Jax from Half Yard Sewing Club
The book was produced by the co founders of Matchy Matchy sewing club who are both self taught so simple to recreate for beginners. The book is based on scrap theory using different colours patterns to make a bigger piece of fabric with a unique design. The book is well illustrated and really colourful. It has great information on the use of colours and how to make a piece of fabric from smaller scraps.
There is a guide to measuring yourself and 13 projects containing garments and accessories for you to make made from basic shapes so no latter pieces and complicated dressmaking techniques. Clear instructions and illustrations for each one.
If you like the style of the garments and are considering how to de stash your fabric remnants then this is a great book. Good value for money £14.99.
Sandi from Half Yard Sewing Club
A joyful, creative approach to sewing, full of freedom, fun and fabric play!
I was delighted to receive The Mix and Match Sewing Book by Amy Gonzales and Theresa Kuo to review, and from the moment I opened it, I could tell it was something a bit special. Its bright, modern and packed with the sort of relaxed, wearable styles that make you want to get straight to your fabric stash and start cutting!
The idea behind the book is brilliant, a small collection of adaptable garments that can be mixed, matched, and customised in endless ways. It celebrates individuality and creativity rather than perfection, which I absolutely love. Whether youre using favourite scraps or coordinating new fabrics, every piece feels unique and personal.
The photography has a fresh, natural feel that really captures the joy of making and wearing your own clothes. The pages are printed on lovely quality paper, thick, smooth, and beautifully presented, with colours that look true to life. The book itself is a nice size too (just under A4), easy to keep open on your sewing table while you work.
The projects are simple in shape but cleverly designed, perfect for confident beginners or more experienced stitchers looking for mindful, satisfying makes. The step-by-step instructions are clear, friendly and supportive, guiding you gently through each process. I particularly like how it encourages mixing prints and textures, it feels liberating rather than restrictive, like sewing should be!
There are a couple of small things to note, some of the pattern information can be a little tucked away on different pages, so you might need to do a quick double-check before cutting, and the garments are relaxed in fit rather than tailored. But honestly, thats part of the charm. This isnt about perfection or precision tailoring, its about sewing that feels good.
Overall, The Mix and Match Sewing Book is a delight to read and sew from. Its beautifully made, thoughtfully written, and bursting with inspiration. It reminds us that sewing can be simple, stylish, and above all joyful. If you love playing with fabrics, repurposing leftovers, or just making clothes that reflect your own style and comfort, this book deserves a spot on your sewing shelf.
A warm, feel-good sewing book that encourages you to create freely, and fall in love with making all over again.
Lynne from Half Yard Sewing Club
A good book to reinvent your wardrobe for the younger person, by using different colours to make clothes.
The author talks you through different sections before getting to the projects, From Scrap therapy, accessing and using the patterns and finding your fit. This is helpful, for not only the beginner but also the sewist who has made clothes before. There are twelve projects and some are mostly for the younger generation, rather than me as an older woman. l did like the skirt, which l could make with any fabric to take me through the year. Also the Kerchief was also something l would make. l would recommend to a different age group and would give it to my daughter as she would wear a lot of the projects in the book.
Juliet from Half Yard Sewing Club
A really useful book for someone starting out on their sewing journey. There are a variety of patterns, 12 in total, mostly using large rectangle or square shapes resulting in a garment thats likely to fit and a positive sewing experience.
The projects are based on Scrap Theory and there are several pages on how to apply it to your project. That said I would be quite happy to use a decent piece of denim to make up the Gala Duster pattern, as its a lovely design.
The pattern techniques are varied including bias binding, an elasticated channel, quilting and inseam pockets and for guidance a section with well laid out instructions on how to achieve them. Theres information on sewing tools and how to get a good fit from the patterns along with a quick reference sheet of basic sewing terms.
Its a little puzzling why youre directed to one page for the pattern details and then to another only to find them halfway down the page in small writing. The patterns are a download and its a simple process.
This book could be a good starting point for a new sewist and help build confidence in sewing.
Sandra from Half Yard Sewing Club
This is a beautifully laid out book, super for anyone new to dressmaking. Each page is printed on quality paper, with perfect colour reproduction in modern soft hues. In begins on introducing you to scrap theory, making use of all those bits of fabric leftover in your cupboard. There is a very easy to understand section on finding your fit and explaining the tools you require together with getting yourself used to the terms and using a pattern. Each technique is supported by specific diagrams guiding you through the process. The book contains 12 projects of loosely fitting clothing and accessories. I have been given this book to review and would certainly make a few of the items however I am sure that my daughter in law will be thrilled to receive this book and make a start on sewing her own wardrobe.
Cool Crafting
Sew a creative, wearable wardrobe with the Matchy Matchy Sewing Club's guide to mixing, matching and using what you've got to create 12 adaptable sewing projects. Many people will already know and love their modern approach/shapes through their viral sewing patterns.
The Mix & Match Sewing Book is a beginner-friendly, step-by-step guide with 12 flexible patterns for creating a unique, handmade wardrobe. Written by Amy Gonzales and Theresa Kuo (the sewists behind MMSC), it blends simple techniques, design-forward ideas, and the "Scrap Theory" approach to make sewing fun, approachable and sustainable.
