book review // maison sajou sewing book

Have you ever heard of the French haberdashery company Sajou? They are exactly what you expect a French haberdasher to be. Charming, sweet, and a little fancy. If you visit their site and click on the embroidery tab, I want one of everything.

Earlier this year they released a book called the Maison Sajou Sewing Book, and it is filled with projects that perfectly reflect their style. If you like the French country aesthetic, you will love every single stitch of this book. And even if some of these get a little froufrou for you, I understand and would tell you that at least half of the book is likely to get you excited to stitch.



The publisher sent me a digital copy of this for review, and unfortunately it meant that a few of these page previews came out with funny colors. This was purely a function of the technology on my end, so I want to be clear that the photography in this book is amazing. My efforts to counteract the tech glitch don't do this justice.

You'll want to step into the pages (if only for all the lovely notions!) and settle in for stitching. And with the pin cushions from the cover and this sewing caddy project, you'll be ready to get started.




Table linens are the sort of thing that are so well suited for the embroidery in this title. So, it should be no surprise that there are a few of this sort of project. Napkins, a tablecloth, and a tray cloth are all included, as well as some cushions, bags, and other sweet and useful items.

And here's what I love: the author, Lucinda Ganderton, gives detailed information about how to stitch each of the motifs. It's all listed as text, with color illustrations to accompany the text. With some designs, this isn't necessary, but the beautifully intricate fill stitching on these motifs make the instruction especially helpful. Plus, there's a great basics section explaining all of the stitches, including cross-stitch and needlepoint.




Speaking of cross-stitch, this drawstring shoe bag features a bit of cross-stitch in the form of a very French shoe. You also see here one of my favorite parts of the book: The inspiration pages. Many of the projects have spreads that show sketches, photos, and notes that really connect the designs with everything that Sajou represents. These really add depth to the book.

Obviously the overall look of The Maison Sajou Sewing Book is different from the cute smiling creations that I typically stitch, but it's spot on with the style they are about. Which is simply stunning.

Find this title on the Sajou website, or through Barnes & Noble or Amazon, where you'll also be able to see inside for a better look.