By: Donna Ransdell

Book: _Sewing for the Home_, Singer Sewing Reference Library

This book, one of several in the highly acclaimed Singer Sewing Reference
Library, was one I checked out of the library first before deciding if it would
be nice to add to my birthday/Christmas list.

_Sewing for the Home_, as the name implies, is all about sewing stuff for your
house...windows, pillows, tables, and beds are among the things discussed.

The photographs are colorful and detailed, as we have come to expect from the
Singer Sewing Reference Library Books. Unusual or more advanced techniques are
shown in photos as well as words. In addition, these photos are very inspiring!

The first chapters talk about the use of the book, fabrics and materials that
are appropriate for this book. They talk about using your machine and the
appropriate feet, notions and equipment that are helpful, and basic seams.

The windows chapter is very thorough - more pages are spent on curtains, drapes
and other window hangings than on anything else in the book. They discuss
measuring your windows, deciding on how much fabric you'll need, and then get
into some details like pinch pleating, casings, headings, and tiebacks before
detailing the types of curtains and drapes to make. I sure wish I'd had this
book a few years ago, when I went to make drapes for our place on Adak.

The next chapter discusses pillows. They go into types and fillings before
teaching the how-tos on 9 different types of pillows. They also teach you how
to make pillow closures and ties (so one could make chair pads, which are
essentially pillows with ties).

Then we go into tables. My goodness, I wish I'd had this chapter about two
years ago, when I had to make a tablecloth for a kindergarten housekeeping
area. Besides tablecloths, they discuss table runners, placemats and napkins.

The final chapter is on beds, and the one I read with the most thoroughness
since I'm considering making my girls a spread, comforter or quilt for
Christmas. They talk mostly about comforters, pillow shams, and bed skirts. The
comforter directions looked quite good.

From what I could see at House of Fabrics yesterday, there are two more books
in this series..._More Sewing for the Home_ and one other. This one seems the
most basic of the three.