Decorative Sewing: 100 Practical Techniques, 100 Inspirational Ideas and 20 Original Projects - Tapa dura

There are many books on the market that teach simple sewing, but little for the sewer who has mastered basic skills and wants to add further embellishments to fabric items. This book contains a bevy of practical techniques for all kinds of decorative sewing from applique and patchwork to embroidery and beading, along with dozens of ideas for expanding upon those techniques. Each technique can be applied to existing items, to give a much-loved but unfashionable shirt a new lease of life, or used to customise bed linen to co-ordinate with a decorative scheme. From a pin-tucked bag or a silk and ribbon cushion, the book also features simple items to make from scratch. Last but not least, each chapter offers a Gallery of Ideas where the author showcases inspiring variations of the technique on swatches. Each of the twenty projects is accompanied by step-by-step illustrations and full-colour photography to make the sewing process a breeze. All the templates and patterns you need are at the back of the book. Whether you're a fashion student, a dressmaker or a sewing enthusiast, you'll turn to this handy and comprehensive reference time and time again.

Sarah Beaman trained as a fashion designer and teaches on a Fashion Design course. She has a wide-ranging interest in crafts of all kinds and has set up her own successful business making greetings cards.