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Title: Alabama Stitch Book: Projects and Stories Celebrating Hand-Sewing, Quilting and Embroidery for Co Sustainable Style
ISBN: 1584796383
Author:
Natalie Chanin
Stacie Stukin
Publicate Date: 2008-03-01
Publish: 2008-03-01
List Price: $35.00
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $18.53
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $18.00
Amazon Merchant Price: $23.10
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Complicated but interesting
This is a nice book though the directions and techniques are complicated and expensive to make if you go buy knit fabric. And for most of the adult stuff like the skirt, you do need to buy fabric as ther is no way you could find the number of t-shirts at Goodwill of the same color to make it look decent and not like you are a bag-lady. The "fold-over" elastic is very difficult to find and there is no indication that you have to dye it to match your fabric. So there is alot of reading in between the lines if you want to do this technique.
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2: nicely presented, low in content
A really well presented coffee table book. This book would be suitable for an absolute beginner sewer, however for a creative and experienced sewer you may find it uninspiring and repetitive. The projects are easy to follow , but I did not buy it with the intention of following instructions but rather hoping to see some new ideas and be inspired, so was rather disappointed.
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3: Best new craft book on the market,,,,with glaring problem,,
This author and seamstress has real talent , an incredible sense of seeing beauty out of ashes,,,, and need I say ~I did salute her for bringing her company home to her roots, and beginning to employee people that have lost their jobs since they have been shipped overseas.
The book is filled with projects that will keep you stitching happily
for many days to come.
SO,,,,why only the 3 star rating when I would really would love to give this book a whopping 10 stars if I could??
Hypocrisy , that is why.
If the author had not mentioned this in her book it would NOT be an issue but since she did,,, then it becomes fair game.
The author talks very seriously about how many people have lost their jobs , the cotton that THEY once grew ...and worked in the mills processing ( into garments etc), basically how sad those times were when those jobs were sent overseas ( to China) ~ the very cotton that they grow in the South (!),,,,,and goes on to talk about the NAFTA act , etc.
I am taking no political sides here, but I am one person who tries their hardest to buy( as much as possible) goods that are made in the USA..
I also wish to support US business' such as the authors,,, vs "imported" clothing.
On to the reason I am writing this, as it is part of the beginning of the book,, and the authors writings should anyone care to read it.
I took a look at the back of the book,,,,and where was is published???
CHINA!!
SO,,,,,while she lays claim that she is coming home to her roots( Alabama) and supposedly trying to help re- employee those around her,,,,, Why oh why,,,, not choose a US printer to print her first book???
( Cook books I purchase such as "Every Day Pasta" etc. and many more are published in the USA... so its not impossible!)
My book is going to be returned (I received it as a gift.)
I have done these exact same types of applique and stenciling years ago~ so I am very familiar with it ~ therefore it would not be easy for me to figure it out on my own if I chose to do so.
You can pretty much judge values by how a person handles their business dealings.
Talk to us about families that have worked in the cotton mills for several generations and then became jobless,,,,,,yet send the book off to China to be printed and bound.
The author may very well be a lovely and kind person~ but,this is a large part of the beginning of the book.
Had she not written about it so much well,,,,neither would I.
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4: I just can't stop stitching now!
I bought this book on a whim a few months back, admired the photos, and then stuck it on the shelf and sort of forgot I had it. I took it out again a couple of weeks ago and decided to try one of the simpler projects - a reverse appliqued book cover. I'm hooked! The instructions were clear, the results were beautiful, and the book itself is inspiring. Since that book cover, I've made myself 2 t-shirts, a beaded headband, and have started another t-shirt and a skirt. Nothing has been difficult to do, and the simpler projects can be finished in just a few hours. The finished items are really striking, and look like you must have spent a fortune in some little boutique.
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5: Stitching for everyone
I stumbled upon this book, not at all familiar with Natalie Chanin or her work. The gorgeous photography and the style of the projects convinced me to buy it. I'm glad I did because I've enjoyed it tremendously. From the history of cotton to the down home recipes to the clearly written patterns, this book is a treat for the reader. It is inspiring and inspired. The work is lovely and most important - doable for the average stitcher. No machine required, no special skills required, just the basic stitches and the willingness to craft something by hand. I'm so glad I found this so I can craft some gifts for my family that are lovely and infinitely practical.
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