Tuesday, December 04, 2007

InStitches Update: 2008?

Dear Donk,

Dude, right? Every time I go to the Flickr pool I get all verklempt just looking at the number of members. Every time I go there's more! There are so many fancy crafters out there. I KNEW IT. Which makes me feel like less of a weirdo when my Saturday To-Do list consists of "go to the fabric store...go to that beading place...go to Michael's...etc" and I'm excited about it. Anyway, we all know I'm a little bizarre, no need to go on about it I guess.

But that's not even considering my totally shameful star struckedness (this is a word now)! Truth be told, I totally started to hand sweat when Amy said she'd choose AND prize our final winners. Dork, I know. Anyway - you're in good company with all that.

So, there's been that thing in the back of my head, you know, since this year has been so fun and we've made so many groovy things. That thing being - what are we going to do next year?

We must go on. We must make more groovy things.

But which book will supply the patterns and ideas from which we make the groovy things?

I was thinking that one of these might be good choices:

Bend the Rules Sewing
Simple Sewing
Sew U
Simple Gifts to Stitch

But I can't decide. Plus, I was wondering what all you crafters would want to do.

Do you have a new sewing book that is burning a hole in your machine? Have you been, like, totally fantasizing about starting a project from *gasp* another book aside from InStitches and haven't said anything?

Don't worry - totally OK. But tell us! Then maybe we choose it for the 2008 sew along and you don't have to closet-sew like a fiend, all behind closed doors and what not, making your neighbors nervous that you might be one of those "loners who always keeps to themselves" and then ends up killing all the neighborhood squirrels or whatever.

Anyway - take that as you may, but if you have suggestions for a great fabulous sewing book that can stand up to monthly projects, my ineptitude and Kelli's crave for all things embellishy (also a word now), comment and let us know.

We'll announce in January along with the Nov/Dec project winner.

GO.

xo
Finny

37 comments:

  1. I vote for "Bend the Rules Sewing"..

    ReplyDelete
  2. I vote for "Simple Gifts to Stitch"

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bend the rules, BEND THE RULES ;)

    Plllleeeaaasssseeee(said in best three year old daughter voice)

    ;)

    Can't wait to see, and to participate!!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. Haha, how funny. I vote not "Sew U", because I don't own that book. But any of the other 3 would be fabulous. Ok, I vote Simple Gifts to Stitch, mostly because I haven't seen many projects from this book floating around the blogosphere.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like Bend the Rules too - I've done some projects from it already and they've been fun. The instructions are fairly well written too.

    What about Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts? An -along might help get me going on projects from that book.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I vote Simple Gifts. Wait. Do I get a vote? ha ha ha...

    ReplyDelete
  7. i'm just joining the domesticated world of knitting, sewing, and cooking...and love it. you and kelli are my role models. :)

    my vote: simple gifts.

    thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Another one to consider is Denyse Schmidt quilts. There are several projects besides quilts that would be fun. Bend the Rules has a lot of good ideas, but there is already a flickr group with 1600 members in it. But I'm pretty much game for any one that you choose. Now, if I could just get started on the Nov/Dec assignment...
    ~Jan

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ok, I already commented, but I HAD to respond to your comment on my blog.

    So apparently I'm the disciplinarian when it comes to animals and food. No food for you! All the poor cute dogs I meet don't even get a crumb! Those deer didn't stand a chance with that ice cream cone.

    Funny you should ask if they bite... I don't think they bite humans (unless they think you're food), but here is a sign we saw on another island (also with lots of deer). Watch out for antlers and pellets! http://www.flickr.com/photos/lydigann/1014805654/in/set-72157600991411424/

    ReplyDelete
  10. Bend the Rules!! But only so I have a reason to go out and buy another craft book!

    ReplyDelete
  11. OK, so I have really petered out on AB stuff but do I still have a vote? (My good intentions are there) If so, my vote would be Joelle Hoverson's Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts. My second choice would be "Simple Gifts" because as someone said, there's not much in the blogosphere on this one. Bend the Rules Sewing has over-saturated the craft blog world, IMHO.

    ReplyDelete
  12. have you considered the lotta jansdotter book?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Initially I said Bend the Rules. But now I vote for Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I vote for Simple Gifts. I'm kind of been there, done that on the Bend the Rules Sewing thing and would like a different challenge.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I incorrectly said that the BTR's flickr group had 1600 members. It has over 900 members and 1600 photos. Anyway you look at it, that book has been exhausted on the blogs.
    ~Jan

    ReplyDelete
  16. I personally have not had a chance to sew anything from Bend the Rules yet, and that's the one with the most projects I'd actually like to make, rather than pretty projects to look at in a book. Just my 2¢.
    If you do Bend the Rules, I'm totally in.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Another vote for Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would vote for Simple Gifts to Stitch.

