Mischief-Managed Media Presents: "Sew U: Home Stretch" + Giveaway!

Long time readers may recall that I am an avid fan of Wendy Mullin's Sew U guide to sewing & patterns. In her first guide, Mullin created an exciting, engaging, and easy to understand guide to the basic principles of sewing. In a pinch, it's the first resource I turn to (even before my Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing!).

Courtesy of the fantastic Hachette Book Group, I was notified of Mullin's newest publication: Sew U Home Stretch: The Built by Wendy Guide to Sewing Knit Fabrics.

Like Mullin's earlier book, "Home Stretch" treats its readers as beginner seamsters/seamstresses, and once again breaks down sewing to its fundamental level, but this time with an emphasis on sewing knits. In her typical fashion, Mullin demystifies the process, reassuring the reader that the myths of sewing knit fabrics are irrelevant.


Happy Bits
<♥>No Presumptions Necessary: Mullin creates a piece that goes beyond being a guide for the most inexperienced seamstress. "Home Stretch" features a great guide in early chapters, which breaks down necessities based on your experience level, financial resources, and interest ("Getting By/Recommended/Pro"). Despite her recommendations, she caters the books to all levels as best she can.

<♥>Humor + Tips = A Fashionable Touch: More often than in "Sew U," Mullin interjects her personal sense of humor with fashionable anecdotes and words of wisdom. Quips like, "Using an interlock knit for a tank dress or miniskirt is a good idea, because the fabric will be a bit more forgiving and less clingy than a jersey, which tends to reveal every detail of the posterior region." are featured in every chapter. It's hard not to take away the wisdom while laughing about the honesty of it.

<♥>Basics for Beginners: Not only does Mullin go through the beginnings of how to shop for, select, and use knit fabrics, she covers the basics of more advanced sewing techniques like using and shopping for a Serger, pattern drafting, and more.

<♥>Let's Get Pattern Happy! Like in "Sew U," "Home Stretch" features three complimentary patterns in the back. But in the last half of the book, Mullin spends a substantially larger amount of time discussing those patterns, how to use them, and how to adapt them. She provides a large jumping off point and encourages the readers to get creative.

<♥>Increased Focus on Sustainability & Recycling: In addition to the chapter on recycling, early on Mullin says:

I want you to take the pile of old T-shirts you were planning to send to Goodwill and think, "Wait-- I can cut the neckline off this and sew it to another shirt and make an entirely new shirt!" I want you to look at your brother's old gym-class hoodie and envision a cute, cozy winter dress. I want you to turn sweaters in to scarves and legwarmers in to sleeves. This book is more than an instruction manual-- consider it a launching pad for your own creativity.

Now, the exciting bits...
I completely devoured this book in one evening, and now it's your turn to do the same...

Hachette Books was very gracious, and gave me two copies of "Home Stretch" to give away to readers of Dramatis Personae. I'm going to extend this offer over to readers of Miss Malaprop as well.

Just leave a comment on this post by Friday May 30th, indicating that you'd be interested in winning a copy. It's that easy. On June 1st, I'll announce the winners (nothing fancy this giveaway go around!) on my blog.