Fabric-by-Fabric One Yard Wonders Review

When I’m looking for craft books, I look for a wide range of projects that can provide inspiration and leave room for adaptation, as well as projects I like so much that I want to make them exactly the way they were described. Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Projects Using Cottons, Knits, Voiles, Corduroy, Fleece, Flannel, Home Dec, Oilcloth, Wool, and Beyond is my kind of craft book. Divided into sections by fabric type, each project uses exactly one yard of fabric. I was beyond thrilled to receive a review copy from Storey Publishing, and I already have a short list of nine projects I *have* to make.

For my first project, I decided to give the camera case a go. I didn’t use the pattern, because I knew my camera wouldn’t fit into a standard-size bag. And because I honestly dread opening up the folded tissue-paper pattern sheets. Sue Walsh’s tutorial allowed me to sketch out a pattern for my camera, and I love the way it turned out – even Mike was impressed. It gives my camera a little bit of protection when I’m wandering around with it slung over my shoulder (I do that a lot), and it prevents the lens from telescoping out, which probably isn’t very good for it. I skipped both the velcro and the embellishments – my kids come by their minimalism naturally – but fleece has a certain clingyness that keeps the case mostly-shut anyhow. I may add snaps instead of velcro, at some point.

The book includes patterns for all 101 projects, spread across nine sheets of thin pattern paper. I’m tempted to cut them out and put them in a binder, in plastic page protectors by project, just because then I would find it less intimidating to pull out a project. I would love to have the patterns with smaller pieces on a CD to print (or a code to download pdf files instead of battling tissue paper patterns), but that might raise concerns over the very real issue of pattern theft. I like that the book has hidden spiral binding, so that it stays open. It’s also short enough (8.7”) to fit between me and my sewing machine so I can read directions while sewing. And the information this book contains about working with different fabric types is fantastic!

This book features the work of two bloggers I’ve read for years now: One Inch World and ikat bag. Follow my links to read their own reviews of the book!