Sew Liberated: 20 Stylish Projects for the Modern Sewist [With Pattern(s)]

Resurrecting the art of appliqué—a technique in which pieces of fabric are sewn onto clothing, bags, quilts, and other creations—this enlightening resource provides todays generation of “sewists” with a technique that can be combined with embroidery, beadwork, buttons, ribbons, and more to imbue works with a creative and personal style. Ideal for those with some sewing experience looking to break away from the restrictions of traditional patterns, this guide offers the details for both hand and machine appliqué techniques, as well as a history of appliqué and how it was rediscovered in the fiber arts. Featured are 20 modern, stylish sewing projects ranging from aprons, skirts, pillows, and totes to a duvet cover, wall clock, blouse, baby quilt, and scarf. With step-by-step instructions, color photographs, and comprehensive how-to embroidery instructions, this is an all-in-one resource and guide.

Meg McElwee is an internationally certified Montessori teacher, a successful sewing pattern designer, and the author of the blog Sew Liberated. She lives in Durham, North Carolina.