MaryJane's Stitching Room

by MaryJane Butters

Whether you’re a farmgirl or just wish you were, MaryJane’s Stitching Room is a treasure trove of projects that will have you stitching, crocheting, embroidering, and tatting like one before you know it.

Along with more of MaryJane’s engaging essays and endearing farmgirl wisdom, you’ll find projects that have an irresistible appeal for the contemporary crafter who is intrigued with the delicate handcrafts of yesteryear. MaryJane includes nostalgic patterns with simple step-by-step instructions for projects to wear, for gifts, or to bring down-home charm to any room of the home, all with her unmistakable farmgirl flair.

MaryJane’s Stitching Room is a wonderful companion to MaryJane’s Ideabook, Cookbook, Lifebook, but it also stands alone as a useful guide to the handiwork of days gone by.

Genres: Crafts, Sewing, Quilting, How To, Crochet, Reference

144 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2007

About the author

MaryJane Butters is the internationally recognized organic farmer, book author, environmental activist, and food manufacturer behind the self-titled MaryJanesFarm magazine. Working from her family farm in Moscow, ID, and through her websites, Butters has achieved success through a variety of business ventures relating to the domestic arts, organic farming, and a grassroots self-sufficiency movement directed at creating a rural revival.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked MaryJane's Stitching Room, by MaryJane Butters. Ms. Butters is my kind of feminist; she can do any darn thing a man can do (often better) while celebrating the traditional womanly arts that are unsung and overlooked. This inspiring how-to book gave me lots of ideas for projects (and made me wish I had more time to do them!).

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun way to use up bits and pieces, making something beautiful in the meanwhile. The illustrations are lovely.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good introduction to a lot of basic sewing projects or a fun visit to farmgirl land, as are all of MaryJane Butters books. These books indulge the fantasy of a world where one can create your own simple but pretty environment and enjoy the natural world around us. And who doesn't need that from time to time! It also reminds me of some skills I don't use enough and encourages some simple but satisfying projects to enjoy and share.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love MaryJane Butters. Ever since picking up one of her other books on a whim, I've been kind of fascinated with the old-timey, not-even-remotely perfect antidote to the Martha Culture we see in way too many books on domestic pursuits.

Not that there's anything wrong with wanting things to be beautiful. In fact, through knitting and sewing and embroidery (et.al.), Butters lets you dip your foot into making things pretty, without all the pressure.

I'm not a farmgirl. In fact, I'm allergic to the outdoors on the plains, and most horses are out to kill me. (No, seriously.) But the ideas of community, friendship, and no-idle-hands pursuit...I can grok those. And in this book, Butters shows you how to get started.

I will say, though -- the construction/production of this book may be a little substandard. My binding broke almost immediately, just sitting on the shelf, and when I've looked at replacement copies in the local B&N, they've almost inevitably also had broken bindings, which leads me to believe it's a production flaw and not an isolated event. If you're the type who freaks out about having your books pristine, you might want to check it out from the library first, or open it wide a few times in the store to make sure the binding's secure. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book, and no pages are falling out, so I'm fine with it. :)

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a yummy book. I just like Mary Jane, actually. I love that she is a woman who lives on her own terms. She is a farm girl at heart and has found a way to live on her own terms, as artfully as possible. Then, she shares all her bounty with us. What's not to like? I really love her first book, MaryJane's Ideabook, Cookbook, Lifebook: For the Farmgirl in All of Us. I also discovered that she has a new book out. As soon as I finish here, I'm off to my library's website to request it.

Anyway. I will never be a farm girl or a seamstress, so it's funny that I enjoyed this book. It is inspiring even if you never plan to sew or crochet, tat or embroider. It's nice to think of people doing things by hand in this modern, fast-paced world. The pictures are bright and beautiful and Mary Jane is the kind of woman you really want to have tea with. Like a more laid-back, farm-version of Martha.

[Judi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice photos and very professional layout but a bit all over the place. It's like they didn't have enough material for a real needlecraft book so threw in a whole lot of other stuff as well. Some of the crafts are very basic, but some new ideas. The section on lace would be confusing for someone not already familiar with the different lace techniques. While bobbin lace is discussed, there is no mention of needle made lace which is the technique used for the sampler shown. It is also what the subject, Kathleen Warnick, is photographed as doing. The two techniques are very different. Also, on tatting, only needle tatting is shown while the more common shuttle is not mentioned at all.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the clear and concise instructions with color photographs. I was motivated to try needle tatting. I would have given it four stars if not for two issues: 1)She offers photographs of more advanced projects for each technique without any instructions or references and 2) There are frequent sidebars with links to websites that are advertisments for all practical purposes. I don't need commercials in my books.

[Miss Kelly]

Wonderful illustrations and patterns and stories behind the creations. Love the story about a women wearing an apron on top of an apron so if company came she had on a clean apron. There is an ideas of sewing cards and making rickrack earrings. There also websites mentioned and loved the "tatting and chatting" chapter too. Wish I had the patience to make some of these beautiful crafts.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book. I learned to tat from her instructions. The photos are beautiful, the stories heartwarming. The only reason for not giving it more stars is that it covers a lot of crafts that I don't do; I was looking for something that hit more on my own interests.

[raccoon reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Mary Jane and her books. She's an inspiration to all the future farm girls (and present farm girls) out there. Some of her things I could pass by, but others made me want to grab up my sewing basket and make it right away. Too bad the book is due back at the library...!

[Farmgirls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this book :) All kinds of patterns and instructions for a wide variety of needlework. The pictures and the whole book is beautiful...makes you want to be creative just looking at it :D

[Cassandra Carico · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. The projects are ones I have wanted to dive into, but many of the vintage books that teach arts such as tatting assume a bit of knowledge I haven't already. The feel and overall aesthetic of this book are just to my liking. I am going to enjoy doing these projects.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was meant to be a farm girl.

[JoDee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book because I so enjoyed MaryJane's other book. Again, brought me down memory lane and got be yearning for simpler times.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleaver & full of different projects to get your creative juices flowing!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely look at the women who have made the Midwest, their stories, their crafts.

[Clara Dearmore Strom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this book as much as her others, but they are still motivational.

[Melly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely things and old-fashioned techniques that I'd never heard of (like tatting). Nothing I wanted to make, but nice to look at.

[Joan54 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful book filled with lots of ideas. Projects in the book looked rather complicated to me.

[Trace]

This looks cute...