Love this book! Before using this book, I had never sewn a stitch, but was aching to learn. This book has a wonderful introduction to sewing in the beginning - with detailed descriptions of tools and accessories as well as methods and tips - invaluable to the newest of the new to sewing. Each project typically builds on the skills practiced on previous projects - not necessarily having a new technique with each project, but it may help to have glanced over the tips and tricks sections of all the projects before trying one further into the book (especially if you're inexperienced like me).

I will agree that the editing of the book falls a little short. So far, I've tried 4 projects from the book and they have each had at least one error - some errors were easy to spot (i.e., when spec'ing out the dimensions for handles, 13"x16" was obviously wrong), but others were quite frustrating for a beginner. Fortunately, there is a very helpful group on flickr named with the title of the book. There is a discussion group there with errata for the group as well as general questions / answers - extremely helpful. I would recommend using this group along with the book - searching on your project before you start for some explanation of known trouble spots.

All in all, great book with really fun projects, mostly easy to understand patterns, and great tips for beginners!

Okay, it's one thing to bend the rules a little when sewing, it is another to make a bunch of craft projects that look like my five year old made them. This book was worthless, and I am a beginner sewer, so it should have been perfect for me. This book makes me wonder just how easy it is to get a book published. I know nothing about deep sea diving, but maybe I could write a book on it. :)

Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew This book is not so much about sewing as it is about embellishing your sewing projects. A new sewer must learn some basic rules and can then branch out into creative endeavors. I found the ideas presented to be interesting, but not such a good place for beginner sewers to start.

This is the best beginning sewing book I've seen so far. The projects are creative, fun and wonderfully illustrated with great photos.

This book is great for a beginner sewer but for people who are more advanced should pass this book up. The projects range from simple to complex, but in reference to a beginner. There are also many projects for children and babies which was no use to me because I have none. Although I am an advanced seamstress I can play off of these ideas to make a more complex project.

To the people who have said this is generally not a book for beginners, I have to agree. Problems lie in Amy's line drawings, which are often difficult to understand, the lack of info on yardage to purchase, the use of flannel instead of conventional interfacing (unless you want everything soft and floppy), the need to enlarge and tape the patterns, and the paucity of directions on how to do things like miter corners and properly match notches. Another issue is that the photography is quite nice, but often ineffective. Look at the project picture for the place mats, and you'll see what I mean. Not only are we told to miter corners w/o being given clear instructions, but we can't even see how Amy's done it in the picture, because the sides are cut off (it's also "artistically" blurry). It can't always be style over substance.

Now that I've worked my first project from this book, it might just be my last.

I use and enjoy Diana Rupp's Sew Everything Workshop much more.

I learned to sew years ago--I made coats, suits, children's clothes--from patterns including designer Vogue. For the last 15 years I have sewn mostly curtains and household stuff. I know how to sew, but this book shows a different way of looking at sewing and made me think more creatively about what I was doing. An enjoyable book to read for inspiration and/or use for projects.

The instrutions on how to make projects in the book are not clear at all.
And nothing new in this book, I will not recommand this book to anyone.

I have to agree with a lot of the reviews of this book. I was busting to buy this book after continually reading about it in most of the craft blogs I visit. But what a disappointment. If you are a beginner, stay clear of this book. My biggest gripe is the hand-drawn diagrams. Authors/Artists take note.....creating a computer drawn image or even a hand drawn image using a ruler is much better on the eye than the sloppy diagrams in this book!!! I've made the bib, scallop blanket and bag and they all disappointed me. The scallops on the blanket were a real mess and I'm an accomplished quilter who always measures twice and cuts once!! The scallops did not match up on the corners and I ended up running around the edges with perl thread to tidy them up a bit. The bag was a nightmare as a few important steps were missing and I ended up winging it just to get it finished. The start of the book however contains some great information for the beginner with tips on fabric and tools. A much better book to buy is Amy Butler's - "In stitches". That one was well worth the extra money.

