Book of the Month: Make It Sew Modern


Welcome back to our Book of the Month feature at Fat Quarter Shop! This month we are featuring the Make It Sew Modern Sewing Book by Vanessa Christenson of V and Co. The adorable Vanessa is here today to take us on a little adventure inside her life and her new book.

And don’t forget, the Book of the Month is 20% OFF all month!




Thank you Kim and all the awesome gals at Fat Quarter Shop for inviting me to talk a little about my book!


front cover


First a little about me:
I'm a mom to 4 awesomely crazy go nuts kids. Three boys ages 12, 10, and almost 8, and one girl age 5.

I'm also going to celebrate 14 years of marriage to a pretty great guy, my bestest friend, the man that can make me pee my pants from laughter: Jake.

We just recently moved across the country to our new surroundings in the Midwest after my husband's employers closed down their doors. It was a hard decision where we were going to relocate, but I do have to say, we're happy we moved here. There's a lot of corn, like EVERYWHERE, there are no mountains or ocean to let you know you are going the right way or the wrong way, BUT the people are super nice, the kids have made friends, and the husband is loving his new occupation.

That initial scary feeling of 'we don't know how it’s going to be' has been replaced with happy thoughts, and promises of great new adventures.


back of book


Now, a little about my book. :D
It really seems like a dream ago that I was working on this book. All the work that goes into it pays off when you see it all coming together in photographs and layouts. And EVEN more cool: to see it in actual print.

I still can't believe I did it, I'm so happy to be able to finally show everyone all of the hard work!


doily quilt with gathered borders pg.47


If you read my blog, or have seen any of my projects you know I like to play a lot with texture and some color.

I believe texture can add so much life to your projects. There's almost an elegance that can go with texture, and I love to find new ways to implement it in everyday projects for home decor, quilts or wearable items. Add a gather to a quilt, or scarf, and all of a sudden you have natural pattern with the texture. I love how it plays with your eyes and makes you want to go up closer to get a more up and personal look.


flower bouquet pillow pg. 29 (personal fav...shhhh)


In my book Make it Sew Modern, you will find simple projects made gorgeous by adding texture in one way or another. It is for the modern sewist that is just starting out, or the seasoned sewist that is looking to change it up a little with texture. This book is also great to help the little budding crafter in your home with some great first time non-sewing projects as well!




My book
is divided into 4 sections: Ruffles, Gathers, Pleats, and Twisting. You will see over 20 projects using these techniques!

Each project is explained in detail, and with some general hints on how to make your texture work for you.


spring blossom wreath pg. 17


All of my projects in this book are able to be made with NO SPECIAL attachments. Yup, just you and your sewing machine, and a few little fun tricks with no extra cost of special feet to create your gorgeous texture.


school girl skirt pg. 81


I pride myself in saying that I wrote this book. I would personally buy it if I didn't write it. I love the projects in my book, and it really made me realize how much fun and how many possibilities there really are to embellish your projects with texture.

I could have added a bazillion (okay maybe more like a hundred) more texture embellished projects as they are constantly popping up in my head and onto my notebook of design ideas. I am so excited to keep going in this wonderful little world of mine of texture I have started. I feel like I've just started my journey.


handy tote pg. 85


I hope you have as much fun with these projects as I did, and are as excited about the results as I am. Thank you Fat Quarter Shop for carrying my book and my patterns, and of course, for carrying all the material anyone may need for all the projects in the world! :)


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