Book review: Amy Butler’s In stitches

Published by Chronicle Books

Amy Butler does it again with style and flair. This book is really well presented, beautifully photographed and illustrated. It has a pocket of patterns in the front with good clear instructions for each project. The book is broken up into chapter themes like personal items, lounge room accessories etc. with easy, medium and more difficult projects (although none of the projects are really difficult just more time consuming and requiring more care preparation) in each chapter. Each project has finite dimensions with specific fabrics, tools and supplies required. Amy Butler patterns take you through the process step by step and if followed to the letter result in success. (A note though, a downfall of her patterns, I have found, has been a lack of explanations about why you are doing a specific step at that stage rather than later – it usually all becomes clear, but for a more experienced sewer who is used to knowing the purpose of doing something so that shortcuts or quickcuts are possible, this is a little frustrating when tackling a pattern for the first time).

Amy Butler pattern fans will be pleased (or maybe dissapointed) to know that most (if not all) of the patterns in this book are new, although probably variations on a theme. There was one bag that I found on her site (see left) that also appears in the book, but not my favourite one, I was sort of hoping for some of the old favourite patterns all in one place, or at least some patterns of the inspiration pics that she has on her website like the fabric beads, or wide brim sunhat. But perhaps that will come in the future.

The patterns in this book that I thought I might actually make include a lovely Kimono wrap and simple wide leg pants. Perhaps the bathroom organiser and the fabric storage boxes. I thought many of the projects seemed designed more for gift giving (like the edged towels and covered notebooks) and not really practical for the regular sewer, but on the other hand these could be seen as simple projects for the fabric lover who is not a skilled sewer. There are also some lovely bag and patchwork throw patterns as well as various cushions and organisers. It certainly helps that the fabrics used are all Amy’s wonderful fabrics, and that the images are so lusciously styled. A great book in time for Christmas, great as a gift for yourself or someone who appreciates simple beauty (and who sews).

This just in:
The folks over at Amy Butler Designs wrote to tell me that in fact ALL the patterns in the book are brand new patterns. Amy is thinking of making a pattern for her lovely floppy sun hat and the Belle skirt. When Amy receives a lot of feedback about a particular item that appears on her inspiration board on the website then that item just might become a pattern.