Butler Amy - Amy Butlers In Stitches

Text copyright 2006 by Amy Butler. Photographs copyright 2006 by Colin McGuire. Illustrations copyright 2006 by Jacob Redinger. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN: 978-1-4521-3255-6

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.

The Library of Congress has previously cataloged this title under

ISBN-10: 0-8118-5159-1

ISBN-13: 978-0-8118-5159-6

Technical writing by DIANNE BARCUS and KIM VENTURA

Designed by WARMBO DESIGN

Styling by MONIQUE KEEGAN of Enjoy Co.

Art direction by AMY and DAVID BUTLER

CHRONICLE BOOKS LLC

680 Second Street San Francisco, California 941057

www.chroniclebooks.com

Velcro is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B. V.

Wonder Under is a registered trademark of Freudenberg Nonwovens.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book is dedicated to my grandmother Velma Heymann for stirring my passion for sewing and giving me my first fabric stash.

Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this book. Without you this project would not have been possible.

A special thanks to the following individuals: My husband, David, for all of his support and help in writing this book. Dianne Barcus and Kim Ventura, two powerhouse ladies who developed the instructions for the projects I designedtheir talent and support are incredibly inspiring. Jake Redinger, our anchor in the studio, for his amazing illustrations. All of the seamstresses who tested the projects and turned in beautiful work time after time: Nichole Redinger, Dorothy Hughes, Suzanne Aschenbeck, Tracey Swisher, Joyce Burrows, Paula Bevier, Thea Lewis, Donna Thompson, Joy Jung, Kathie Harding, Arlene Donnelly, Tammie Hedglin, and Kim Redding. Colin McGuire for his gorgeous photography. Monique Keegan for her awesome styling abilities and friendship. Diane Capaci for keeping us organized. Kevin Reiner of www.firmlyplanted.net , for providing us with incredible plants. Green Velvet for lending us some lovely accessories for our photo shoot. Jeannie and Will Zink for allowing us to shoot in their home. Randy Levengood and Donna Howard of Colonial Coin Laundry for allowing us to photograph the Oversized Laundry Bag in their facility. Thanks to our models, Maxfield Keegan, Sharon Sinsabaugh, Kevin Reiner, and Sarah Baker. Kokka Ltd. of Japan for providing us with beautiful fabrics. Thine Bloxham of Timtex, Inc. for providing us with loads of her great interfacing. Husqvarna Viking for my sewing machine. Chris Timmons for her much appreciated technical assistance. And Jodi and Mikyla from Chronicle Books for their encouragement, support, and vision.

INTRODUCTION

If youve ever had the pleasure of stitching a seam or finishing a hem, then you know about the deep satisfaction that comes with sewing. As a fabric and sewing-pattern designer, I am fortunate enough to experience that satisfaction every day. I love making beautiful, one-of-a-kind creations by hand, and sharing them with the people closest to me. And Im thrilled to be able to share my love for sewing with you. Let In Stitches be your guide to creating gorgeous, stylish, useful pieces for every room in your home.

This book features patterns for beautiful accessoriesfrom a decorative patchwork throw for the living room, to chic placemats and napkins for the kitchen, a hanging toiletry basket for the bath, and a glamorous sleeping mask for your bedroom. But dont worryI havent neglected your wardrobe. Youll find patterns for a perky pleated apron, a luxurious kimono-style bathrobe, and a sleek clutch for nights on the town. And, of course, all of the pieces make great gifts too.

The projects in this book are geared toward the beginning or intermediate sewer, but if you have a more experienced hand youll also find them fun and useful. If youre new to sewing, youll want to read Simple Techniques and Basic Equipment before you start; you may also find the glossary of common sewing terms to be helpful. The book begins with a discussion of how to choose the right fabrics, notions, and trims, and how to care for both vintage and new fabrics, so take a peek at that section before you shop.

While fashion trends are forever changing, the art of sewing is timeless. Once you learn how to sew, youll never again be restricted to buying off-the-rack, cookie-cutter garments that others have dreamed up. Instead, youll enjoy the freedom of creating pieces that reflect your own personal style, however modern or retro it may be, while tapping into the history of this ancient art.

Allow the patterns in In Stitches to inspire your creativity. Let your personality shine through in the fabrics you choose and the adornments you make. Maybe youll even find yourself chanting my favorite creativity mantra:

Utility can be beautiful.

Comfy can be stylish.

Organization is healthy.

My personality is unique.

Handmade is best!

Enjoy.

Amy

FABRICS

Fabrics have attitude. They are graceful, exciting, quiet, or loud. They can set a mood, or even take your mind to a certain place, such as a tropical beach or your favorite garden. They are as colorful and varied as the person who uses them. Culturally, their stories are as old as human history. They can point to simpler times or futuristic ideals. Astonishingly, they can do all of this at once.

My fabric collection, twenty years in the making, would take over my studio if I didnt use the materials in my projects. In my work as a fabric designer, I draw vast inspiration from both vintage pieces and new designs, and I use them both when I create new pieces. Vintage fabrics lend a certain charisma, warmth, and sometimes patina to my projects. New fabrics can offer added durability as well as a fresh attitude to the same work. When you combine fabrics, you allow your personality, warmth, and spirit to shine through. Choose fabrics that you lovethat suit your taste and style.

Finding vintage fabrics requires some digging around. Antique shops, flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores, vintage clothing shops, textile shows, and maybe even your own closet or attic are all possible sources of vintage fabrics. Theres also an entire world of traders and sellers on the Internet, but be prepared to dig just as hard online as you would at a flea market on a sunny afternoon! Curtains are another often-overlooked source of fabrics. Just cut away the bad spots and use the curtain fabric just as you would any other material. The beauty of finding and using vintage textiles is that you are not only allowing their story to be told in a different way but also repurposing and recycling a material resource.

New fabrics can be found at fabric stores and quilting shops. There are so many options! Another great way to get new fabrics is to purchase bed sheets and covers, or tablecloths, which tend to be wider than fabrics sold by the yard and so are especially useful for large projects. Depending on where you search, you can find linens with everything from reproduction vintage prints to super-hip, modern designs. I combine them all. Be sure to check the resource guide for places to start looking for the best vintage and new textiles.