Introducing my New Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts Book

April 1, 2010

Introducing my New Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts Book

Did you know that nearly ten percent of women in the United States sews by hand or by machine? That’s an impressive 20.8 million people! This week, on my show, I’ve been demonstrating lots of fun sewing craft projects and I am so pleased to announce the release of my latest book, Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts. This is my 71^st book and the second in our craft series. It features more than 150 projects, 800 color photographs, and a CD of more than 50 templates to create the motifs in the book, as well as complete sewing patterns for selected projects, such as a no-sew scalloped wrap skirt, a baby kimono, and a girl’s shirt dress.

On Wednesday, on the Today Show, I shared a variety of fun and easy projects with Ann Curry, to help spruce up your Easter table. And this evening, at 6PM, we are hosting our first ever Stitch Fest sewing event at my offices in downtown Manhattan to celebrate the release of the book. For just $30, you can receive your own copy, plus cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, learn about the projects from the book, including fabric crafts and easy sewing projects, and watch embroidery, dyeing, and appliqué demonstrations from our sewing experts at MSLO and from Singer, Husqvarna Viking, and Pfaff. You won’t want to miss this event and tickets are available here.

Can't make it to NYC for Stitch Fest? You can still join in the fun by following our live Twitter feed direct from the event tonight! MSLO Crafts director Hannah Milman and other attendees will be live-tweeting and posting photos throughout the event from @CraftsDept. We'll provide exclusive updates from behind the scenes, respond to questions, and give away copies of the book at random to @CraftsDept followers who comment on the feed using @CraftsDept and #stitchfest between 3pm and midnight tonight!

: You don’t want to miss Stitch Fest, our fun sewing event on Thursday, April 1 at 6pm. Tickets are available at: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/sewing-social

: Our brand new book – Martha’s Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts

: These are some sewing projects on the set of my show.

: More projects

: The MSLO team that worked on the development of our second crafts book – Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts.

: One of the sewing areas on the set of my show – I love the thread rack.

: We used the Singer Confidence machines on the show.

: The book explains how to make many hand-sewn projects, like these beautiful fabric flowers and branches wrapped with seam binding.

: Iron-on silhouettes are another way to add dimension to fabric.

: Here is our finished Easter table.

: This basket of sewing items would be a perfect Easter gift or a Mother’s Day gift, along with a copy of the book.

: Here is Becky with the two machines we used to embroider coasters.

: These are some of the supplies needed for the embroidered felt coasters.

: On the set of the Today show, yesterday – With buttons and simple embroidery, you can easily spruce up an ordinary napkin.

: Becky Hanson, Director of Education for Singer Sewing Company joined me on the Today Show, where we used the SINGER Confidence (model 7470) Sewing Machine. The machine is sold at participating retailers nationwide. Visit singerco.com for product information.