    ReplyDelete
  19. My vote is for Simple Gifts as there are lots of possibilities for embellishment. Second choice is Simple Sewing as it has excellent instructions. Bend the rules is a fun book but with all the errors in the first printing and the difficulties newbies seem to have with the instructions it does not seem like a good choice.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have pretty much exhausted the projects in Bend The Rules Sewing. Lotta's book has awful instructions.. . Too many quilts in Last Minute Patchwork and few instructions. I vote for Simple Gifts. Basically because it is entirely new to me.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Last Minute Patchwork! Or since you both knit how 'bout mixed months from Last Minute Patchwork and Last Minute Knitted Gifts??? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I vote for Simple Gifts or Last Minute Patchwork + Quilts. (I know I didn't participate this year, Sis, but I really want to in 2008!)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts I got it yesterday... it's got lots of cute stuff in it.

    Dara

    ReplyDelete
  24. Love the looks of both the Last Minute Patchwork and Simple Gifts books! Count me for 2008!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Boohoo! I wish I had found this group back in January! I love the Amy Butler book that you all just finished working with! I have very little opinion about any of those books mentioned but since I like quilting as well as other gifts to make, I'll vote for the Last Minute Patchwork (Should be my middle name anyway), if I am allowed a vote. I just found you guys so pleeeease let me join! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for all your votes! We're excited to get started on some new challenges!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I vote for "Bend the Rules"! I think I have a copy coming to me from Santa, and this would be great motivation for breaking it in! :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Okay, I've given this a lot of thought. I vote for making garments - actual clothing that you wear in public. If that means the Wendy book, so be it. Project Runway has hooked me - i've got it bad. So bad that I turned my daughter's bedroom into my new sewing studio. No worries, she's lived in NY for 3 years now. I don't think she's moving back any time soon. Oh, the ability to close the door on the creating. Heaven.
    But really, I'm up for any and all. Last year was such a hoot - I hope you keep up the fun action shots. I can see it now- 'take a picture of yourself at your favorite coffee shop ordering your chosen beverage whilst wearing a lovely ensemble created by you.'
    Really I'm ready, even though I've skipped out on Nov/Dec although I still have a few days left. Bring it on.
    Thistledew

    ReplyDelete
  29. It looks like you've all had so much fun doing the In Stitches sew-along that I have to join in on the 2008 sew-along. I vote for Simple Gifts.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I just came across the Sew Everything Workshop book and it seems like it would be a great sew along. Don't know if has a pool yet but I like the idea of starting small and ending up with something you could wear in public.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I don't *think* I've voted...I vote for Bend the Rules sewing! I flipped through it at the bookstore, and I was really inspired. It might be too simple for some, but then you could word the project so that more advanced sewers could embellish (i.e. embroidery, buttons, sequins, patchwork, etc.)

    I also really like Joelle Hoverson's new book Last Minute Patchwork Gifts. Not on the list, but beautiful things in there.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I vote for "Bend the Rules"!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Is the voting still open? I'd vote for Last Minute Patchwork Gifts, from the folks at Purl. (Cause I got it for Christmas, yippee!)

    ReplyDelete
  34. After reviewing other sewing project books I've decided to vote for Simple Gifts to Stitch. It seems to offer a different variety of projects and they are all quick! Plus, Kelli, Martha Stewart recommends it too!

    I also would vote for any of the following books:
    -Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts
    -Sew Everything Workshop
    -Simple Sewing with a French Twist
    -Sew U ('cause I like the idea from above about making clothes)

    I like Bend the Rules but it's already got a huge following/group.

    Can't wait to find out what you pick!
    -

    ReplyDelete
  35. Just found your blog, but I'm casting a vote anyway. Simple Gifts to Stitch.

    ReplyDelete
  36. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

[2013 update: You can't comment as an anonymous person anymore. Too many douchebags were leaving bullshit SPAM comments and my inbox was getting flooded, but if you're here to comment in a real way like a real person, go to it.]

Look at you commenting, that's fun.

So, here's the thing with commenting, unless you have an email address associated with your own profile, your comment will still post, but I won't have an email address with which to reply to you personally.

Sucks, right?

Anyway, to remedy this, I usually come back to my posts and post replies in the comment field with you.

But, if you ever want to email me directly to talk about pumpkins or shoes or what it's like to spend a good part of your day Swiffering - shoot me an email to finnyknitsATgmailDOTcom.

Cheers.