Seams to Me: 24 New Reasons to Love Sewing by Anna Maria Horner is a terrific package. The first few sections include a lot of great things for a home sewer to think about, including what kind of space you'll be sewing in and what supplies and tools you might want. The third section focuses on fabrics and includes a section (with examples!) of how to mix color and pattern effectively. This is so useful and not included in most sewing books I've seen. There's also information on and explanations of machine and hand sewing techniques, all with helpful illustrations. Then there are the projects! I have a couple of those fabric storage cubes made out of that icky petroleum-derivative stuff and I never thought about making them myself, but there's a great pattern here that looks very doable. Plus, I could pick whatever fabric I want! I also really dig the Pin Cushion Caddy, which would come in very handy. It's a great opportunity to combine a bunch of really cool fabrics, too. I don't have the motivation to make a quilt quite yet, but I love the design of the Playing Along Quilt. Finally, I definitely want to make some of the Off the Cuff armlets. This is one of those awesome books that inspires me to get off my butt and head down to Craftytown.

Originally published at LibrariAnne.