Handmade Style – Book Review

Well it has been a while, hasn’t it? I hope you are as happy to be reading this post as I was to be writing it. Although it has been a few months, I am hoping to be able to write a blog post per month. Sometimes it’s difficult because it doesn’t only require my reading the book, but also creating the projects and photographing them. This gets a bit tricky around the holidays when I am also making gifts for my loved ones, but with the holidays behind us, let’s get going!

The Book

This month’s book is called Handmade Style and it is by one of my favorite pattern designers, Anna Graham of Noodlehead Patterns. Anna was one of the first bag-making influencers I followed when I began my sewing journey a few years ago. Since then I have made countless bags using her patterns and have had the pleasure of testing four of her patterns for her. I originally purchased this book in 2018 but was a little intimidated by the projects. As a newbie to the sewing world, I thought the projects in her book were too advanced for me. Being a visual learner, I didn’t feel confident with the minimal, hand-drawn illustrations. Every so often I would pick it up and choose projects to make and then I would put it back because I felt they were too complicated.

The Projects

Early this year I picked up the book again and really started reading the instructions to the projects I was interested in (which was just about all of them). In hindsight, I really should have had more self-confidence and given the patterns and projects a closer look much sooner. Once I did, I realized that even though her drawings were not super detailed, her instructions were very detailed.

Anna divides her book into three sections: To Wear, To Carry, and To Use. There are 24 projects and believe me when I tell you, it was not easy to pick just one from each category! There is a flip flop pattern, a pillow set, a gadget case, and many more. The projects I chose where The Chambray Dress from the “To Wear” chapter, The Double Zip Wallet from the “To Carry” chapter, and the Picnic Plaid Quilt from the “To Use” chapter.

The Chambray Dress

The Chambray Dress is a casual dress you can dress up or down depending on the fabric used and how it is styled or accessorized. It has a lovely neck and cuff detail that gives the dress a special touch. There are also two patch pockets in the front that I love but you can choose to leave them off if you’d like. I chose to make mine in a tunic length in a lovely linen because I felt I would get more use out of it that way.

I would suggest you make a muslin first to check for a proper fit before cutting into your nice fabric. Unfortunately I didn’t do that and my tunic turned out a bit snug. The fault was all mine because when checking the size chart, I was between a medium and a large. Instead of blending the two sizes, I took the lazy way out and just picked my usual medium size. I regret that choice because it really is a beautiful top but the shoulders are too snug to wear comfortably. I would advise you cut the pattern to your actual measurements on the chart and blend if necessary.

The Double Zip Wallet

Being a bag-maker, this was the category I had the most trouble choosing from. I wanted to make so many of the projects including the Market Bag, the Zip Top Tote and the Gingham Tote. I chose the Double Zip Wallet because I have been wanting to make it for a while and also because I needed a wallet.

The fabric I used for the exterior was a quilting cotton to match my current tote. I also made the tab slightly larger and made it out of black cork which also matches my tote. It also features a rainbow zipper pull and coils. This wallet is as lovely to look at as it is functional. There are two zippered sections in which I can fit my Iphone 11, four card slots each holding multiple cards, a large slip pocket which can hold money, a checkbook (what’s that?), and receipts. It also has a handy tab with a magnetic snap to hold everything together safely.

The Picnic Plaid Quilt

The last project I chose was the Picnic Plaid Quilt. I have been saying that I want to make quilts for the guest room beds. I have two full size beds so I decided I would make a quilt for one of those beds. The blocks of the Picnic Plaid Quilt measure approximately 20″ square. I decided to make a 9 block quilt (3 across and 3 down). I was able to use some leftover fat quarters from a collection I have had for some time. For the background, I used an off-white “grunge” with a slight green tint.

This quilt came together so quickly and I love it so much I can’t wait until it is quilted. I am still debating whether to quilt it myself or send it to the longarmer. It’s a little larger than I usually make quilts (60″ x 60″). I’m not sure if my machine (or my back) can handle it. When I do finally get it done I will post it on my IG page. Follow me @casocreativedesigns and @the_sewing_librarian

Conclusion

This is a book I would recommend to anyone wanting to create original, interesting projects for themselves, their home, or even gifts. Anna’s designs are unique and her instructions are really quite good. The majority of the patterns are measure and cut which means she just gives you measurements. You can then create a template or just cut your fabric to size. For patterns that require a template such as the dress, they are included in a pull-out section in the back of the book. You simply trace the patterns and use the pieces to cut your fabric. I hope you will give this book a chance and I hope that I have inspired you to:

Make Something Beautiful Today!

You can purchase this book and most others that I have reviewed (or plan to) here.

If you liked this review, you might be interested in this one too…

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