Brett Bara is a crafty renaissance lady with many skills– you might know her from the TV show she hosts, Knit and Crochet Now!, or maybe as the former editor of Crochet Today! magazine. Perhaps you have seen her fabulous how-to video on making layered jello molds? But her latest project is something a little unexpected (though not if you know her!),  it’s a sewing book: Sewing in A Straight Line. I scored my own copy when we had dinner at TNNA and it has inspired me to dust off  my sewing machine.

Sewing in A Straight Line contains more than 25 projects to get your machines (or hands!) stitching– and whether you complete that sentence with “for the first time” or  “again,” you’re sure to find inspiration inside.  Brett breaks each design into straight lines only, and you’ll be surprised at just how clever she gets within that seemingly limiting challenge! The book includes patterns for round bowls, stuffed animals, and of course, that fabulous skirt on the cover–and all are made with straight lines only. Simple illustrations and well written instructions make it easy to follow even for a total newcomer, and three stunning video tutorials (for the Folded Flower Bowls, One Hour Skirt and Zippered Throw Pillow) will give you the confidence to tackle these projects. Brett believes that anyone can sew, and her book will help you do it well.

I wanted to make one of Brett’s projects as part of my  book review, which meant I actually had to dismantle my yarn winding station (see how sad it is in the upper right corner of that pic?). I told myself that I could only use fabric I already have, because I actually put a moratorium on fabric purchases last year–I just haven’t been sewing at all lately. Eager to rekindle my craft love affair, I found some bold flowy fabric and went for the 1-hour skit. For the record, it took me just over two hours to sew from start to finish, but I’m pretty  happy with how it came out (even if I am only going to wear it to the refrigerator).

While making the skirt I read Brett’s instructions for French Seams, and it crossed my mind to just skip that part. I definitely thought of French Seams as “hard” and “not worth the effort” but seeing the technique laid out so concisely in just a couple of steps convinced me to give it a go. It wasn’t hard, and you know what? You don’t have to be a genius to sew! But it sure helps to have some friendly advice, and Sewing in A Straight Line is full of it. Brett is honest and down-to-earth, even admitting that there were some things she didn’t know before working on the book. I think that attitude is so helpful, especially for new sewists.

With Brett’s encouragement, you’ll realize that you don’t have to be perfect to start and no one is going to know if you use a hardback book instead of  a clapper. And if you don’t know what a clapper is, don’t worry– I didn’t either, till I saw Brett’s list of tools. Now I know what to call that wooden “pressing thingy” my grandma gave me. If you’re one of those people “that would love to sew, but…” erase the dot dot dot with the help of this book.

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I asked Brett a few questions about sewing, and here’s what she had to say:

Fabric can add a powerful punch to basic projects–do you have any guidelines for new sewers when it comes to picking out fabrics? What about the times when  you forget your materials list, are there any rules of thumb about how much fabric to buy for certain projects?
My philosophy is to choose big, bold fabrics because they really bring a simple design to life. It’s okay if you don’t have advanced skills and you only sew basic shapes, because a great fabric will draw the eye to the print and texture of the fabric, rather than the sewing. As far as buying fabric, if I don’t know exactly how much I need of something, I usually buy two yards (unless I’m making something really big like curtains or a dress). If I see a fabric I love but don’t know what I want to make with it, I buy one yard, knowing I’ll use it for something small, some day. Or just let it be part of my gigantic stash till the end of time.

Do you have any sewing craftastrophes to share?
The most painful sewing memory I have is the time I wanted to sew myself a dress for a semi-formal dance in high school. I worked and worked on it, and it just wasn’t coming out right no matter what I did. I got so frustrated that I balled it up and threw it in the trash. These days I have more of an avoidance method and if a project isn’t turning out well, I’ll just set it aside, and then leave it sitting under a pile for years.

What was the first thing you ever sewed?
Aside from little swatches and doll blankets and things, the first project I remember making from a pattern was a top I sewed in second grade, with my mom’s help. I wore it to show and tell. It rocked.

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Now it’s time for you to show and tell! Brett is offering an autographed copy of Sewing in A Straight Line to one lucky Lindamade reader. To enter, leave a comment with the answer the following question (and a way to reach you!)  by Midnight (CST) Friday, August 12th.   What do you want to learn to sew??

I should also mention that Brett is doing a HUGE giveaway on her website, and you can enter to win your very own Singer Sewing Machine AND Serger! Click here for details! Happy Sewing!

Check out Odessa’s rockin’ Spaceman Tee, made from the Tiny Tee Appliques pattern. I love the look of the round buttons here, and that adorable smile.  I still need to make one of these for my nephew.

Whittni stitched up this adorable Petite Cardigan (Ribbed Cardigan pattern) with just a few minor changes. I know she worked hard on this sweater–her very first–and I was happy to help her through it.

Shara made this eye-catching Rainbow Ball using the Tegue’s Jingle Ball pattern. I love the colors she chose, and if you read her project notes you’ll see that she popped a rattle inside instead of the jingle bell. Very cute! (P. S. Shara also makes the cutest little brooches and hat patterns, read her blog for more info!)

And here are some upsized Cozy Crawlers that Amy made (pattern page), by simply calculating the  new gauge for her 6-year-old friend. Since many of the patterns in the book are made in finer gauge yarns, more experienced stitchers can definitely upsize them by using larger yarn + hooks. It’s very easy to do that with this pattern, and I think these cotton leggies turned out great.

See all of the Little Crochet projects on Ravelry right here! Note that you must be a ravelry member to see them, but it is free to join (and really, I don’t know how you can crochet or knit and not be on it!).

I’ve noticed more patterns popping up from Crochet Adorned, too, which is so great! The combination of seeing these and the hot hot Texas heat of the past week has made my sewing urge kick in again. In my head, the unnofficial title for this book was “Crochet Loves Sewing”, even though there are plenty of non-sewing projects in there and a lot of the sewing is just applique. By the way, I still want to write an official Crochet Loves Sewing book, just throwing that out there to the universe. Hint.

I absolutely love Kristin’s take on the Butterfly Apron. She took the applique pattern and stitched it at a larger gauge, then added it to the back of her scoop-neck tee. Brilliant! I love details like this on clothing, and especially like her choice to put it on the back of the tee. This would also be a great way to fix up a tee that hangs off of your shoulders. You can read more about it on her blog, Briney Deep Designs.

Here’s an amazing version of the Pretty Petals Tank Top by Nona. She used Little Folks voile fabric and drafted her own pattern for the shirt, rather than going with a ready made tank. It’s lovely!

You can view all of the finished pretties from Crochet Adorned by clicking here. Thanks so much to everyone who shares their projects with me, and for buying my books. Enjoy!

If you’re not a knitter, you might not be familiar with Petite Purls, but it’s the brainchild of two moms, Brandy and Allegra, two knitters turned designers who each gave birth to a sweet baby girl within 2 days of each other. Despite their geographical distance, they started this adorable magazine to fill in a pattern gap–namely, beautiful designs for kids. We somehow got in touch on twitter before my first TNNA show, and I loved the idea of doing a crochet design for them, what with the nearly perfect timing for the release my book, Little Crochet.

And so I designed Little Sister (ravelry pattern page), a hat formed from a sweet shell pattern that grows organically from the top down. The pattern is free, and Iwrote  it in four sizes, from baby to adult, so no sister would miss out on the fun! The hats work up beautifully and quickly from Cascade Ultra Pima (a new favorite yarn of mine), and the hand-sewn fabric flower really sets them off (photo tutorial included!). One crocheter already shared a cute variation on my facebook page, she attached the flower to a crochet headband instead of making the hat.

I’m thrilled that my crochet design made the cover of this mostly-knit publication, as it has already  inspired some people to speak my favorite words: “I guess it is time for me to learn to crochet!” and “I didn’t know you could do that in crochet!” Here, the hats are shown on Brandy’s two little girls (she also took the stunning photographs)–scroll down to the bottom of the pattern page for a cute story about what happened to the blue hat.

If you make this hat, I’d love to see it! Please share with me on ravelry, facebook, twitter or here in the comments.

When I lucked out and got my first editorial position as the Craft and Decorating Editor for the now defunct Joann magazine, I remember thinking, “Why can’t I ask my friend Susan to make  us some projects [instead of xyz designer] so I can make sure they are hip and cool?” And so I did. Even though Susan was in Portland and I in NYC, she was an inspiration to me–she wrote articles for cool magazines and worked on craft and jewelry books as a freelancer; and when I was looking to leave New York, she was the one who suggested I should write a book (which turned into Crochet Adorned). Without her suggestion and support, I never would have landed that first book deal that led me down a more focused road to crochet designing. And it was Susan who invited me out to Portland on the suggestion that I could do a book signing at Powell’s. Over the years we have been able to help each other out with jobs, ideas, and support, and I treasure her friendship.

And that is why I am so excited to introduce you to Susan’s newest book, Modern Log Cabin Quilting: 25 Simple Quilts and Patchwork Projects. The book contains 25 inspiring quilts and smaller projects, all made from the improvisation-friendly log cabin block. So, if you’ve always thought about quilting but the cutting and measuring never appealed to you–Susan’s book is the perfect introduction. Each project contains detailed information about the size of each central fabric piece, along with the width for each ‘log”, allowing you to assemble the blocks as-you-go rather than fussing over straight corners and perfectly cut dimensions. Susan also includes tons of clear technical illustrations to help you visualize techniques such as chain piecing, pressing seams, and sashing–things that some quilt books assume you already know.

