I feel like everyone around me is having babies - how cute is this lovey?

And clothing - a knit top! Do I dare? It's super cute so I just might.

Deborah also dives into a lot of topics that scare and mystify many of us - sewing with knits, buttonholes, installing invisible zippers, working with silks, selecting the right interfacing... These tips are scattered throughout the book like little bits of treasure.

Besides the book being broken down into the obvious sections or chapters, there are also work paths you can take through it. For example, after making the Sashiko Window Treatment I showed above, the book guides you to similarly styled projects such as the A-Line Skirt with Peek-a-Book Pleat (clean lines) or the Everyday Shoulder Bag (adding embroidery embellishments).

If you are looking for a book with a huge variety of projects, I think you will very pleased with Stitch Savvy. Thank you to Deborah and F+W Media for letting me check it out!