The Feisty Stitcher: Sewing Projects with Attitude

by Susan Wasinger

New from the author of ECO a unique approach to stitchery! Meet the most creative power tool in a stitcher’s the ordinary sewing machine! Cutting-edge author Susan Wasinger turns it into a source of fun and experimentation with more than 20 innovative projects—some with surprising variations. Susan encourages sewers to play with their machines, giving them eye-opening techniques to stitch without thread to puncture non-fabric materials; use leather needles to sew through layers of fused felt; reorient seams to transform flat projects into 3-D.  Along with the familiar fabrics and recycled garments, she gets into the spirit of exploration with unexpected materials, from paper and tire tubes to neoprene. And with the skill level set at beginning to intermediate, every crafter can join in! Projects Bags and Totes   Home décor and gift items  Wearables, such as hats and other accessories

Genres: Sewing, Nonfiction, Crafts, How To, Reference

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really like this one! Not all recycled items however...will need to purchase items. I love the t-shirt bags and the XL refitted for a female figure and of course the messenger bag made out of those plastic shopping bags. Clever ideas!

[Ligaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several craft books by Susan Wasinger and this one is amongst my favorite. The author uses bright and cheerful fabrics, the projects are clever, thought provoking, and well-designed. The fact that Wasinger encourages the use of recycled materials is the icing on the cake. My only criticism is that the garment pieces (jacket, tracker hat) aren't as polished as they could be. Otherwise, this book will help you to see your raw materials in a different way.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good project book for beginner sewing or for anyone looking for new artsy projects. Even if your taste isn't bohemian, check out the projects!

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a beginner's book, but an interesting one to add to the library of a more experienced sewer. Intermediate and up, I suppose? Patterns are all designed for machine work (in case you're the type to prefer hand sewing).

The patterns themselves are starting points, I think. Yes, there are measurements and instructions and all, but the instructions are really more to get you going. Wasinger provides step-by-step instructions and a fair amount of pictures, but she also encourages you to play with free sewing, experiment with materials, making the projects your own - that 'feisty attitude' in the title. She is kinda vague on the time and cost details for each project (what's "a breeze" to one person might not be to another), though thankfully most of the projects are pretty straightforward without too many materials. This is where the experience comes into play, being able to take that extra step to really make a project your own.

And the big question - Would I make any of these myself? Yes, actually. While some are fairly commonplace patterns (like the roll-up pockets), there are some that I'd make.
* Enlightened Messenger Bag - I like the instructions for making the plastic fabric too
* T-shirt Market Bag - don't we all have a million t-shirts we could repurpose?
* Quick Cute Clever Jacket - basically a fleece cardigan, and we know what they say about librarians and their cardigans!
* Piece-ful Easy Scarf - yes, I know, I typically knit scarves, but I like the felted one too
* Nip & Tuck T-shirt - clear directions to give those generic t-shirts a little shaping
* Conical coin purse

I wouldn't make the lampshades, but I did like the effect of sewing through the paper. Same with the snap storage boxes - not something I'd particularly make, but still pretty cute.

[Amy Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

One note up front: this book is aimed at people with sewing machines, not people who are hand stitching. I also wouldn't really call it a beginner's book. Maybe an intermediate book for people who have a little experience already with their machines. This definitely isn't a here's-a-pattern-now-you-make-it kind of book. It encourages free form sewing, attitude, and adventure. There are some interesting projects. Each project is accompanied by easy to follow numbered step instructions and color photographs of the finished project and of various steps. You'll also find that each project's level of ease, time commitment, cost, and materials are untraditional, with designations such as "this one's a breeze", "one lazy Sunday", "same as root beer floats for two."

I'd recommend this book to an edgy sewer that has some experience under her/his belt and is looking for some fun alternative projects.

