French General: Home Sewn: 30 Projects for Every Room in the House

by Kaari Meng

As the founder of the renowned crafts and notions store, French General, Kaari Meng scours the French countryside and Parisian flea markets for vintage treasures. Now, this beloved designer has gathered her favorite patterns into a charming sourcebook sure to be coveted by crafters, Francophiles, and home decorators. She offers 30 simple sewing patterns for French-inspired projectsa scalloped tablecloth, piles of pillows and bedding, a festive party garland, totesand more. Lay-flat spiral binding and ready-to-use pattern sheets and embroidery transfers, plus step-by-step directions, gorgeous photographs, and helpful illustrations make it easy to bring the palettes and pleasures of traditional French living into any home.

Genres: Crafts, Sewing, Nonfiction

176 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2008

Reviews

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

ouf I wanted to go out and purchase all the linen and nettle and hemp I could get my hands on after reading this book. Fortunately for my budget I did not.

Very beautiful, very practical, very simple sewing. I want to try making the lavender pillows and the totes right off the bat, and maybe in some mythical future when I have disposable income I will make my household one of those gorgeous shower curtains and some cutsies matching towels.

***
upon re-reading in 2021: I saw it at the library and it's such a pretty, soothing kind of book that I got it out again just to read before bed, lol. It's still an inspiring and interesting book. I can say that I have made the lavender pillows (without the piping, lol, that was a bust), was inspired to make bunting by this book (although from another pattern), and am about to make shoe bags now that travelling is a real option for me again. So it is has also been useful ;)

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This lady has a passion for vintage french fabrics. Her projects are cute, and the book is fun to look at.

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars. I'd like this one even better if I could sew. Full of great inspiration and eye candy.

[Jennifer Salazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great sewing reference with nice hand-drawn diagrams. Not for the real beginner, but good for advanced beginner and more experienced. Beautiful fabrics shown!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm certainly not going off in search of vintage fabrics from France, but there were definitely some interesting ideas.

[Cathi Isza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book with hard to find ideas for the home.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful book, I wish I had fabric like hers!