Sewing with Heavy Duty Fabrics: Practical projects to last

by Laura Sinikka Wilhelm

Overview

Discover 18 contemporary, unisex sewing projects made from heavy duty fabrics that are stylish, elegant and designed to last a lifetime.

Every project in this stunning book features heavy duty fabrics, including canvas, waxed cotton, leather and upholstery-weight: fabrics that are functional but elegant, age gracefully, acquire patina in the process, and can be used and loved for a lifetime.Contained within are all the techniques needed, explained using clear, simple steps - including advice on choosing the right stitches, needles and threads for your heavyweight fabrics - along with simple, easy-to-use patterns.

Choose from a range of practical bags and strong storage, including rucksacks, shopper bags and bicycle bags, as well as a tool belt, tablet case and sturdy baskets for your home: sustainable and robust items for you to use over and over again.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781800923171
Publisher:	Search Press
Publication date:	07/15/2025
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Laura Sinikka Wilhelm learnt to appreciate good design as a child, so it was only natural for her to choose a profession in design once she had finished school. She studied textile design in Germany and Finland, graduating in 1997 with a degree in the subject from the University of Applied Sciences in Reutlingen, Germany. Since then she has been self-employed and works as a freelance fashion and textile designer, as well as a guest lecturer and course instructor in Germany and Finland. In 2009, her first sewing book was published. Since then, she has published a total of 11 books and works as an author for publishers in Germany, Finland and Switzerland. She has also worked on television and, since January 2011, has been a regular sewing expert on the SWR show Kaffee oder Tee (Coffee or Tea) in Germany. With a Finnish mother, she feels very attached to her second home. She has always found this connection to the North to be greatly enriching, and this is unmistakably reflected in her work.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Textile designer Wilhelm (Stylish Sewing) offers a solid collection of projects meant to “be used and loved for a lifetime.” Each design uses weighty materials including canvas, sailcloth, waxed canvas, and leather, which hold up to wear and tear and “acquire character in the process.” A section on necessary materials and accessories explains how to choose leather (or faux alternatives), and notes that binding screws are useful for attaching leather straps to fabric. As for tools and equipment, crafters will need denim needles, a craft knife for cutting leather, and a sewing machine (the author recommends buying secondhand rather than getting a “cheap, new” one). Wilhelm’s projects are labeled according to three difficulty levels: hanging herb baskets, a roll-up utensil pouch, and a canvas log basket are perfect for beginners; a stunning waxed cotton backpack and retro bag inspired by bowling bags are for more experienced crafters; and a bike bag and shopper tote fall in between. Project-specific tips are peppered throughout, Wilhelm’s straightforward instructions will help crafters take her guidance off the page, and the photos that accompany each step are a boon. Sewers seeking to expand their skill set should give this a look.

From the Publisher