Product Review

"Re-Inventing Chenille" shows how easy it is to add the appealing look and texture of chenille to both clothing and home decor. Readers learn how to work with bias to make it 'bloom' (i.e., fray), whether they purchase rolls of bias or cut their own from fabric following the author's instructions. The techniques and designs the author provides can be adapted easily to other projects, especially with ready-to-wear items and recycled apparel. Many of the 20 projects require minimum sewing skill, while the chapter 'Working with Unexpected Materials' presents surprises such as creating jackets from old lace tablecloths or bias sewn to water-soluble stabilizer.