Sewing Home Decor: The Basics & Beyond

With just a few simple techniques such as: seams, hems, buttonholdes, linings, pleats, zippers, and piping, even a beginner can decorate a home with: window curtains, duvet covers, chair covers, bed skirts, pillows, table runners, and more. Sewing today has never been easier. Once you've learned the techniques, they are yours forever. Sewing Home Decor, The basics & beyond explains in text, photos, and video, the essential techniques you need to kknow so you have the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make it yourself. Dozens of basic sewing techniques. Step-by-step photos. Easy-to-understand text. Demonstration video. Color options, tip boxes. More than 20 home decor projects.

My sewing machine just came out of mothballs after looking through this book! I found it to be laid out very clearly with tons of pictures. After glancing over the many projects the author describes, I was inspired to create! This would also be a great resource for a new bride who wants some help with sprucing up her new home. I can see it in my daughter's Christmas stocking, since mom is a few states away and is unable to give personal instruction. Great publication! -- Paula Patteuw "Independent Book Reviewer"
This is a hard cover, spiral bound book so the first thing is that it lays flat. You don't have to "weigh" it down or bread the binding to keep you place when you are trying to read a project and sew. The table of contents shows four major sections: Getting Started, Techniques, Projects and Yardage and Cutting Charts. In the Techniques section, it is further broken down into Stitching, Hemming, Construction, Trims/Embellishments, Closure and Quilt Making. There is a DVD that is an audio version of this section. For those who are visual learners, this is a great tool. The Project section is similarly broken down into Bedroom/Pillows, Window Treatments, Around the House and Table Settings.
There are lots of graphics to show off what the author is talking about and each technique is explained in detail. The projects have two "shadow" boxes: one is the techniques used and one is the materials needed. The cutting list and instructions are easy to read and follow.
There are 35 projects plus the explanation of techniques and the overview of the basic equipment and supplies in this lay-flat book. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, there is something for everyone. -- Barbara Rhoades "Jackie of all Trades"

: "Sewing Home D cor is a complete instruction manual in the basics & beyond series that teaches home sewers techniques such as quilting, trims, hemming, closures, and construction and stitching to help create an assortment of bright, creative home decorating touches, including curtains, cushion covers, seat covers, table coverings, bed and duvet covers, and more. Each project list techniques, materials, cutting instructions, and general instructions in a step-by-step format. Color photographs illustrate the finished product and details along the way. There are many ways to complete a home decorating theme, and Sewing Home D cor is full of vivid, imaginative suggestions for fabrics and projects and detailed approaches and techniques. Even the novice sewer will be able to follow these easy instructions and explanations. Projects such as a breakfast cart slipcover, vintage apron, and reversible patchwork place mats and napkins are presented. For convenience, there are yardage and cutting charts for each project listed in the back by project, and there is also a list of additional resources. Sewing Home D cor is an excellent resource for the home sewer and decorator who wishes to achieve a fabulous look for a budget finish." -- Nancy Lorraine "Midwest Book Review Bookwatch"
"The newest addition to Landauer Publishing's "basics & beyond" series, Sewing Home Decor is stuffed full of techniques and tips to get a beginning sewist on the right track to creating top-quality items for their homes. Author Shannon Dennis shares the how-to for 35 different projects, including curtains, pillows, window treatments, table settings and duvet covers. Each project includes a techniques list, showing the range of skills you will use for it with page numbers to the corresponding tutorial on each technique. Dennis' instructions are straightforward and easy-to-understand. She includes explanations on sewing mitered corners, scallops, lapped zippers, welting, inverted box pleats and much more.
Sewing Home Decor is a great addition to the sewing libraries of both the beginner and the experienced sewist looking to develop more skills. The techniques she includes are those that will be used in a variety of sewing projects, including sewing clothes and accessories.
There are two extras with this book that make it a long-term resource: the yardage guide and the DVD. The last half-dozen pages are filled with formulas to help you figure out just how much fabric to buy if you want to recover you duvet, make a pet bed, sew bench cushions or a tablecoth. The included DVD is a compilation of short videos showing different techniques, particularly helpful for new sewists and for those of us who learn best visually." -- Teresa Coates "FabShopHop Blog"