‘School of Patternless Sewing’ filled with fashion, romance

How can a little fabric, some thread and a wild imagination lead to love? When you’re a student at Miss Scarlet’s School of Patternless Sewing, stitching up romance is as easy as threading a needle.

Much to the chagrin of her family, Scarlet Santana is never happier than when she's creating something fabulous to wear — despite having two degrees in engineering. Following in the footsteps of her idol, fashion designer Daisy de la Flora, Scarlet’s unique designs are bright, fun, one-of-a-kind and are a big hit on Scarlet’s popular blog dedicated to Daisy.

Now, after years of toiling away as an unappreciated assistant to her petulant fashion designer boss, Scarlet’s hard and feisty attitude is about to pay off when she gets a chance to live her dream and study under the hottest designer in New York, Daisy’s own nephew, Johnny Scissors. But first she has to raise the hefty tuition fee, and that’s when all the chaos begins.

Fashion, romance and a little mayhem can be found in author Kathy Cano-Murillo’s second novel, “Miss Scarlet’s School of Patternless Sewing.” Written in Murillo’s sassy, lively style, this novel is a roller coaster of fun as the reader gets to know the vibrant and determined Miss Scarlet.

To raise the money to go to New York, Scarlet comes up with the idea of an after-hours sewing class using her no-fail, patternless method. Easy, right? Not so much for Scarlet!

First, she loses her first class location (her boss found out she planned to use the company workroom), but then she finds a great second site that proves to be even better, even if it is a used record store add-on in an iffy part of town. It helps that the store owner. Marco, is one cute guy who is crazy about Scarlet.

Scarlet loses a few of her original students with the location change, but the core group of five who remain are destined not only to become first-class seamstresses, but dear and beloved friends as well. There’s Olivia, the vibrant, larger-than-life momma who wants to flaunt what she’s got; Mary-Theresa, the uptight professional looking for a creative way to get her marriage, family and her life back; Stephanie and Jennifer, the teenage dynamos who just adore Scarlet and anything she does; and Rosa, the elderly lady with a huge secret that could possibly change Scarlet’s life forever.

The classes commence, fabulous outfits are created, mistakes are made in sewing and in lives, and Scarlet — the glue that holds everyone together — seems to be spinning into a certain disaster. But this smart chica will find a way to come out on top and look marvelous as she does so, if she can just swerve and miss the potholes life seems intent on lobbing her way. All she has to do is ask herself “What would Daisy do?”

Cano-Murillo proved what an imaginative and vivacious author she could be in her first book, “Waking Up in the Land of Glitter.” Now, with “Miss Scarlet’s School of Patternless Sewing,” Cano-Murillo seals her reputation as a gifted writer whose delightful stories instill a longing for creativity in readers and renew a little faith in a world gone a bit crazy. Can’t wait to see what she has in store next for her fans.