Grandmother's Hope Chest: French Sewing by Machine, Smocking, Shadowwork Embroidery, Embroidery

For 30 dollars I expected to receive the pattern envelope. I could have bought a 12 dollar book. I'm returning.

This book is a wonderful reference for many heirloom techniques. The instructions are clear with pictures to illustrate. Between this book and the forum on Martha Pullen's web site, I might just pull out that expected christening gown, lol.

Excellent, excellent book!! The instructions and illustrations on techniques such as windowpane motifing, pintucking and Battenberg applications are superb. I have completed the Williamsburg Daygown with Front Lace shaping and insert and it turned out beautifully. This is one of the best books on Heirloom Sewing I have come across in a long time. Having learned these techniques by word of mouth many years ago, I have been on a quest to locate a book that provides the same quality of insight on a sewing form that is slowly being forgotten. Now I have something I can pass along to my children and grandchildren! I highly recommend it as an acquisition for those seriously considering heirloom sewing.

With Martha Pullen's research, this book is incredably historical to the time of the early 1900's. It is both beautiful and inspiring. As someone with experience in this type of sewing, I have found it to give me inspiration. It has been a springboard to design my own Christening and Blessing dresses in the heirloom style. I was taught these things at my own grandmother's knee and had forgotten the beauty of fine sewing. Sewing has gotten caught up in the hustle and bustle of how quickly it can be completed. These items do not show the lost art that demands that these items be passed on generation to generation as they were in the past. I hope to inspire others in my area to appreciate, even if only by observation, this precious and almost lost art when they see the results of my work as inspired by Martha's skills, enthusiasm, and requirement of quality.

This book is amazing! It's nice enough to be a coffee table book, and it actually is useful! The accompanying patterns are easy to read. It isn't too helpful for beginners, but it sure gets them interested!!

Martha has done a wonderful job of including beautiful heirloom sewing with all directions and patterns included. The pictures are breathtaking! This is not a good book for the beginner, however, - some heirloom sewing experience is necessary. But, its a great way to get inspired! And its HUGE!