I am a novice when it comes to sewing. This book made me feel empowered. Each project has drawings of step by step instructions. And the projects are so cute! But vital information is sometimes left out (for example, there are no measurements for the handles of the handbag). And for a beginner, sometimes the directions aren't explicit enough (for example, how exactly are you supposed to sew notches together so that they turn out the same each time?). But overall, I loved the book and would recommend it. It's fun and inspiring.

I really enjoyed this book! Perfect for beginners. I really like the author's aesthetic. She's got a great style and it seems very approachable. I highly recommmend it!

I enjoyed this book but it wasn't what I expected. The sewing is a bit "off the wall" but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I did get a great idea for a baby blanket and enjoyed looking at the pictures of different projects.

I think the projects in the book are really cute and have made several of the "easier" ones. I agree with previous reviews that their are critical details like measurements, right/wrong side of fabric, yardage to buy etc. As a relatively new sewer with perfectionist standards I really think that photos instead of line drawings would really help the directions and the layout is crazy with directions on one page and drawings on the next. I think as my skills improve I will be able to interpret the directions a bit better. For all super new sewers, this book and most of the other beginner project books are best with a really comprehensive sewing manual so you can reference a real image of the handstiches etc when you need them.

I absolutely love this book! It has adorable illustrations, beautiful photos, and creative patterns. The idea from this book that stands out to me is that anyone can sew, and sewing doesn't have to be perfect. True, it may seem too basic to some, and true, it has a few pattern flaws. It was easy to find corrections online ( http://www.flickr.com/groups/340229@N25/discuss/72157601678980590/ ). I learned a lot about "going with the flow" when I'm sewing--and making simple projects my own by adding my own creativity. In addition to this book, Amy's blog (www.angrychicken.typepad.com) and online photo sharing group on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/groups/340229@N25/) would inspire just about anybody. 5 stars!

I have the same issues with the directions that many of the other reviewers have. I'm a relative novice when it comes to sewing. I just struggled with the directions. Since this book emphasized that many of the projects were at a beginner level, I just assumed that the problem was my lack of experience. I showed the book to my mom, a experienced seamstress and she told me that a lot of information was left out. If you didn't know any better, it would appear quite confusing. In many cases, I felt like the directions were rushed and the drawings weren't very clear. I wouldn't recommend this to a beginner, but I do think someone with more sewing experience would find it of interest

This book is great. It is exactly what I was looking for.I don't understand why some people bought it, and were expecting "advanced" tips. It clearly states great for the beginner. It simplified many of my sewing hang ups, and had very easy to follow directions. I think all of the projects are adorable and will even make some great gifts. I'm very pleased with this purchase and look forward to making many great projects and have many ideas from the book.

This is a visually pleasing book. The layout and design first rate.
Unfortunately, it is a very very basic book. Not really about an "essential guide to a whole new way of sewing", more like a "you've never sewed a stitch in your life and want to make something cool guide"

Nothing really wrong with the book per se, just not great.

This book does have some cute projects in it, but there are online tutorials and patterns for many similar items. The illustrations are hand-drawn as are the patterns in the back. I was really disappointed to find that most of the patterns need to be enlarged. I really hate this because (1) I can't make the project on a whim and (2) I almost damage the spine of a book trying to make it lay flat. The photography in the book is wonderful and it does have some cute very beginner like projects.

I have so many things to say about why this is an exciting book. I am a brand new sewer-I mean, the book came before the machine, but I have already in the course of a month made several of the wallets, a purse I carry daily, and a baby bib for a friend. These are projects I actually use. This book makes you want to make the items-and they are very doable. Plus, because they are simple, there is a lot of room for creative interpretation of the patterns. Many of the projects use smallish bits of fabric, so if you are into silk screening, stamping or painting (or embroidering) fabric, these projects would be perfect applications for your work. Best of all, the Bend the Rules Sewing group on Flickr is extremely active and fun, so whenever I've had questions there have been people out there to answer them in no time-and you get to share what you made. Amy Karol has answered my questions a number of times and she is very warm and clear in her responses. My only problem? I want more! I can't find its equal out there. I've look at this book seriously almost every day. OK, done gushing!

