Name of Site: Sewing World
URL: www.sewingworld.com
Load Time: Scorching
Ease of Navigation: Walk in the Park
Review: Sadly this site was in the middle of a major overhaul at the time of review, but I felt it had to be included in the hope that the new site would be fully launched by the time this baby goes to print. It gets heavily recommended by many others and I used to always visit it whenever I got stuck with a tricky sequin pattern across the back of my leotards the night before Mardi Gras. The new site will be very well laid out, with a simple tab menu leading to the main sections. Even before launch the discussion board is working and is as talkative as a CWA tea cosy knit-off. Can't wait for the final threads of the new site to be stitched together. - SS
Name of Site: Threads
URL: www.taunton.com/threads/index.asp
Load Time: Medium
Ease of Navigation: Signposted
Review: Threads is a very popular magazine and provides an excellent online resource for its readers and potential subscribers. Besides the usual teasers for the latest issue, they offer video lessons, book excerpts, a couple of forums, chat, polls and links to the equally high quality sub-sites for Taunton Press' other publications - woodworking, building, cooking etc. A great place to call home for sewing fans everywhere - you can feel involved as well as allowing yourself to be exposed to the diverse wares of the advertisers. Darn it, that's not a bad arrangement. - SS
Name of Site: Denver Fabrics
URL: www.denverfabrics.com
Load Time: Medium
Ease of Navigation: Walk in the Park
Review: These guys have certainly not left too many sew-on gemstones unturned in the creation of their little online presence. Setting an example of how easy it is to build a user-friendly online shop stacked with innumerable products, DF throw down the challenge to all fabric stores to deliver the goods just as well. A huge range of categories- patterns (vintage and modern), fabrics, drapery, wool, add-ons, needles, costumes - you ought to find what you need. If not, go down to you local shop and demand to know why they can't measure up to the Denver yardstick. - SS
Name of Site: Home Sewing Association
URL: www.sewing.org
Load Time: Scorching
Ease of Navigation: Walk in the park
Review: Set up as the one stop non-profit shop for the sewing enthusiast, this is a must bookmark, if for no other reason that to affirm your dedication to the craft. The site is split into three sections - enthusiast, industry and educator - and aims to provide each sector with a large selection of useful information. Sadly, 'non-profit' means no resources, so while this could be a universal home page for all, it could do with a huge cash injection to turn in into the mega-portal it deserves to be. With so many thimble-wearing freaks out there, surely it's only a matter of time before it happens. Until then it's still not a bad place to lay your pincushion and call home. - SS
Name of Site: Lily Abello's Sewing Resources
URL: www.lilyabello.com/sewdir.htm
Load Time: Scorching
Ease of Navigation: Walk in the Park
Review: These days, with the search engine wars in full swing, sometimes the old faithful engines we relied on can let us down badly, as they compete with each other to get their hands on website owners' money for the privilege of being found. So much for ubiquity and equity! Google and Co. are so busy chasing commercial dollars, the sites you really would like to find are getting lost in the mix. That's why I have started relying on good old fan link pages. People who love a subject and go and find all the best links for you. Lily is one such fan. Her web design skills are bordering on non-existent, but she more than makes up for it with this needlecraft link-o-rama. Just point, click and... yahoo! - SS
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