Book review: Weaving Unloomed

weave In case you’re new to this needlework/ Internet thing, let me tell you: Diane Gilleland is brilliant. I got so excited when I heard about her ebook, Weaving Un-Loomed: Simple Ways to Weave Cool Things, that I posted the news right away, sight unseen. Now that I’ve had a chance to spend some quality time with this publication, I can give you an unequivocal recommendation: You have to have this book.

In her usual warm, chatty style that we’ve come to love on CraftyPod blog, Diane walks us simply and clearly through the basics of weaving, giving us the vocabulary we need to understand the intructions that follow for five must-try techniques and projects. She keeps her promise that we’ll “maximize the meditative part, keep the measuring and figuring as simple as possible, and generally have a great time.”

And she delivers projects that will satisfy your thrifty and green urges while exciting your imagination. I mean, look at the project featured here: beautiful jewelry woven from old magazine pages. (Guess what all the women and girls in my family are getting for Christmas!)

For just US $10.50, you get an instant-gratification download of 60 pages of crafty delight. Go get the book now!

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There is a certain kind of sewing pattern that makes you start mentally matching fabrics before you have even finished reading the description. You know the type — relaxed shapes, clever details, pockets if the sewing gods are smiling, and just enough room for you to use that fabric you bought “for something special” three years ago.

That is exactly where Matchy Matchy Sewing Club seems to have found its sweet spot.

This indie sewing pattern brand has been getting more attention lately, and it is not hard to see why. The patterns feel cheerful, wearable, and creative without looking overly complicated. They have that handmade wardrobe energy sewists love right now: loose dresses, easy tops, patchwork details, everyday pants, quilted pieces, and garments that look like they were designed for real life rather than a mannequin who has never sat down.

What makes Matchy Matchy Sewing Club especially appealing is that it does not feel intimidating. The designs have personality, but they still look achievable. They invite you to play with fabric, mix prints, use scraps, and sew clothes that feel comfortable enough for the school run, the craft room, the market, or a lazy Sunday spent pretending you are only “tidying” the fabric stash.

And really, that is a big part of the current handmade wardrobe trend. Sewists are not just looking for another plain sewing pattern. They want pieces that feel personal. They want PDF sewing patterns that are beginner-friendly but still interesting. They want garments that let fabric choices shine, especially if there is a chance to use up those beautiful leftovers we keep folding neatly and then never touching again.

Matchy Matchy Sewing Club taps into all of that beautifully.

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Have you read?