The easy and slow days of summer provide an opportunity for us to take on a new hobby, sewing or decorating project.  This could be something on your “bucket list” such as learning to knit new scarves for the upcoming holiday season, creating an oil painting all by yourself or reupholstering that hand-me-down bedrooom chair.  Or you could use this precious extra time to perfect an existing talent such as sewing or crafting.  Martha Stewart’s “Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts” has helpful instructions that can help you with all of these and many more.

It begins with basic techniques such as embroidery, applique, dyeing etc.  I love the look of embroidery on throw pillows and curtains, don’t you?  It moves on to a very helpful fabric and thread glossary along with tips on setting up a proper work space for your projects.  Home decor chapters include curtains, decorative pillows, table linens and the upholstery chapter has a step by step pictorial on how to reupholster a chair seat cushion; something I often recommend to update the look of your home.

As an added bonus, this book includes a CD full of templates and patterns for projects found throughout the book.  This makes it possible for you to easily duplicate those items you like.  And, as with all Martha Stewart books, it is chock full of beautiful and colorful photographs.

This book is one you will refer back to time and again as a reference guide, for inspiration or for helpful hints.  It is available at your local bookstore or can also be purchased on Amazon.  Please share with all of us your favorite chapter and/or how this book was helpful to you.

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