An ideal book for aspiring sewers. The title implies this is not going to go over big with home ec teachers, but it puts a smile into sewing that is infectious. Project designs are fun. Amy's voice is encouraging, and the nits being picked in other reviews are addressed in a fabulous online group that welcomes Bend-the-Rules readers and shares successes and solutions to the "I don't get it" issues. A wonderful, positive read that says: you can do this.

I really like this book. Easy to follow directions, templates, and projects. Was able to use with my 8th grade art students for lessons. That Amy Karol is one artsy fartsy chic! Rock on!

I had high hopes when I bought this book but am a tad disappointed. The photographs are beautiful and I like the way the book is laid out. I also like the beginning section with all the sewing tips and explanations. They would be very helpful with someone new to sewing. However, I found the directions very difficult to follow and the hand drawn patterns very amateur. I have many other sewing books that have similar patterns that are much easier to understand and follow. I'll be keeping the book but I don't know if I would recommend it to others.

I have made several projects from this book (the simple tote, coasters, quilt, Heidi headband, napkins, and the Pleated Beauty). I love the ideas, they were great for me as a beginner. However, as said by others, I found some of the directions to be difficult to understand, and I believe some key steps/measurements were omitted.

Also, (and this is a big one) on two separate projects, the measurements for a specific piece of fabric in the Materials List was wrong when listed as Inches! I mistakenly bought quilt batting 144" long, when it should have been 44" long. That's a huge difference! I was disappointed at these mistakes because I still love this book!

I do recommend the book for the cute projects and ideas, though. Just be aware and read carefully before doing the projects.

I would have liked the patterns to be full size and not hand-drawn. But I still find the book (and patterns) very usable. But overall I really like the book. Many good projects that allow you to interject your own interpretation and creativity.

There are some fun ideas in this book (and some silly ones too i.e. cat tuffet in a basket. seriously.). Some of them I will make (and modify), and some things I wouldn't ever make - the tea cozy being one of them. I would not suggest a beginning sewer buy this book. The projects are VERY simple, but the directions aren't very thorough. You have to have some knowledge of sewing because she leaves a lot of holes in her descriptions. Another slight problem I have - you have to photocopy and enlarge all of the patterns. It would have been nice if she had a little pocket in the book with all of the patterns at the right sizes in there. Unless you have a photocopier that enlarges stuff, then you're probably okay. It's an okay book. It does have good sewing tips.

Overall I love this book. I think the projects are really beautiful, and I hope mine turn out as well as the ones in this book. However, I am a new sewer and there were a couple things I was disappointed in:

1. She doesn't provide the actual fabric yardage needed for projects. This can be confusing to someone who is new to sewing

2. She also doesn't provide instructions for laying the patterns on the fabric to minimize waste.

Although her hand drawn pictures are cute, I would rather have accurately drawn pictures with measurements that show the layout for various patterns.

Overall a great book and well worth purchasing!

great first sewing book with fresh funky ideas and easy to follow instructions. Patterns need enlarging. Some mistakes in the measurements.

This book has lots of great tips for the beginner sewer. Many sewing terms and directions are explained in the first section. If you're new to the craft, don't skip over the first part and go straight to the projects - it's a quick read and easy to understand, but totally worthwhile. The projects look fun and not too complicated.

A fun, inspiring and useful sewing book for beginners and those more experienced.
Amy's tips were great and all instructions are easy to make and also adapt to make a little different.
I have already made many bibs, a simple tote, and have plans to make many more fun things for me, my kids and as gifts.
You can even share your creations through amy's blog angrychicken.typepad.com
Great Job I look forward to a second book

Love this book , I have done some sewing but not a lot .
this book had clear easy to understand instructions.
I have decided to work my way through the entire book . I've learned so much all ready.lots of fun projects and fun to read Amy makes it O.K. to
not be perfect. got to love that.

