Simple Home–Book Review

Sweetwater’s Simple Home is one of the two books I picked up last weekend at Quilts and Other Notions in Creston, Iowa. Released in September 2011, it features 35 simple and practical sewing and quilting projects by Sweetwater Design; a mother daughter team, fabric and pattern designers for Moda, and all around creative powerhouse.

The layout and images are lovely, but my favorite feature of this book is that projects are grouped by different living areas of the home. Also included in the book are simple techniques and tips for decorating with appliqué, stenciling, stamping, and embroidery. I’m excited to try many of the ideas in this book, besides just gawking at it because it’s so pretty to look at.

As a matter of fact, I already made one of the projects, a clothespin bag for my sister-in-law:

I pulled some fabric from the stash, a scrap of matching ric-rac, a wooden hanger from our coat closet and got to work…

The pattern calls for two fabrics, I added a third contrasting fabric for the inside of the bag. I used a piece from the Farmer’s Market collection by Sandi Henderson (the apple fabric), Sweet Pea by Jackie Shapiro (the green floral) and Farmyard by Sentimental Studios (the gardening print). Three different designers, three different manufacturers, and they coordinate perfectly. That is “stash sewing” at it’s best, readers!

The photo above shows the components of the bag “inside-out”, how they are sewn together to complete the bag. The instructions in the book are clear and well written, I would prefer a few more diagrams/illustrations myself, but that’s because I’m lazy about reading instructions and would prefer to “read” pictures instead. I think the entire project took about an hour and a half, start to finish. Here is the finished product, front and back:

Makes me wish I had a clothesline myself.

7 thoughts on “Simple Home–Book Review”

I have a clothesline and need to make one of these. I love Sweetwater, so I will have to get this book. I bet I would love it. Thanks for the review!

Feel free to make another one and come over to use it on my clothesline! I have the umbrella type and use it as much as possible. Nothing beats the smell of fresh-dried laundry. Your SIL will love this!

Thanks so much Doris!! This will make my clothespins happy 🙂 I love it.

Ohmy gosh. That is sooo stinkin' cute! I love the vintagey feel! Love, love, love it!

What a great bag to keep those special little treasures in. My Grandma had a clothespin bag she hung on the clothesline. I still love them. This is super cute.