Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Projects for the Everyday Crafter by Kathy Cano-Murillo

From the Publisher

Needles.
Thread.
Drama!

Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica, is not a seamstress. She is a thread artist. And in Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing, she'll show how to harness the power of her fearless kamikaze sewing style–just dive in and give it 100 percent. Here you'll not only find out the nuts and bolts of sewing, but learn to have confidence to blaze your own sewing trail with confidence and flair. (And sprinkle of glitter!) The Crafty Chica is here to bring out the thread artist in you.

Whether you can hardly sew on a button or are already threading bobbins like a champ, Kathy's got a project just for you. From place mat totes to embellished skirts, Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing proves that you're in charge of your sewing machine, not the other way around. With these 30 fun fabu-low-sew projects to carry, wear, and use around the home, you can leave the ordinary behind and channel your own Crafty Chica within.

Nanette Donohue - Library Journal

Cano-Murillo, famous for her collections of Chicano pop art (Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul), remains true to form with this collection of bright, colorful sewing projects, many inspired by Mexican folk art. The patterns range from accessories to clothing to housewares, and all bear the author's fun, funky signature style. Cano-Murillo's willingness to share her own trials and errors is refreshing, and most of the patterns are easy enough for beginners but fun enough to appeal to readers with sewing experience. Stylish teens and young adults will especially love the handbags made from repurposed T-shirts and fabric scraps. Recommended for all libraries.

School Library Journal

Adult/High School

The Crafty Chica wants her readers to relax, have fun, gain confidence, and enjoy being creative-she calls herself a "thread artist" instead of a seamstress. Her colorful book opens with a chatty, upbeat, and practical introduction that features a list of reasons to learn how to sew (gain a skill, meet new friends, honor your elders, learn about yourself, design/create your own projects). A brief tutorial on sewing machines describes types, offers advice on selecting one, explains various parts, and provides step-by-step directions for getting started. Instructions for 30 projects in three categories (purses, wearables, and household decor) include a rating (easy, intermediate), lists of supplies, and numbered steps. First-person anecdotes are sprinkled throughout, "stitch in time" boxes offer quotes on sewing from crafters around the country, and a couple of longer segments offer lessons learned from embarrassing moments in the author's life as a crafter. The full-color photographs feature ethnically diverse models sporting the various items. This book is geared toward beginners with a sense of fun-there's a pop-culture vibe to the projects and lots of resources listed in the back matter. This will certainly appeal to crafty and wanna-be-crafty teens.-Sondra VanderPloeg, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH

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