I love this book and have been carrying it everywhere with me, in the bag I made from the pattern in the book! Such a cute book with lovely, quickly-do-able projects. I've made three items in less than one week. However, the buyer should know some things before buying this book:

I am a beginner sewer but I've been quilting for 4 years. I am used to seeing thorough patterns but this book lacks in: (1) how much fabric to buy - took the book to the fabric store and realized I had to figure out the yardage by myself, not an easy thing to do if someone's in the car waiting for you; (2) how to sew the layers together - right sides out or right sides in, I don't want to think and figure it out. (3) missing measurements - for the life of me, I couldn't find the measurement and directions for the casing of one bag (pg. 64) and one of the pockets came out way different from the photo (pg. 68).

This book is great for bouncing off the projects in here. I have learned to LIG - not be such a perfectionist, to Let It Go or I will never be happy and satisfied. I have taken the ideas and now I know how to use those ideas for other projects. Perhaps some of the rules she bends are not ones I prefer, but they are still good to know, just in case. And you do learn different techniques - for example, in the two patterns mentioned above, you learn two ways to do a bag's bottom. As far as the 'mistakes' in the patterns, I have included personal post-it notes in my book and am in the process of looking for a website that publishes updates - didn't check the author's blog yet. A minor thing, I do love her blog and her ideas but was kind of surprised with her photo in the back of the book.

Do buy this book! It is worth the price of the many patterns and projects, even if you have to take time out to figure them out. The end outcomes are worth it. However, even if you never get around to sewing the projects, it's a great picture book worth having. It will inspire you and put a smile on your face everytime you turn through its pages. I'd buy Amy Karol's next book, whenever that should come out.

This book has the quickest, easiest projects. Each one is super cute. My favorites include a toddler jacket and smock. Also the little pouch on the cover and other bags in the book are great. If you have some (no need to be *advanced* though!) experience sewing, this book will provide super simple projects that can spark some creativity.

I love this book...the author has such a simple way of explaining things...i will be ordering a sewing machine soon and cannot wait to get started...i would highly recommend this book for beginners like me!

I bought the book because I'm a fan of the author weblog...And I wasn't disappointed at all! Since I bought it it's on my bedstand and I read a bit of it everynight before sleeping. Made me learn how to use better my sewing machine, and pushed me to sew a few hours every day. All the problems I had for years because I learnt to sew in a too strict way were solved. I'm really enjoyinfg sewing now!

It's full of ideas, the editing is just oh so perfect, I love the fresh pictures. For the moment it's my favourite craft book ever :)

wonderfully put-together book; great for beginning sewers. Very basic, well written instructions and great ideas. Would love for this author to write another, more advanced book.

I liked this book. I have a bit of sewing experience, and it was able to lay some new things out for me in a way that I could understand it (except for bias tape, that explanation was crazy!), and the patterns are cute and nice and Quick! The only problem I would mention, and the only reason I didn't givbe this 5 stars, and because all of the patterns this book includes have to be enlarged to use them. That is such a pain!

So I've done the beginners basics classes and I've learned how to read sewing patterns (this is VERY important to know if you buy this book). I don't make cloths, but love making soft toys, totes & bags, and pillows & home decor items, ect....which this book is full of. Now I'm in about my third year of sewing, you know not a beginner anymore but not quit as experienced as I would like to be. This book was exactly what I needed. The sewing basics section at the beginning was a fairly quick read, taking me an evening at a slow, off and on pace and amy is very funny and captivating in the way she writes. I found that what I already knew she gave me a fresh look on, and what I did not know her directions and diagrams made for an easy understanding. All the patterns are extremely cute and dispite other reviews, I found them easy to read and understand, but if you like things very text bookish, amy does not write this way. Her directions are written more like she was speaking with you, I personally perfer this method of writing and have an easier time comprehending the directions this way. As long as you've learned to read patterns correctly, I don't think you should have any problems at all following her direcitions on the patterns in this book, but again if you like things very text bookish and get caught up on numbers and measurements this may not be for you. A perfect cutting measurement is not really important with many of her projects, just a rough estimate,a ruler, and some creative license will be necessary for most of her patterns. Which I think is just peachy because I'm all for anything that will give me Creative freedom, but does not leave me alone to figure it all out for myself. I also think this book will be very good for someone that wants to start making there own patterns but it not quit sure where to start with that process, it's not really a section in the book but after reading it you pick up on whats important in making your own patterns, which was very exciting for me personally. And I think a lot of the patterns will be very easy to rework into your own unique patterns. Anyway thats my .02.

