First off this book is beautiful. And I mean beautiful! It is the type of book you want to leave on your coffee table to impress those none-sewists that we know and to persuade them that sewing is glamorous and fabric really is something to be lusted after. The cover is made of a material that you just want to stroke. And of course there is page after page of fabulous patterns from the Liberty range. Heck this could almost be a pattern library as well as a sewing pattern book!

Photos of projects are wonderfully styled and presented. You just want to dive into that world and if Liberty fabrics is how you get there then bring on the Liberty! Project illustrations are not simple line diagrams, but gorgeously detailed paintings including details of the fabric itself.

So if you are looking for a book to just ogle the photos this is certainly for you. But what about the content? After all we are all sewists and will want to actually be inspired or make some of the patterns in any book we buy.

The book is divided into 4 sections:- Essentials, Organisation, Luxury and Sewing Basics.
There are 9 projects in the Essentials section:- basic cushions, simple curtains, eco shopper, cook’s apron, sugar-bag doorstop, wash bag, roman blind, beanbag and tote bag.

There are 6 projects in the Organisation section:- keepsake board, jewellery roll, drawstring bag, gadget case, peacock pincushion and book covers.

There are 10 projects in the Luxury section:- round cushion, rose corsage, rose cushion, bench cushion, frilly pinny, kimono, lampshade, rose throw, traditional cot quilt and contemporary brick quilt.

Each of the projects is described in detail with many illustrations. There are no templates in the book, but each project has a graph paper section at the beginning showing the exact dimensions of the pieces you need to cut. I have to admit that this was one thing that bothered me. When I choose a project I like to get started and not have to spend a few days messing around with drawing out pattern pieces or trekking to the copy shop. I know I am probably being somewhat on the lazy side but I am sure most of us lead busy lives and there is little enough time for sewing as it is!

That being said this book is on the whole a veritable feast for the eyes! Although none of the projects are that different from things you may have already seen, the mere fact they are all dripping in Liberty fabrics makes this book fantastic! Indeed, the 2 quilts featured are classic simple designs but since they are made in Liberty fabrics they just ooze luxury. However, it would have been fun to see some more unusual designs featuring Liberty fabric rather than the classic look that is generally associated with the Liberty brand.

The Sewing Basics section in the book is very much aimed at the beginner. But you never know when you might need a reminder of the basics! There is also a lovely reference section for Liberty fabrics. Be careful or it might send you racing to your local Liberty supplier and making a large dent in your wallet!

A big thank you to Chronicle Books for giving us a copy to giveaway. If you would like a copy of The Liberty Book of Home Sewing then all you need to do is leave a comment below. We will draw a winner on 20th November.

Unfortunately this giveaway is only open to US residents due to how the book is distributed.