Sneak Peek Preview: Stitch Fall 2010!

Our packed Fall 2010 issue of Stitch, available in early September, celebrates our passionate love of sewing fabric. Get ready for fabulous sewing projects and articles celebrating the wide world of textiles that inspire our sewing fantasies and fill our overflowing stashes. With this issue we challenge you to expand your sewing horizons: sew with a fabric you have never tried before, or use a traditional fabric in a totally unexpected way. Here’s a preview of some of the great project stories in the upcoming issue

Our cover project, shown above, is by Kevin Kosbab of Feed Dog Designs. I love the graphic, mod style of his Patchwork Cube Slipcover, and it’s super-easy to make. It’s part of our Off the Couch group of sewing projects, about creative ways to use home décor fabrics. Upholstery and drapery fabrics offer an endless array of prints and textures-and who says they have to be used for sofas and drapes? We’ll show you fun things to do with these fabrics that take advantage of their large prints, extra-wide bolt widths, and heavier weight (perfect for projects that need structure), including a fun skirt, a chic travel set, a stylish firewood tote, and more. You will never look at your couch the same way again.

Hardworking denim is often overlooked in the fabric world, but it’s making a big comeback this season, restyled in fashion-forward ways. In Designs in Denim we’ll show you all about sewing denim in a whole new way. The Art of Bleach Pillows by Carol Zentgraf (far left) is a great example of the creative possibilities of denim; bleach and stencils create a custom look. Other Stitch designers explore mixing different shades of denim, embellishing denim with hand and machine embroidery, and combining denim with fun prints and appliqué.

Everyone loves a little sparkle around the holidays; special-occasion fabrics add a touch of bling, shine, and luxury to even the smallest sewing project. In Getting Fancy, silk, satin, velvet, and faux fur get star treatment in projects with simple elegance. The Silk and Pearls Clutch by Stitch Project Editor Katrina Loving (center left) is the perfect accessory for a holiday party, and you could whip it up in an afternoon. Simply follow the silk fabric sewing tips and tricks in our accompanying article on sewing with silk, by Katrina Walker, and you will have it done in no time.

The fashion world has gone mad for plaid, and our Modern Plaid story shows you how to reinterpret this classic fabric in fresh ways. From Burberry to punk, plaid can be traditional or edgy, and everything in between. I love this wool cashmere Boy’s Cozy Pullover by Jil Cappucio (below right). It’s super-soft and washable, perfect for kids. It can be tricky to match up plaid fabric at seams, so we give you a cheat sheet full of tips to make your plaid projects flawless.

Need fun stashbusting or quick and easy sewing projects that you can make during the hectic holiday season? Our One Yard Gifts story has 12 fantastic projects to please everyone on your list (and you might find a few things to make for yourself as well). Take these adorable Butterfly Mittens designed by Erin Gilday (below center)–they’re so quick and easy to make you can sew a pair for a friend and a pair to keep.

Of course, projects are only half the story at Stitch. In addition to 40 exciting projects, the Fall 2010 issue has a great lineup of feature articles to inspire you to think about fabric in new ways. Learn about the contemporary quilting trend that showcases fabric in graphic ways, meet Christina Kim of the global-fashion house Dosa, get creative with DIY fabric storage ideas, and much, much more. When you get the issue, drop us a line and let us know your favorite projects and articles from the issue and what you would like to see in future issues. Take these fun projects and make them your way–and send us lots of pictures!

Happy sewing,

Tricia