I fell in love with this book right away. Browsing through the book while deciding where to start, I instantly noticed the gorgeous photographs and detailed instructions. I realised the book was perfect to explore a new craft like rope sewing with the added bonus of utilising any fabric scraps in my stash. All one needs is a sewing machine to do the projects.
The projects are easy enough to follow and Lile has definitely simplified the whole process. As the blurb suggests one can make gorgeous personalised gifts for family and friends with a little bit of practice. Moreover, she has planned each project in this book to lead to the next. Her hope is that as one masters these simplified techniques the crafter will go on to be creative and make them their own. Quite a boast. Um… I could not help wondering if this were true? My mind was made up. I was going to start at the beginning.
Beautifully illustrated, Lile liberally uses photographs to demonstrate difficult and complicated tasks, making each one a doable. Thus one learns to make a simple base and progresses to the walls of a basket which can be varied in shape. She takes one through every move both descriptively and with photographs often for each step. Its as good as having her personally present with me on my crafting adventure.
She starts with the basics of different kinds of ropes, comparing their strengths and weaknesses for each project, why one particular rope would be more favourable than the others to, the sewing machine and the zigzag stitch one might use. Lile doesn’t hold back. She goes into considerable depth on each topic to teach one the rudiments of rope sewing. Every project has beginners tips where she pre-empts problems by anticipating them. Moreover, as she asserted in the introduction, each project does indeed lead to the next. Thus by starting at the beginning and progressing to the very end ones’ rope sewing expertise increases with each project. This also serves to encourage the crafter to continue in their new found hobby. I particularly liked how she inspired the crafter to be imaginative suggesting variations for each project.
While still on my journey of rope crafting, I tend to agree that Lile has indeed written a book that even a newbie crafter can if they like the craft continue in their own creative journey. How often has one wanted to delve into a particular craft but can’t find a suitably meticulous book? This book is certainly for the crafter who wants to try a new craft, for those who have never crafted before and this is their first crafting moment, for the failed rope crafter and anyone else in between. Its sure to inspire. Buy it for oneself or as a gift safe in the knowledge that you will not be disappointed.