Sew Home – Book Review! aka I Made a Tablecloth and I Liked It

My friend Erin asked me a few months ago if I wanted to be a part of her book tour.  I knew that she was writing a book but I didn’t really know much more than that.  She sent me some photos of the projects for me to look over before I agreed.  WOW!  So many projects!  As I was looking through the photos I kept thinking, “I need to make this, and this, and this, and this….” Of course I said that I would make something from her book!

Choosing what to make for this post was really hard.  Needless to say, you will most likely see more posts from me with projects from Sew Home.  Before I show off the cute tablecloth I made, let me tell you why I love this book.  First of all, Erin took a lot of time to explain different home decor fabrics and what to look for when choosing fabrics for your projects.  If you are a complete beginner and looking for a way to start sewing, this is all good information.  I even found some of this part of the book news to me.  And I own a fabric store.

There are 30+ projects in this book.  For $25.95.  That’s less than $1/pattern.  The projects range from tablecloths and napkins to drapes (and a guide to figuring out how the curtains will look on your wall)!  This is kind of like a an encyclopedia for home decor projects.  I really like that for things (like the tablecloth or curtains) that will have custom measurements, Erin provides easy math to figure out what you need to cut. She also includes standard sizes for things like the pillow shams (also on my to make list) that have set sizes.  There are so many really great fabrics out there today and many of the designers are even printing on linens and canvas now.  And a lot of the projects can be made with quilting weight cotton as well.

Now to see the tablecloth!  I have a square table at my shop (Pink Castle Fabrics) that we use for displays sometimes. It’s a nice little thing from Ikea (I don’t think they make it anymore) but it’s kinda plain.  Erin’s tablecloth pattern in the book (photo from the book below) it perfect!  It’s quick and easy and I can change out the fabric easily if it goes out of print.  So I can always have a cute  and relevant tablecloth on our display table!  The whole project took me about 30 minutes start to finish! 

Photo credit C&T Publishing – Sew Home by Erin Schlosser

I choose one of my favorite Cotton+Steel prints from Melody Miller’s Fruit Dots collection, Fruit Blossoms in Navy. Really, this print in any of the colors would make lovely tablecloths or napkins.  I also was pretty excited to get to use the serger at the shop for this project.  It gives the tablecloth a professionally finished look.  

I used Aurifil 50 wt thread from my One Room Schoolhouse thread box (Melody and I both have a really great sense of color 😀 ) to edge stitch the hem.  I like the contrasting thread and the way it looks.

Pretty cute right??  Now you want to make one too, don’t you!  Thanks Erin for inviting me to be a part of your book tour.  I really think you did a fabulous job and I know I’m going to be referencing this book for years to come.

C&T is allowing me to give away one copy of Erin’s Sew Home book!  If you would like to win a copy, please leave a comment on this post!  I will choose a winner on Sunday, October 25, 2016 (8pm EST)

Giveaway Closed! Thanks for commenting 🙂