Review: Gooseberry Patch Stitching for the Kitchen

This is a repost of a review I recently published. It was intended to be part of the blog tour for the release of the book, but I kind of jumped the gun and posted it a few weeks early. Whoops! I reposting the review below.

I’ve always known GooseberryPatch for the cookbooks, particularly their cookbooks that show how to make gift mixes and other food-related gifts. But in Stitching for the Kitchen, they show how to make 30 sewn projects for the kitchen.

The book shows a wide variety of sewn projects that you would use in preparation of a meal (e.g., oven mitt, apron) or in the serving of a meal (e.g., bun warmer, table runner) or in organization of a kitchen (e.g., hanging pocket organizer, plastic bag dispenser). Some use embroidery, others patchwork. Some use new materials, others use vintage napkins or recycled sweaters.

The pages are large, with step-by-step instructions and full color photos of finished projects. The book is spiral bound so the pages lie flat, and full size patterns are included in a pocket at the back. (No tracing, no enlarging required!!)

Favorite projects include:

Snack bags with cutouts. These reusable snack bags have cutout windows on the front so you can see what’s inside. Perfect for a lunch bag or snacking on the go.

Mug cozy with pocket. You could sew these up for everyone on your Christmas gift list. Gift it with a mug and a bag of good tea.

Casserole carrier. Just what you need to take a dish to a potluck. Elastic strips on the outside will hold a serving spoon. Insul-Brite between the layers helps keep the food warm and your hands from getting burned. The dimensions they give will create a carrier for a 10” x 16” dish, but you can easily adjust the measurements to fit a different size dish.

Plastic Bag Dispenser. A practical project! We got a similar bag dispenser these years ago as a wedding gift. 16 years later, it still gets daily use. The one we got was pretty basic, but the Gooseberry Patch version is pieced from strips of coordinating fabrics.

**************************

Check out the rest of the Stitching for the Kitchen blog tour here:

July 22 – Gooseberry Patch

July 23 – Momma Young At Home, Craft Gossip

July 24 – Glued to My Crafts, Green Eyed Momma

July 25 – Sew Serendipity

July 26 – Smashed Peas and Carrots, Marsha’s Spot

July 27 – Wild Olive, Only From Scratch

July 28 – Pam Kitty Morning, Blue Nickel Studios

July 29 – Old House Homestead, Susie QT Pies Cafe, Prairie Flower Farm

July 30 – The Crafty Princess Diaries, Gramma’s in the Kitchen, Two Maids A Milking

August 1 – Vicki O’Dell, Homesteader’s Heart

August 2 – A Creative Being, Delightful Country Cookin

Next Pattern:

I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store. So much texture! And the way the fibers catch the light! But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think. That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl. That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared. And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet.

Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects. Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter. Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long.

Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success. There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid. She describes the different types of velvet available. And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric. Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric. There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.

Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric.

And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.

[photo credit: Melly Sews]

Next Pattern:

Comments

Have you read?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply