The Liberty Book of Home Sewing
By Liberty of London, Lucinda Ganderton, Richard Merritt, Kristin Perers
160 pages;
Chronicle Books
The title of this 160-page
ode to famed Liberty fabrics can be a bit off-putting. Sewing is a skill, after
all, one that many of us no longer possess. But even if you've never picked up
a needle and thread, much less a bobbin, you'll enjoy drooling over these luscious
home décor photographs and project ideas. Liberty was founded in the 1870s,
with textiles from Japan and China, but soon morphed into an entire industry of
British and French furniture, art, fabric and clothing—their most beloved
product being their smocked little girls' dresses in all kinds of lovely pastel
lawns (you have to love a company that still uses the word "lawn").
As historic as their flower-sprigged patterns are, the projects and designs
here are surprisingly of the moment: an eco-shopping bag, funky book covers, a
bean bag pouf and an apron that, save for its delicate print, is positively
postmodern (p. 30). If you are artsy-craftsy, you'll appreciate the no-fail
illustrated directions. If you're not—I admit it! I'm not!—consider it
addictive design porn that will leave you dreaming of Japanese-style throw
pillows and a rainy-day bench cushion for a bench, window and house that you do
not have (yet). I'm storing mine beside all those exotic cookbooks whose pictures
I look at just to make my mouth water and whose recipes I joyously will never
prepare.
— Leigh Newman
