Sew & Stow: 31 Fun Sewing Projects to Carry, Hold, and Organize Your Stuff, Your Home, and Yourself!

Urban sewing lounges and stitch-centered bridal showers point to the rebirth of sewing. A new generation has finally picked up needle and thread, and they're ready to sew. And why not? With a basic machine and a little know-how, crafters can make stylish and utterly distinct items.

In Sew andamp; Stow: 30 Fun Projects to Carry, Hold, and Organize Your Stuff, Your Home, and Yourself!, Betty Oppenheimer, an avid crafter and sewer, shares 30 of her favorite patterns, including functional items for the home, workshop, camp, and garden. From aprons to hammocks, and from lunch totes to laundry bags, Oppenheimer's projects will help crafters get organized and help the planet with a wide assortment of reusable totes, carry-alls, and shopping bags.

Oppenheimer includes fuss-free patterns for everyday necessities, as well as one-of-a-kind items not often found in sewing books and#8212; a log tote for a strapping lumberjack, a stadium seat for the sports enthusiast, and a dog bed for that favorite furry friend. Her projects will appeal to novice and expert crafters alike; each pattern includes step-by-step instructions and illustrations, and each can be completed in just a few hours. Projects are presented with fresh, contemporary fabrics, and are sure to delight even the most trendsetting crafter. With Oppenheimer's help, anyone can turn a swatch of fabric into a practical and#8212; and eye-catching and#8212; item that can be used again and again.

Sew andamp; Stowincludes everything today's sewer needs to move beyond the mass produced, and to create items that are functional, fabulous, and ecofriendly!

Betty Oppenheimer is an experienced crafter and seamstress who studied textile science at the Fashion Institute of Technology and has worked as textile quality assurance manager and engineer for several sportswear companies. Betty is the author of The Candlemaker's Companionand Growing Lavender and Community on the Sequim Prairie. She lives on the Olympic Penninsula in rural Washington state.

1. Selecting the right equipment and fabric
2. Techniques andamp; tools for cutting, sewing, and finishing
3. Sew simple
4. Pockets galore!
5. Bag-a-thon
6. Stow it handily
7. Pad and carry
8. Stow it your way