Brett Bara - Sewing in a Straight Line: Quick and Crafty Projects You Can Make by Simply Sewing Straight

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As a crafty lady living in New York City, I find sewing opportunities everywhere. Just about every time I walk into a trendy boutique, I see something chic and pricey and think, thats gorgeousand I could totally make that myself. Inspiration for cute and stylish creations to sew is all aroundand believe it or not, much of it can be made with the most basic skills. If you think sewing your own clothes, home decor, and gifts is too hard, Ive got news for you! Its not, and this book will show you why.

The exploding popularity of DIY culture and shows like Project Runway have piqued the publics interest in crafting, especially in sewing. I meet so many people who tell me they would love to be able to sew. When writing this book, I frequently heard the same comment: Im dying to learn to sew, but I have no idea where to begin. I always feel a little sad when I hear thiswhile its great that folks out there want to learn, its a shame they dont realize how easy it is to get started.

I know Im lucky that I grew up in a crafty house, with a mother who could sew anything and a dad who could build anything. Making it ourselves was second nature to our family, so it never occurred to me to be intimidated by sewing machines, fabric, scissors, and patterns. I learned from an early age that sewing isnt difficult at all.

For me, custom home decor, fabulous fashion accessories, funky quilts, and personalized gifts have always been as close as my fabric stash and my sewing machine. And though Ive been stitching up challenging constructions for years, the vast majority of what I sew actually uses only the most basic skills. Why? Because many projects simply dont require anything more. In fact, the inspiration for this book was the realization that most of what I sew is made with nothing but simple straight seams.

And anybody can sew a straight seamI promise you that.

Thats why I want everyone out there to know how simple sewing can be. Sure, you can get all complicated with haute couture gowns or tailor-made suits, but thats not all sewing is. You really dont need fancy techniques to stitch awesome things. If you can sew a straight seam, you can make a world of projects, and this book will take you step-by-step through everything youll need to know to get the job done. From the basics of sewing (by hand or by machine) to all the helpful tips and tricks youll need to make everything from curtains, pillows, and quilts to clothes, bags, and toysits all just a few easy stitches away!

So grab your needle, break out your scissors, fire up your sewing machine, and dont be afraidremember, its only fabric and thread, and the worst that will happen is that youll tear out your stitches and sew another seam.