In Patchwork, a charming and evocative sewist's diary, Maddie Ballard explores the making (and sometimes remaking) of seventeen specific garments over a period of great change in her life--from a jacket lined with the embroidered Cantonese names of her female ancestors, to a dressing gown made as a gift for a dear friend, to an eco-friendly, zero-waste dress. As the wardrobe grows, so too does Maddie. From her first off-kilter dresses and coats to perfectly fitting pants, readers follow along as she learns to navigate the world around her and how she sees herself in it--both as she is and as she hopes to be. Stitch by stitch, word by word, Maddie drafts her own patterns for ways of living. Throughout the diary, delightful illustrations bring Maddie's creations to life on the page. With a focus on the practical comfort and pleasure provided by sewing in a time of personal renewal, Patchwork: A Sewist's Diary is a warmhearted celebration of the value of craft in the modern age.Author: Maddie BallardBinding Type: HardcoverPublisher: Tin House BooksPublished: 10/21/2025Pages: 144ISBN: 9781963108484Review Citation(s): Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2025Publishers Weekly 08/25/2025About the AuthorBallard, Maddie: - Maddie Ballard is a writer and editor of mixed Chinese heritage. Born in Syracuse, New York, she grew up in Aotearoa New Zealand and currently lives in Melbourne, Australia.
