"Fear NOT your sewing machine "!!!!!

Slipcover enthusiast and instructor encourages beginners to give sewing a try!

John French, professional slipcover designer and instructor insists: "Fear NOT your sewing machine"! He feels strongly that once a person gets comfortable with just simple sewing basics; they can really take off when it comes to decorating your home on the cheap!

Home Dec sewing is the best place to start this rewarding hobby. How does he know? He has done it himself!

Years ago, John knew nothing about sewing whatsoever. He did have the wacky idea that he wanted to make a custom slipcover for his sofa. Not knowing any better, he set out to find a sewing instructor to teach him the basics of sewing and the rest was history! Within a short time he had completed a rather basic slipcover and was amazed at how well it had turned out. He laughs, looking back. One morning he was reading some written instruction and was stumped with the term "seam allowance".

John, now a home sewing enthusiast, has come a long way since then. "There is SO much you can create with just knowing how to sew a straight stitch and being comfortable with your machine. People should NOT be intimidated by sewing! He gets a kick out of so called "no sew" projects, emphasising that it would just be a whole lot easier to JUST SEW IT! Never mind the integrity of the project being much better.

Just what sort of home decorating projects can be created with just basic sewing skills? Try: simple window treatments, pillows, table coverings, wall hangings, all sorts of bedding and John specialty: SLIPCOVERS… which actually fit! John continually has to remind beginners, that in sewing, there is not just one way to sew a project. In fact, there are usually many ways in which something can be created and sewn together. "DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED NOT TO GIVE IT A TRY" Sure, there is always a good, better, and best level, but all that comes with experience! To begin with, John says, "just keep it simple, think it through and GIVE IT A TRY" Invariably what happens, John warns, is that the student will catch "sewing fever" and then the real fun begins!!

The satisfaction and enjoyment will only be rivalled by the amount of money which will be saved. Truly, an absolute fortune! Custom workrooms charge dearly for their services. Anyone who can make soft furnishings themselves is at a tremendous advantage.

John has created a series of beginning level slipcovering videos and DVD's available through his website DIYslipcovers.com (do it yourself slipcovers). He feels strongly that it is much easier to "watch" rather than it is to "read" instructions from text. "It is all about making this easy and understandable FOR THE BEGINNER" His primary purpose in developing DIYslipcovers was to excite, motivate and encourage the non-professional home sewer that they can indeed do this!!