Susan surprised and impressed me with her modern, colorful style. Each project feels distinctive in its fabric selection, and unlike many of the other “fresh” quilting books on the  market, she  mixes lots and lots of prints with great results and no need for solid “breathing ” fabrics in between. One of my favorite projects is the cover quilt–where Susan shows us that how to rotate one simple block to create a striking cross design. I would never have guessed that the Northwest Modern Quilt (above), contributed by Daniela Cane, was made from log cabin blocks, but a crystal-clear layout diagram makes it easy to see just how those simple blocks form this seemingly random design.

I also love the textural play of the Red Cross Bag, which employs both sides of corduroy fabric, producing an almost woven effect. This is a project that makes me want to sit at my sewing machine again!

And I was touched to see that Susan saved the first crochet flower she made (which I walked her through when I was in Portland) as a finishing touch for the Drawstring Bag. You know me, I never think you have to stop at just one crafty skill!

And just so you can see how easy this technique is, Susan has created a tutorial which you can view above or by clicking here. Be sure not to miss Modern Log Cabin Quilting, it will refresh your mind with new ideas for quilts. I just love that you can get so many results from the same style of block. And if you have a fabric stash that could use some spring cleaning, check out Susan’s new quilt project, Quilts For Quake Survivors.

Full Disclosure: Potter Craft sent me a review copy of the book, book links are affiliate links.

Crocheters, dig through your scraps and whip up some of these festive autumn leaves using my pattern/tutorial at Craftstylish. Each leaf takes oh….five minutes to make? Use various yarn weights to change the sizes and you’re good to go. I like the idea of scattering them on the table, or connecting them with a long chain to make a garland. Be sure to block the leaves to get the points in shape.

No matter your skill level, you can make your own place cards, which can be just as simple as stickers on a sheet of paper (as seen in the leaf photo). Here, I sandwiched different patterned and solid papers with felt flowers and sewed them all together for crafty effect. Check out my tutorial here. If you use cute cardstock, there’s really not a whole lot else you need to do to make your table fun!

And just in case you need something to show off your homemade rolls–the best part of the feast in my opinion!–sew up one of these coiled fabric baskets. Making them is mesmerizing, and might be a welcome break from your holiday stress. They also make great hostess gifts. Here’s my tutorial, again from an old Craftstylish post.

Hope your holidays are full of fun and sharing!

And here’s a secret for those of you that crochet and sew. I actually pitched this as a crochet hook case, but obviously it’s a more direct line to put a sewing project for sewers in a sewing magazine. So, I changed a few things up to suit the editor’s request, but you could easily, easily use this to store your favorite hooks, too! Just sew a few more lines for the pockets and you’re there. I love a case that holds both hooks + notions, and there aren’t many on the market for us hookers.

Of course, if you are looking at it from a sewing angle, it’s great too. Sweet little rickrack loops will hold your extra thread, and the zippered pocket will hold loose buttons and more. Especially for hand-sewing, this is handy to spready out on the sofa, even when  you’re not “on the go”, to be sure no pins or needles slip through into your cushions.

I’m glad I get to keep my sample of this one, because it’s going into my project bag straightaway!

One of the things that sprung up this week was a pest. Something took down one of my Scarlet Runner Bean plants over a two day period. I asked around and many told me it was probably a squirrel. So, Paul helped me build this cheapo wooden frame, to which we stapled lots of netting. I can still get in and out of there quite easily, and so can the bugs, so I think it will be ok. I’m also using it to tie up my vertical supports, which the three remaining bean plants will be relying on very soon!

Another thing that screams summer to me is our clothesline. I may have mentioned this before, but we’re living in my grandma’s house, which doesn’t have the modern convenience of a clothes dryer, dish washer, or a second bathroom. But I really love it, living small. The Texas sun can dry my clothes as fast as any commercial dryer, and it gets me outside and moving around, which is always a good thing. If you have a clothesline kicking around in your back yard, why not try replacing the wires with plastic clothesline (won’t rust)  and bringing it back into use? Your electricity bill (and mother earth) will thank you.

Meanwhile in crafty news, I’m trying to do some sprucing up around the inside of the house. There is so much work to be done that it’s hard to even want to get started. The perhaps-plan is that eventually we might just move out, get the whole thing remodeled, then move back in. That makes it hard to want to spend too much time fixing things that will eventually get replaced, but, as I’ve moved around a few times in my life, I know that I want my home to nice no matter how long I will be there. So I started off by sewing some new curtains for the kitchen. I used a yard of  fabric I bought at Ikea  which was nowhere near enough, and paired it with solid green and a graphic black and white print. It’s a happy mix of organic yet not overpoweringly girly, so Paul can live with it too. I sewed a smaller set of  curtains to go over the kitchen sink, which was a mess at the time this photograph was taken. Who am I kidding, it is still a mess! Currently the kitchen is a faded buttery yellow with faded minty green cabinets, and black and white appliances, and these curtains are my happy way to tie them together.

