Review: Sew Liberated

Sew Liberated is a fun collection of mostly applique projects, with a few other embellishment techniques in the mix. (Full disclosure: Interweave Press sent me a review copy.)

Although the cover model is this pretty skirt, the projects in Sew Liberated are primarily home decor and gift items. (There are three wearable projects for adults, and two for children.) So if you’re wondering about the difference between this title and Applique Your Way, that’s a key one – the latter contains more wearable projects.

I do like how Meg McElwee has created a number of projects that are outside the scope of what we’ve already seen a lot of in various sewing books. (You can see a nice gallery of them here.

This clock is a thing of beauty, involving applique leaves and embroidery.

The designs are simple overall, and draw heavily on nature motifs. The appliques are nicely enhanced with other techniques, as in this pillow, where the tree trunks are machine embroidered.

Sew Liberated offers up quite beginner-friendly educational materials in terms of the basic applique techniques. I’m always happy to see step-by-step photography in modern craft books.

The instructions for the projects, however, are mostly in text form with a few key diagrams. So beginning sewists may find some of the projects a bit challenging if they like more visual references.

I’m also a fan of this duvet cover – what a great way to showcase a favorite collection of fabrics! You could do this on a readymade duvet, or sew your own.

Another point of differentiation from Applique Your Way – Sew Liberated has a section of projects for babies and children. This felt storybook tickles me pink.

It’s so great to see more and more publishers offering pattern sheets with books! Sew Liberated has an attached envelope of full-size ones.

Overall, I think this book is a nice inspiration book for intermediate sewists and beyond. If you like, you can follow along on the blog tour, and learn more.