This is a gift for a teenager. Haven't given it too her yet. Can't really review it. However, it arrived PROMPTLY. And, it looks good to me.

I am learning to sew and this book is providing me with just the right mix of inspiration and guidance. I continue to be proud of myself for completing each seemlingly impossible project. This book rocks!

This book is perfect for some one with very little sewing experience and the writing is not dull or hard to understand. It is a very laid back approach to sewing and thats what makes it fun!

I have already made two projects from the book and I think I would love to make all of them, lol...
Is one of my all time preffered books.
Really recommend buying it

I LOOOVE THIS BOOK! It's put together beautifully! I can't want to start some projects!

This book has some great and really accessible projects in it for a beginner and intermediate sewer. I've done three of the projects so far- the bib, scalloped blanket and charming handbag. All great things. However, I really struggled following the directions, and the sewing process was much more frustrating than it had to be. Vital measurements and directions were inexplicable left out at steps in each project. For instance, indications about whether to sew right sides together were often left out. The handbag directions never provided the measurements for the length of the handbag handles. The scalloped blanket directions did not provide any guidance on how to apply the template to the fabric (my scallops ended up not matching in the corners the first (and second) time I tried). It was really very, very frustrating to have to stop a project mid-way through to figure these things out. Another peeve was that, unlike other similar books, Bend the Rules provides the size of fabric you need to do the project (i.e. 13" x 13"), but not the size of fabric you'd need to buy (i.e. half a yard). This can be figured out of course, but I'm terrible at it. This just added another layer of annoyance to the project.

I think a true beginner would have a lot of difficuly completing these projects successfully. I'd recommend starting with Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects. The directions there are very detailed and very good. Once you've got a few projects under your belt, you'll be able to figure out what's missing in Bend the Rules. I think Bend the Rules is a worthwhile book because the projects are great, but I do wish it had been better edited.

I really enjoy sewing and sometimes don't have the time. I like the youthful approach to fabric selections.

It is hard to add to all of the reviews without being too redundant. However, I will try! This book has wonderful pictures-the kind that make you daydream of huge chunks of uninterrupted sewing time to make all of the great projects. As well, I like the way Amy writes-very straightforward, yet girlfriend chatty. I have adopted her tips about frequently changing my needle, and about not pinning so much. Both have helped me to save time! Even if you don't sew any of her projects, (which I doubt!) it is just one of those books you want to add to your collection to read and thumb through for some stress relief. My favorites are the coin purse, and the pleated handbag, which I plan to sew very soon! Try it...you'll like it!

Really great fuss-free guide for new-comers to sewing. Lots of cute projects, good introductory text including how to best deal with sewing mistakes and failures, very clear instructions.

It is a very basic sewing book and I was a little bit disappointed with the projects in the book. (The cover looks pretty, so I was kind of looking forward to it.) The projects, designs, choice of fabrics are not too inspiring I have to say. The instructions and drawings are sometimes difficult to understand. Her writing style is good. I like that "French Twist" sewing book better.

Most of the information in this book is best for beginners. Unfortunately, I don't really think it's a whole new way to sew--it's the old way, with more tracing and less pinning. The author is really good at explaining complicated concepts, however, and she lets people use her patterns for commercial items as long as she is given appropriate credit. The patterns are cute and simple and she gives helpful little tips along the way. This book would make a great gift for a teenaged sewer who just got her first sewing machine.

Check out the Bend the Rules Sewing flickr group where people post their completed projects and you can ask Amy Karol questions!

This book provides some great little projects that mostly can be run up pretty easily. But it is also great reading with tips and interesting remarks by Amy. If you like her blog, you will really like this book.

Sewing and humor don't commonly go together, but BEND-THE-RULES SEWING: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO A WHILE NEW WAY TO SEW achieves this not just with new patterns and designs, but with a beginner-friendly approach that incorporates comments and appealing, different projects, from a headband to a dog's collar. Color photos pack a guide designed to invite bare-bones beginners to sample the world of sewing.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch