Sewing For The Soul: Simple sewing patterns and recipes to lift the spirits

by Jules Fallon

Overview

The benefits of sewing are well known - nothing feeds the soul like the act of creativity and sewing garments and projects gives you a huge sense of satisfaction. Not to mention the enjoyment of wearing the finished garment!
Sewing is good for the soul and this collection of relaxed garments, accessories and loungewear sewing patterns is designed to soothe the soul and lift the spirits. But this book isn't just about the clothes, it's about the power of sewing to help you relax and unwind: there are smaller projects for hand sewing, the ultimate mindful craft, and quick dressmaking patterns for times when you want a sewing 'fix' but are a bit pushed for time. 
As well as the sewing projects there is also a smattering of delicious recipes to feed more than just the soul! Sewing and baking have always been natural bed fellows and this collection features garments, cakes and drinks to celebrate every season whether it's 'Mullered Wine' in the winter or a delicious Lemon Drizzle Cake for the summer. 
There are full-size, graded patterns (up to a UK size 26/US size 22) for 10 easy-to-wear garments including pyjama pants, a linen T shirt, a summer dress and palazzo pants. This means that you can find your perfect size and get sewing straight away without having to print out the patterns. The designs are for relaxed-fit clothes and 'loungewear', which are suitable for both work and home and all the garment instructions have written step-by-steps and diagrams making them suitable for all abilities.
Unlike other sewing collections Sewing for the Soul takes you on a journey throughout the year with sewing patterns, projects, recipes and drinks to take you from season to season. Each season has a slow sewing project for when you have more time, a quick sewing project so that even the time-poor can get a therapeutic sewing 'fix' and either a hand sewing project, such as embroidering a decorative detail onto one of the garments, or a reinvention project. This means that, by the end of the year, you will have a whole new wardrobe to be proud of and will have spent many relaxing hours mindfully making. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781446380840
Publisher:	David & Charles
Publication date:	08/10/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	142 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Jules Fallon is an established indie pattern designer and owner of the brand Sew Me Something, she is also an experienced author and teacher. Jules is a regular on the sewing, quilting and craft show circuit in the UK and hosts regular workshops and retreats on dressmaking and sewing.

Table of Contents

I6 Introduction

8 Tools and Equipment

10 Fabrics and Haberdashery

12 How to Use This Book

14 SPRING

16 Shirt Dress

24 Woven Tee

30 Embroidered Tee

34 Chocolate Orange Cake&Homemade Mocha Latte

38 SUMMER

40 Palazzo Pants

48 Shirred Summer Top

54 Cami and Shorts

60 Lemon Drizzle Cake&Homemade Elderflower Cordial

64 AUTUMN

66 Oversized Shirt

74 Classic T-shirt

80 Reloved Blanket

84 Spiced Sugar Crust Apple Cake&Hot Cider Nog

88 WINTER

90 Winter Coat

98 Drawstring Trousers

104 Christmas Stocking

108 Rich Fruit Cake with Hidden Surprises&Mulled Wine

112 General Sewing Techniques

124 Templates

126 About the Author

126 Acknowledgements

127 Index

Preface

The concept for this book had been at the back of my mind for a while, but when I found myself, like others, isolated for a long period recently it highlighted to me just how important it is to take time out for creativity. The physical act of making something, using your hands and mind to connect together to create a ‘thing’, removes you from the mundane and sometimes painful situations of the everyday. More and more, we are seeking the solace of creativity to help us deal with situations we might not want to be in and we are finding the deep and lasting joy of creating. I find this happening in every workshop and retreat that I teach. The satisfaction and achievement that people are able to feel is evident in their faces and it warms my heart to know that I have shared some of what I feel with others. I find that sewing helps me retain my sense of equilibrium. It helps me concentrate and plan, as I have to be aware of what I need for each project I undertake, and focusing on each process in turn increases my patience as I have to wait for the finished item to reveal itself. I have also learnt to control my frustrations, as a quiet mind makes for better sewing, and I’ve made friends with my un-picker. Sewing really does feed my soul. I have structured this book around the seasons, as I am becoming more and more aware of how the way I feel is linked to the world around me and have started to delight in the changes I see throughout the year. Each chapter or season in the book has a ‘slow-sew’ project, something a little bit more meaty that you can get your teeth into, that may take several days to complete; a ‘quick-sew’ project that you should be able to complete in a couple of afternoons and is a good one for getting your sewing mojo up and running; and a re-purposing project. I love the idea of transforming something you love that has seen better days into something new that you can make use of again. There are a couple of recipes for each season that I hope you’ll enjoy, too. We always invite people in for a cuppa and a piece of cake in all our workshops. You can put the world to rights over a coffee and cake and make a whole host of new friends, too. Cake really is soul food. Each season of the year has its own joys and challenges – and if you can relish and overcome those challenges through finding solace in sewing, I will feel I have passed just a bit of my own joy on to you. Happy sewing!