And finally, in news not having to do with the house or the yard, I started a new crochet project for myself (ravelry page link). We had a slow day at the store which always gets my brain going about what to make next. I’m hooking Dora Ohrenstein’s Kristy Cardigan from the Spring 2010 issue of Interweave Crochet. I chose Arucania’s Ruca (viscose made from Sugar Cane) and it’s *so* soft and drapey. Word of warning, the yarn is a little splitty, which can get frustrating when you are working the post stitch patterns, but otherwise doesn’t bother me. I chose this light blue color which I almost never work with or wear. I think it’s going to end up looking great, but it was hard to step out of my usual purple palette. I’m hoping to finish it for TNNA. I can’t actually imagine wearing a sweater, even a short sleeved one, in Texas during the summer except maybe in an air-conditioned restaurant. Or maybe next year, when I’ve adjusted.

What’s going on at your house? What are you working on, and what are you looking forward to?

I am really excited about this one, even though I know it will take me a while to get around to sewing it up. Our group has had its struggles keeping up and staying involved, but I am thrilled with the blocks that have been sewn so far. It has also been a fun opportunity to sew with lots of fabrics and color combinations that I wouldn’t necessarily choose, and those challenges, of course, encouraged me to “think outside the box.” My main hope was that joining the bee would make me sew something every month, in the midst of other deadlines, and it did help me to do that. I can’t wait to get the rest of the blocks!

I have to say, it’s been hard to keep up with sewing the blocks each month. I didn’t realized how hard it would be! But I do love getting to try new kinds of blocks and seeing other people’s color combinations. For my quilt, I picked a lot of grays, greens and yellows,  and posted some bauhaus textiles as inspiration (see my post for more info).

I haven’t sewn anything (other than the quilt blocks for the bee) in so long!! Well, I’ve sewn a few small things here and there, but it seems like a long long time since I sat at the machine. And I have another quilt I need to get to work on as well, so hopefully one of these days I’ll get my sewing mojo back. I have a feeling it may happen after I…unearth the machine from all of the STUFF that inevitably goes on any flat surface in my craft room. It’s funny, this room is much bigger than my last craft room, but it also has an extra bed in it, so it can feel pretty tiny at times. (However, the bed comes in handy for blocking things, and you know, as a flat surface to catch my STUFF). I really need to get organized again!

If you ever read Adorn (RIP),  you probably know the work of Kayte Terry (or, perhaps you know her blog, This is Love Forever). I’d known Kayte for a long time via my crafty internet circle, and then had the chance to work with her as the stylist for many a photo shoot. Kayte has a great eye for color, display, and, well, just putting things together. Which is why it makes perfect sense that she would write a book all about embellishing: Appliqué Your Way

applique (noun) ornamentation, as a cutout design, that is sewn on to or otherwise applied to a piece of material

In this book, Kayte explores the myriad ways to accent your home and wardrobe, using all sorts of techniques including sewing, gluing, and even pasting things to your wall. The book contains several contributions by crafty ladies, and with a quick flip of the pages you can probably tell which project was mine…

This crocheted applique tee came out of my idea to do a crocheted mesh piece covering a deep V neckline and add floral elements to that mesh. Of course, it can be difficult to find a deep V-neck t-shirt when you need one, so the result was slightly less dramatic (but more wearable, which is a good thing). I love to apply crochet to garments, and this design definitely lets you decide where you want to put all of the piecces.

There are lots of cute and clever projects in this book– I wish I had taken more photos to show you. (For more project peeks, head over to Craftypod or The Constant Gatherer.) Think of it as a guide to making your own clothes like those you’d find at Anthropologie, using your own stash of fabrics, bits and bobs. These projects are great because you can start with something that fits–whether you made it yourself or bought it– and go to town decorating it in your own style. Kayte also designed the most adorable home projects, including ornaments, hanger covers, trivets, coasters, cozies and more. It’s definitely worth checking out and there are a couple I have my eye on for when I get back into “crafting for me” time.

If you’d like to be entered to win a free copy of Appliqué Your Way (courtesy of Chronicle Books), leave a comment here by Sunday, December 20th at 12 midnight. In your comment, answer this question: “What’s your favorite way to use applique designs?” Your answer can be a certain thing that you like to decorate, or a certain technique you use, but you must answer the question in order to be entered to win. Good Luck!