Half Yard™ Autumn Collection

This is the latest collection of Debbie Shores Half Yard projects for the autumn season.  The book covers 40 projects including 10 new projects. The cover illustrations are bright and clear and have a great autumnal colour scheme. The idea of the half yard collections is that the projects can be made with half a yard of fabric.  The projects are divided up into four sections 'Cozying up at Home', 'Halloween Celebrations', 'Fall Time Tidy' and 'Fall Days Out'. The book includes useful sections on tools and tips for beginners including stitches and methods used and a list of sewing essentials and notions. Each project has a lovely colourful illustration of a finished item plus step by step colourful photographs to illustrate the method. As with all of Debbie Shore's books the instructions are really clear and easy to follow.  There are templates in the back of the book and also additional templates can be downloaded from the bookmarked hub.  With 160 colourful pages this book is excellent value and a must have for anyone wanting to create useful and pretty items for the home and for gifts. -- Jax Hood * Half Yard Sewing Club Member * Another lovely book by Debbie Shore. The title of the book, ‘Autumn Collection’ certainly reflects the majority of pictures in the book along with the front and back covers with its stunning Autumnal hues. As with all Debbie’s books they are all well laid out. This book has four categories of projects, from ‘Cozying Up At Home’ to ‘Halloween Celebrations’, ‘Full Time Tidy’ and ‘Fall Days Out’. It has four pages of full sized templates at the back which I would personally photocopy as not to spoil the book. Although after purchasing the book it tells you how to download extra free copies of the templates, which is really handy. The introduction section is a fabulous glossary of hints and tips, on what tools to have, what machine stitches to use, how to do applique, hand stitching and even fitting a magnetic clasp. Along with many more tips for both the advanced and beginner sewer. All the projects only take half a yard of fabric, making it a fab stash busting book too. As most of us have many half yards in our stash! There are some beautiful patterns and not just for Autumn. I particularly like ‘Pumpkin Wreath’( a lovely way to decorate your home this Autumn) and I will definitely be trying the pin cushion pot. This is a beautiful little handy pot that you can put your threads, bobbins and ribbons inside, whilst sticking your pins around the edge. It is a super little organisational project for your sewing room. If you are a dress maker, the ‘Pyramid Paper Weight’ is a fabulous little project. I also love the ‘The Letter Holder’ which would make a lovely gift for a birthday or Christmas present. The glossy pages have descent size writing on it, making each project easy to read and to follow. Each project has a list of what you will need, along with clear written and photographic instructions and beautiful pictures. It is also a lovely book to start your children on some great first sewing projects too. As a few are very child friendly and will not take too long to complete. For example. ‘The Halloween Bunting’ and ‘The Witches Hat’ All in all, a great addition to anybody’s craft library. -- Sandi Millichip-Massocchi * Family Comforts * This is a mighty book of Debbie’s top 40 half yard projects, including 10 exclusive new projects. A great edition to your collection but particularly for those new to sewing or making fabulous items with Debbie. As with all the books in her series, they are a good reference size of approx A4 and printed to a high standard of lovely quality paper with clear printing and colour choice. Each project has a quick reference box for what you need and then extremely easy instructions to follow with supporting photographs. At the beginning of the book are tips, kit and technique pages to help you navigate through your projects. Although the book is called Autumn, the majority of items can be made with suitable fabric for any season and are perfect gifts. A number of the projects you will obviously have seen in previous books but there is a good selection of quick makes using half a yard of outer fabric to be given to any age recipient as a gift. The book would make a great gift of inspiration to any beginner or experienced person. -- Sandra Grey * Half Yard Sewing Club Member *