Betty Oppenheimer - Sew & Stow: 31 Fun Sewing Projects to Carry, Hold, and Organize Your Stuff, Your Home, and Yourself!

31 Fun Sewing Projects to Carry, Hold, and Organize Your Stuff, Your Home, and Yourself!

BETTY OPPENHEIMER

with step-by-step illustrations by the author

To THOSE WHO TAUGHT ME THE NEEDLE ARTS, even when womens work was unpopular, and to those who taught me math and science, even though they were considered mens work, I thank you for sharing your knowledge with me. The practical arts are ageless and without gender bias. Let us never allow social mores to cause us to forget how to make things by hand.

The mission of Storey Publishing is to serve our customers by
publishing practical information that encourages
personal independence in harmony with the environment.

Edited by Deborah Balmuth and Nancy D. Wood
Art direction, book design, and project styling by Alethea Morrison
Text production by Liseann Karandisecky

Photography by Julie Toy, except cover, left, by Mars Vilaubi
Photo styling by Jackie Crockett
Step-by-step illustrations by Betty Oppenheimer
Finished project illustrations by Brigita Fuhrmann

Indexed by Nancy D. Wood

2008 by Betty Oppenheimer
A version of this book was originally published as Sewing Packs, Pouches, Seats & Sacks (Storey, 1998).

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages or reproduce illustrations in a review with appropriate credits; nor may any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other without written permission from the publisher.

The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author or Storey Publishing. The author and publisher disclaim any liability in connection with the use of this information. For additional information, please contact Storey Publishing, 210 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247. Storey books are available for special premium and promotional uses and for customized editions. For further information, please call 1-800-793-9396.

Printed in the United States by CJK
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Oppenheimer, Betty, 1957
Sew & stow / Betty Oppenheimer.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-60342-027-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Sewing. 2. Bags. I. Title. II. Title: Sew and stow.
TT715.O66 2008
646.204dc22

2008005655

THE PROJECTS IN THIS BOOK are designed to be used. Ive developed them over the years in response to a need I had to carry, stow, or organize something in particular, or as gifts to respond to my friends needs. Often, patterns for practical items are hard to find, so I have experimented, examined mass-produced versions of similar items, and learned to sculpt with fabric. The aim of this book is to teach you to do the same.

The projects are organized in order of complexity, beginning with simple, flat shapes, and progressing into various pockets, bags, and fasteners. Combining specific shapes with various sewing techniques allows for an infinite array of designs.

As you create the projects in this book, you will gain the experience needed to design your own practical projects. The experience of turning flat fabric into a functional three-dimensional item will spark your creativity, and with some practice, you will soon be able to design and construct many sewn items.

The book concludes with a chapter to get you thinking practically about the design process. It encourages you to ask questions lots! about the function of a particular piece, and to design first on paper and then on muslin before finally cutting it out on the desired fabric. Form follows function, but questions and technical design can inspire creative solutions and problem-solving that will make the completion and use of your unique design incredibly satisfying. There is a great feeling of self-sufficiency, capability, and creativity in building these skills.

To learn through practice means to be willing to experiment. This is where technical know-how and creativity meet your ideas can be put into practice to the extent that you are willing to experiment.

I hope that you enjoy learning the basic techniques and making the designs in this book, and that as you progress, you begin to use your imagination to make them your own.

HEAVENLY HAMMOCK

SHOWER CURTAIN

LUMBERJACK TOTE

HOBO BANDANA BUNDLE

COOKS HELPER APRON

AFTER-SWIM WRAP

POCKET PACKET HOLDER

KNITTING NEEDLE TOTE

VARIATION: COSMETIC CASE,

TOOL STOW N ROLL

NIFTY VISOR ORGANIZER

TRAVEL-TIME POUCH

KEEPER-FRESH VEGGIE BAG

JELLY BELLY BAG

LOAD-IT-UP LAUNDRY BAG