Book Review: Every Day's a Holiday

Heidi Kenney of My Paper Crane brings this little set of book reviews to a close with Every Day's a Holiday: Year-round Crafting with Kids.  As you can probably guess, it's organized chronologically following the holidays month by month. There are a ton of projects from crazy hats to stenciled totes. These crafts are targeted to kids of all ages -- some you'll need to help out with and some they'll be able to do on your own. There's definitely a good variety and a full dose of her uber-cute signature plush style.

All the templates are in the back and easy to photocopy as you need them. There aren't a lot of  illustrations to the steps but there are plenty of photographs of the crafts at different angles so if something's difficult, you'll be able to figure it out. And while the crafts are all attached to a holiday (and some really bizarre ones at that), you can do most of them at any time.

Overall, this is a great book for you to pick up if you have kids. You should have picked it up last week before you got buried in all that snow. Then you would have actually had some cool stuff to do instead of watch at that TV.

Book Review: Wee Wonderfuls 24 Dolls to Sew and Love

Hillary Lang has really outdone herself with Wee Wonderfuls: 24 Dolls to Sew and Love. I have long been a fan of her blog and patterns and was extremely excited to hear the news of this book.  It has gotten nothing but good reviews and for good reason. Her patterns are exquisitely drawn and her instructions clear and concise. I have bought several patterns from her shop and have never been disappointed. The book is very well done. I was pleased that all of the projects are new and not repeats of patterns she sells in the shop or offers on her blog.

The book cuts right to the projects and puts the primer of sewing/tool information in the back right before the patterns. You can photocopy or trace the patterns you want (enlarging/reducing as you wish). The projects are of varying levels so that even beginners will find something that suits their skills. But really, the instructions are so detailed that if you take your time, you'll be able to make any of them regardless of your experience. The important thing to remember that there are very few quick fixes with Lang's work. She adds a lot of detail. You're going to have to hand stitch something. That's just the deal. That's why our toy bin houses a naked Christmas elf with no hair, hat, or face. The details did me in on the first go and this Christmas I didn't get around to finishing it. Ahh, maybe next year.

I highly recommend this if only to look at the gorgeous photographs. It's a work of art in itself.

Book Review: Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified

Friend, awesome stitcher, and amazing mom, Sabra of Sew a Straight Line has written today's book review of Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified by Cal Patch.  Like me, she asks for craft and sewing books for Christmas. Unlike me, she has actually made something from hers!

Head on over to her blog to read the full review. I've been eyeing this one up for a long time. And while I know how to make clothes from a muslin, I don't actually have a muslin and base pattern of my current body. It seems like this book might be the way to go. That shirt looks fabulous!

Thanks, Sabra! You rock.

Book Review: Scandinavian Stitches

I have been "friends" with Kajsa Wikman online for a long time now and have been following the Syko blog since 2006 when I started my own Etsy shop. I love that I have gotten to know a lot of amazing people through Etsy and flickr, so I was really looking forward to this craft book. Scandinavian Stitches leaves little to be desired.  It's organized by season which allows for a lovely spread separating each section of projects. It's nice to have a little bit of breathing room.

Like most craft books, it's got useful information at the beginning. The patterns are hand-drawn and right after each tutorial so you don't have to go hunting them down in the back of the book. There is a lot of variety in the types of projects too, from her signature mix of applique quilting which has come to be known as Interactive Piecing to some useful 3-dimensional items.

It's hard to comment on what level this book is intended to reach. I think the projects are simple enough for most beginners but I also feel that to make anything look as good as she does, it takes a lot of practice. It's not easy to make things look so effortless!

If you have time, check out Kajsa's Etsy shop and Spoonflower designs. Her work is just lovely and maybe one day, I'll be able to actually buy one of her Tomte stuffies!

Make Your Own Toys Video

Sue Havens, the author of Make Your Own Toys emailed me today thanking me for writing the review. That was a nice surprise. She sent along this video that is super cute. I like how the little guy looks amazing but she wasn't fussy about how she cut or sewed those strips together in making the pieced fabric. She just goes for it.

Book Review: Make Your Own Toys

Sue Havens has written a little gem of a book with Make Your Own Toys. It begins with a short primer on toymaking basics including a list of terms and hand-drawn illustrations. I'd probably learn something if I bothered to read it. I always skip those sections in craft books but then end up needing to go back to them to figure out what the heck I'm missing.

The patterns are hand drawn and on the last few pages of the book. Each has instructions on how much to enlarge so you will need a photocopier. I do like this aspect of books because when it comes to plush and other projects, you can make them whatever size you want as long as you enlarge consistently.

Overall, there isn't a lot of variety in the projects. There are a couple of different ways to construct the plush and a few different shapes. But wow, there's some eye candy. As you can see from the cover, she uses amazing fabrics and combines prints and textures effortlessly. It's great fodder for inspiration. I just want to run out to the thrift store and fill up a bag on $3 day. This book makes you want to cut up the sweater you're wearing these guys are so cute.

I think this book will work well for all levels of crafters. If you have kids, you could totally help them make most of the little guys. If you're experienced, you could whip most of these up rather quickly. The instructions are well written and I enjoy following the illustrations.

Book Review: Carefree Clothes for Girls

Trumpeter Books has been releasing a series of amazing Japanese craft books translated into English. I enjoyed working with Linen, Wool, Cotton by Akiko Mano so I thought I'd give Carefree Clothes for Girls by Junko Okawa a try. The patterns are printed in the usual Japanese style, all piled in top of each other on one big sheet folded up in the back of the book. They are printed in two colors so it is a tad bit easier than you would expect. You either need to photocopy the patterns you want or tape the sheet to a window and trace onto other paper. I have not had any success using a tracing wheel and transfer paper as these big sheets always seem to shift around on me.

The photographs are fun and gorgeous and the illustrations in the directions leave nothing to the imagination. I found a wide range of skill levels to the projects as well. If you can't do the more complicated or time-consuming bits of construction, there are still a few cute pieces to make. I do have to add that some of these garments are a bit odd -- so coming from me,  you should probably take a look at this in a bookstore before you buy it unless you want to take a risk. You know my style is a bit out there. Some of these outfits have the kids looking like ruffians from a Charles Dickens novel. You just need to use your imagination if you like a more polished look. That's what's awesome about sewing your own stuff -- you can do whatever you want with a pattern -- or just use it for inspiration. There is certainly a lot of that to be found.

Do remember that these clothes are for girls -- not toddlers. The patterns are for sizes 4 - 7. I'd also recommend that you look at the measurements before cutting. Inches are provided for all of the patterns where fit may be an issue (you really should do that for any pattern). Luckily, my child is massive so when this deep freeze passes, I'm going to be making my little one a couple of pieces from this book.