[Erika Mulvenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, a sewing book with some creative, funky projects! There are already so, so many basic sewing books out there with basic projects like zippered pouches, tote bags and aprons, I'm glag to see that this sewing author took a different direction with her book. I really like the ideas of sewing with alternative materials like recycled plastic shopping bags, old sweaters or vinyl. If sewing funky projects with funky materials doesn't get you excited, then this isn't the book for you (although you COULD sew these projects with traditional fabrics if you chose to). But if you're not scared of sending alternative materials through your sewing machine, then definitely take a look at the great projects in this book!

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are alot of of curious projects in this book - and interesting materials used such as:
- day planner made from an inner tube
- faux leather storages baskets to sew
- recycle curtains into a trapper's hat

but I am not interested in making any of them as they do not appeal to me aesthetically nor I am interested in working with wacky fabrics - I love cotton too much!

However, an excellent book for experienced sewers looking for new ideas.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made the bike bags on the cover and they came out adorable! The instructions were clear and easy to follow. There was a minor error in the materials list for the bike bags - the velcro is 3/4" not 1/2". And sewing with oilcloth was surprisingly easy and I probably wouldn't have done it without the encouragement of this book.

I want to try more of these projects - I like Wasinger's use of upholstery webbing in pillows and pockets.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this book out from the library as part of my quest to teach my daughters to sew. We liked it so much that I bought my own copy. It has some very interesting projects using minimal supplies. They're all fairly quick and straight-forward, but usable. I doubt we'll make more than half the items, but it's definitely worth having, at least for us.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting info and projects, I plan on making the t-shirt market bag and the nip and tuck shirt. Since I have some oilcloth,it was good to read about how to sew with it. Some good info on techniques I have yet to try, because other books always assume you know how already, such as a French Seam.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting ideas. I don't think I qualify as "feisty" according to their definition, because I don't really want to use my sewing machine to sew duct tape and other unusual items. There are some interesting ideas here, I'm just not likely to make them.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly easy projects that aren't too girly.

I love the colors & stitching of the hit-the-road backpack. The faux leather snap-to-it storage boxes would require a lot of shopping for the right parts, but the end result is very clean and modern.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked these relatively easy sewing ideas that use unusual materials. I made the t-shirt (ok, not an unusual material) bag and it turned out well. I am planning to do the fleece kimono and recycled bag bag, too.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great up-to-date projects. Eco friendly, too--make a messenger bag out of plastic bags or a shopping bag out of old t-shirts. A very cute change purse made out of ribbons and a zipper!
Cute things-great summer projects for my college girl. Nicely photographed and easy to follow directions.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Projects :
1. A conical coin purse, an intriguing design which makes two dimensional fabrics blossom into a 3 dimensional object.

2. Denim rug pattern that may make a nice cashmere throw.

3. Cool faux leather tote.

4. Slippers

6. Stylish tee shirt tote bag

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some really fun and unusual projects. I want to make the following: Slippers, Grey Back Pack, Bike Bags, Ribbon Coin Purse, Snap Together Storage Bags. Yeah I think this might have to become part of my perminate library.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't tried any of the projects yet, most are eh, but the bike bag looks cool.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book! Clever projects, unusual materials. While the author goes out of the way to use unusual materials, the projects can be created from easily accessible materials or your own stash.

[Susan Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome projects and good instructions.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting projects like the oil cloth bike bag on the cover and floor cushions and some interesting techniques like sewing parallel lines and slashing in between but nothing for me ATM.

[Telesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas for projects. I ended up making an amazing rug out of old jeans that I love.

[Stephanie Denison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has a lot of really cute ideas. I haven't tried any of the yet so I can't speak to how easy they may be.

[Martha]

read again in March 2014

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Techniques that I definitely want to try! Some cool, eco-friendly ideas, too.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some cute projects, and some that I'd never, ever use. The bike bags are especially nice.

[Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 projects caught my eye: Snap to it storage (leatherette) and the t-shirt market bag.
Athol Library.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked this one enough to buy it for my home idea/reference collection.