November reviews
Make Hey ! While the sun shines: 25 Crafty projects and recipies by Pip Lincolne
I have to admit, ignorant person that I am, I had never heard of Pip Lincolne or ‘Meet me a
t Mike’s’ until I saw this book advertised on a web site and asked to be sent a copy to review. I think the title is brilliant and have to admit I wish I’d thought of it.
This book can only be described as a joy. It is lovely to look at in all its quirkiness and feels like the practical spiral bound working manual that it is. Attached to the front cover is an envelope with paper patterns and large recipe cards. These include one for ginger beer, and as an Enid Blyton fan, I have had my fair share of ‘lashings of ginger beer’, and to this day it is my soft tipple of choice.
In her introduction Pip describes what craft does and doesn’t mean to her.“There is no doubt that craft often gets put in a box marked ‘old fashioned’ or ‘shoddy’ or ‘incredibly floral’ but it doesn’t have to be like that. The kind of craft I like is rarely any of those things. The kind of craft I like is all about coming up with fresh ideas, while giving a nod to the things I love most’
The book is full of sunshiny projects to make starting with a Welcome Family Flag. Finger puppets, an embroidered map of Australia. The author is Australian. My favourite project is a ‘sweet ride bike seat ‘ this is a pedal bike seat cover made from fabric- totally ridiculous, whimsical and wonderful all at the same time! Nothing is difficult to make, it is all fun and a great book. Buy it for someone you love this Christmas.
This book is published by Hardie Grant books and can be purchased here. Reviewed by Juliet Bawden.
Patch! by Cath Kidston
As is clear from the book’s title the 4th book from chintz and shabby chic queen Cath Kidston, focuses on patchwork and includes a great kit to make either aDresden plate tote bag or cushion as shown on the cover.
This book is a great introduction to patchwork for beginners, either like me who can sew but have never done patchwork before, or even beginners to sewing itself, as the first section covers chapters on Essential Equipment, Cutting Out, Machine Know-How and Sewing Basics. The book also covers basic appliqué & embroidery methods as well as choosing your fabrics.
The second section is the projects with a wide variety of projects all w
ith reasonably good instructions. All of the projects have a comprehensive materials list and a cutting out directions. Each project also starts with a skill level, ranging from those aimed a the novice (level 1) such as the dainty Rose Linen pillowcase and the cute appliqué Bunny Blanket, through to those more advance stitches (level 3) such as the Boudoir Cushion which uses the traditional ‘cathedral Window’ technique or the Crazy Patch Cushion, which non-surprisingly uses the long-established crazy patchwork method. There does appear to be a big focus on bags in this book, as well as several ideas for cushions and pillowcases, however there is a variety of other projects, including a dog bed and a toddler’s toy ball!
If you love the Cath Kidston aesthetic and want a basic introduction to patchwork/appliqué then this book will leave you inspired to have a go yourself and get using those fabrics, scraps and linens you have lying around.
This book is published by Quadrille Publishing and can be purchased here. Reviwed by Beth Edmondson.
Everything Patchwork by Corinne Crasbereu
If you’ve read my previous reviews you will know I am a big fan of the Made In France series, the beautiful photography combined with stunning ideas make these books a pleasure to read. This book as with the others starts off with full page colour photos of all the projects in the book. There are 40 projects including the standard quilts, cushions, bags, aprons etc but also some more unique projects 
like a scissor keeper, a button bag, a sewing tidy, wall tidys and some great little gift ideas.
The instructions are in the latter half of the book, along with the templates. I have to say that as a visual person I would prefer the image to be next to the instructions, and a few diagrams to help with the piecing, however the instructions are detailed and there are some diagrams for the more complex makes.
This book would be particularly good this time of year as there are some great fairly simple projects which would make great Christmas gifts for friends and family.
This book is published by Murdoch Books and can be purchased here.
The Fabric & Yarn Dyer’s Handbook - Over 100 inspirational recipes to dye and pattern fabric
by Tracy Kendall.
I was very surprised when this paperback arrived to review, as it originally came out in hard back in 2001. I know this as I still have the original synopsis for it. As a Textile designer/printer I thought this book was sorely needed and so wrote a synopsis and presented it, along with one for another book at the same time, to my publisher. She wanted me to do the other book more and asked me to find some one to write the book I am now reviewing. I did and the rest, as they say, is history.
Tracy Kendall is the perfect person to write a book on the techniques of dyes and fabrics as she worked in the Textile department at the RCA for 18 years and then at Bath Spa Univ
ersity. Not only is she good technically she is one of the most imaginative designers you could meet.
The book, a must for anyone working with dyes, explains the basics about dyes, fabrics, equipment and yarns. The second part of the book covers techniques and finally recipes. It has stood the test of time, in as much as the techniques are still relevant to day. My only criticism is the book has not been updated in anyway at all since it was first published in 2001.
C & B craft book published by Anova Books and can be purchased here. Reviewed by Juliet Bawden
