The Home-Sewn Home: 50 projects for Curtains, Shades, Pillows, Cushions, and More

Soft furnishings – from curtains and cushions, to bed and table linen – can provide the perfect finishing touches to a room, adding an injection of colour and pattern. So often, store-bought furnishings are either hugely expensive or mass-produced, but The Home-Sewn Home shows you the easy way to create your own, using the wonderful fabrics designed by Vanessa Arbuthnott. There are 50 inspiring step-by-step projects, all with easy-to-follow step artworks and instructions.

The projects range from a simple cushion and table runner for the novice stitcher, through to lined curtains with an array of different headings, blinds, bed throws and table linen. There is a chapter on accessories, including a cook’s apron, a tote bag and table mats, which also make great presents, while the basic techniques chapter teaches you all the skills you need to make any of the projects.

Throughout the book, Vanessa offers practical advice on mixing fabrics, colours and patterns, helping you to achieve a truly individual look in your home. There are variations, too, allowing you to adapt the projects to suit your own surroundings. Whether you have just bought your first sewing machine, or want to find new ways to use Vanessa’s stunning fabrics, The Home-Sewn Home will show you the way.

About the author

Vanessa Arbuthnott started her own fabric design business ten years ago and was soon featured in Country Living and the Saturday Telegraph. She has never looked back and her enthusiasm for designing fabric is as strong as ever. This is her first book. Vanessa is based in Gloucestershire, UK.

Gail Abbott is a home stylist and writer whose work regularly appears in interiors magazines such as The World of Interiors, Homes & Gardens and Ideal Home. She is the author of nine books, including Shoestring Chic, Living with Light, Decorating with Blue and White, Living with White, and The Newly-Wed’s Guide to Setting up Home, all published by CICO Books. Gail is based in Cambridge, UK.