101 Great Ways to Sew a Metre by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins

How often do you find you've got some great fabrics in your stash, but not quite enough to make an outfit with and too much to cut up for scrap quilts? Well this book has some amazing ideas of how to use up those pieces, from space saving organisers to aprons, tea cosies and bags. There are so many great projects in here your main problem will be that you don't have enough fabric to make them all!

At first I was a bit surprised by the ring binder format of this book but once you start looking through you realise that there are so many pages it is a lot easier to use this format as it means you can open it on the project you want and the book stays open, whilst you follow the instructions. No more trying to prop books open whilst you work from them.

Each project gets a few pages accompanied by photos and diagrams, including a useful diagram showing you how to cut all the necessary pieces out of your metre of fabric. Projects are split into topics including sewing fundamentals, homestyle, household affairs, craft organisation, on the go, from head to toe, carry it all, outfit your small wonder, accessorise your little one, playtime and your furry friends.

There's a useful pack of pattern pieces in the front of the book, plus the sewing fundamentals at the front of the book is really useful. It gives you information on fabrics, essential equipment, using patterns, sewing machine tips and techniques. This book is something you will come back to time and again.

This book can be purchased from RU Craft.

Compendium of Sewing Techniques by Lorna Knight

This book is a great reference guide; I have already used it myself several times. Easy to use, easy to follow and great pictures and diagrams. You can look up any technique you need and find a well written page or 2 telling you how to do it. With 250 techniques from hemming to interfacing, appliqué to piping it is a good guide to any seamstress. The tips are split into 5 broad categories: Tools & Equipment, Material Matters, In stitches, Sewing Techniques and Decorating Fabrics. If you are new to sewing this is a great sewing bible, and even more experienced seamstresses would pick up plenty of new tricks from it.

There are also many quick projects contained within the book including making silk ribbon flowers, cotton napkins and tassels. You'll also find many ‘fix it' tips peppered throughout the book, from fixing a hole in a bag to stopping your seams from stretching. This book will be taking pride of place on my bookcase, to hand for the many occasions I will need it!

You can purchase this book from Search Press for £12.99

Celtic, Viking & Anglo Saxon Embroidery by Jan Messent.

This is definitely a coffee table book if ever I have seen one. The amazing photography and stunning designs would keep even a non-sewer leafing through this book. A book that is a much about history as it is embroidery, this book takes you through from the Celts to Anglo Saxons effortlessly combining history with stitching.

If you are looking for step by step guided projects then this book is not for you. If you are seeking medieval inspiration then this book is ideal. Jan showcases her beautiful work with a brief guide to the techniques and materials employed. She uses mixed media techniques to create some truly stunning works. It would be hard not to be inspired by this book.

The dominating feature of this book is the photographs of Jan's work, with a few notes to the side of each piece explaining how it was made. The images are a works of art themselves; I defy you to read this book without saying ‘wow!'

This book can be purchased from Search Press for £25.00.

Coming Soon.....

A few books coming up from Search Press - www.searchpress.com - this autumn include:

Sew Scandinavian by Nadja Kanb-Leers, Stefanie Thomas and Heike Roland

55 projects for the home in a comtemporary Scandinavian style including pretty tablecloths, napkins, bags, slippers, soft toys and lampshades to name but a few.

Stylish Sewing by Laura Wilhelm

A book full  of stylish feminine projects for the modern home maker including full size patterns.

Essential Stitch Guides: Crewelwork by Jacqui McDonald

Discover how this historical techniques can be applied to stranded cotton threads and a wider variety of fabrics.

Essential Stitch Guides: Blackwork by Becky Hogg

Learn all about this classic 16th century technique with it's stunning monochrome designs.

Full reviews will follow closer to the release date.