Made At Home by Lisa Stickley published by Quadrille, £16.99 photography by Ben Anders
Released 2nd July 2010

This book promises to be a simple guide to furnishing your home, teaching you to make items such as roman blinds, a range of cushions and bags, a tea cosy, a bedspread and more. The author Lisa Stickley is an internationally renowned textile designer with her own home wares and furniture range stocked in large department stores nationwide.

My first impression of this book is that it looks quite different from the other books I've reviewed lately. It is not as bright, colourful and glossy as many other sewing books, with most the diagrams being in black and white and doesn't have quite the same wow factor when you pick it up and leaf through it.

However, I do not judge a book at first glance, although I personally like books with lots of bright colourful photos and diagrams it is the content of the book itself that is important. It has to be said this book certainly does deliver. It starts off with a very useful introductory section talking you through various techniques and stitches. This section includes button holes, inserting zips, sewing corners seams and binding. Each technique is well explained and is accompanied by easy to follow diagrams.

The remainder of the book is split into projects for the various rooms of the house, the kitchen, bedroom, living room and laundry. The projects are suitable for a beginner and if you work through in order they seem to build up a little in complexity, helping you to learn as you go through. Most of the projects could be whipped up in a couple of hours, bringing a great sense of achievement to the sewer. It's ideal if you are looking for ways to smarten up your home on a budget.