I know that more than one of these designers should have won their FIRST round of challenges, so I am happy to see them have a new opportunity for rewards.

I would love to have the DVD version of Threads to use with my refugee sewing students. Many of them are visual learners who want to work from the inspiration of a well photographed, completed garment through the steps that make it a reality. It is especially helpful to have the expert articles on tailoring, since a few students aspire to this kind of work for local companies and retail stores. I also help with fund raising for our non-profit agency, Iskashitaa Sewing and Crafting Circle, so having the complete list of vendors would help me identify likely contributors to our projects and to meet the needs of these genuinely needy new Americans! I hope Threads can help, too, by awarding a copy of the DVD Archive. Thank you for your consideration!

Phyllis Bolt Bannister

I am making lap quilts this year to use up some of my stash. If I am true to my list, I will finish 6 altogether, using larger scale patterns than usual to make sure that none are delivered late to my 2 grown children, my sister, best friend, husband and newest grandbaby. Wish me luck!

I have dreamed of being a costumer all my life, but never got the chance to go beyond making costumes for Halloween for my children (now grandchildren) or Civil War reenactment outfits for my husband. This book seems an ideal way to immerse myself in the construction details of 17th century design as well as to satisfy my hunger for pure "eye candy" from the renown Museum of Victoria and Albert without a trip to London! I have so enjoyed books by Martha Pullen about the various garments she has collected herself and the ones in the DAR and Kent State museums in the U.S., and have tried to emulate some of the design details in quilts and garments I have made for myself or others.

It is essential that we not lose track of the history of how these creations first came into being through the intense labor and devotion of the seamstresses. It is equally important that we make some translations into simpler techniques through modern technology. I believe this book could advance my personal journey in honoring history and keeping the creative spirit alive. I truly hope that I win!

I have stopped watching the Project Runway soap opera on TV. I just wait for Threads to tell me who won! Heidi Klum treats the contestants like her own group of creative workhorses--unpaid and unloved--or as my father used to say about his own horses, "Rode hard and put up wet!" And it seems they select more "colorful" personalities each season. So, Threads is my perfect solution to keeping up with fashion forward ideas without all the drama. THANK YOU!

I love luxurious linings that make coats and jackets slip on and off with ease. They increase the perceived and real value of any garment for me. This is the technique I would most like to concentrate on if I am fortunate to receive a great new updated version of Claire's writing. She is clear and concise--never leaving out a step that leaves you wondering what small miracle is supposed to happen in between!

Thanks for this great offer!