I received 101 One Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins for Christmas. This book had been on my Amazon wishlist (currently on Amazon for $14), so I was excited to receive it. As the title notes, there are 101 sewing projects in this book. Although you could probably find some of these projects as free tutorials, it is certainly nice to have so many ideas and photos in one place. It is also nice to see a majority of them sewn with our favorite designer fabrics, like Heather Ross and Amy Butler.
There is a folder at the front of the book for pattern pieces, but it looks like a lot of the projects can be done by measuring fabric with your ruler.
I would eventually like to get to many of the projects, such as the garden apron, organized bed pocket, car trash bag, laptop sleeve, child’s convertible craft apron, the dog bed, and the dog coat.
Some of the projects are extremely simplistic, but I still want to make them anyway. For example, there is a lined bookcase and decorative bathroom towels that look really cute.
I didn’t see anything attractive in the women’s clothing chapter (and I’m sorry, but…spats?!). The handbags in the book were okay, but if you have other bag sewing patterns like I do, you may not get to them. There’s a chapter on plushies that might be useful if I need a cute baby or child gift.
I did enjoy this book, but here and there I noticed that the projects could have stood out more if they were photographed better or executed better. There were a couple pictures that were slightly blurry, and a few projects that looked a bit sloppy, at least compared to other sewing pictures that I have seen out there.
All-in-all, this is a great book to have many, many projects in one place. If you need ideas for a gift to make for someone, this would be the place to look as there is just about everything in it. I can’t imagine having to come up with 101 sewing patterns, so my hat is off to these two authors.
I borrowed this one from the library and it was a pretty good book. There were a lot of cute projects I would totally make. Enjoy!
i really appreciate your honest and realistic reviews – thanks!!!!!
bess 🙂
About the only pattern that I have made out of the book that I have loved is the Jewelry roll! I tried the shorti outfit for my daughter and it was awful! I also did the womens night shirt, and It came out great the first time I made it but I have it as a halter top! That pattern was designed by Rae of Made by Rae!
I made the classic jumper from this book, and haven’t made anything else. I bought the book specifically for that pattern, but nothing else really jumped out. I agree that the women’s stuff was blah.
Here’s my review of that pattern: http://www.theboytrifecta.com/2010/11/one-yard-wonders-all-ages-classic.html. You should make it for your little girl!
I love that book… well, ok, I love the publishers of this book… I don’t actually own the book, but I won the giveaway from the publishers. One yard of cool fabric a month for a year! 🙂 But, as much as I drool over the book when I’m at a barnes and nobles, there’s not a single project that I couldn’t live without (or try to make up on my own). I sure do drool over it though!
I really want to check this book out!