baby

book: simple sewing for baby

by kath_red on August 15, 2009

Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing for Baby: 20 Easy Projects for Newborns to Toddlers by Lotta jansdotter. Chronicle Books (May 13, 2009).

I love this book – it is so very obviously written by someone with young children – the projects are practical and fun – and simple. Written with the knowledge that as a new mother with a young baby/toddler your sewing time is limited – yet you want your kids to make use of natural toys, wear groovy unique clothes and be surrounded by colour and style – and to top it all off you are on a budget!

I was lucky enough to preview this book before it was released and as I say on the back cover “New mothers are crying out for a way to express their creativity” this is so totally true. I love the photography – the real life situations and along with Lotta’s simple illustrations this book is a wonderful resource.

Projects range from clothing, practical accessories for parents and baby, fun toys and colourful household items. Baby bloomers, a bib that doubles as a kerchief and is cool enough to wear all the time to catch the drool, simple A-line dresses for the girls with a fun little toy attached to the pocket and simple pants for boys and girls. A small complaint about the lack of sizing information on the clothing – especially if you are making this a gift for someone else’s child – the need to measure the child in question might prove awkward.

Lotta also brings her print making style to the book with some decorating tips for clothing and the book includes some of Lotta’s stencils.

The toys too are practical and natural, and washable! A softie rattle, a big ‘buddy’ and soft alphabet letters. There are some wonderful essentials for new baby too – I love her design for the baby snuggler – and the pocket bib, a nursing pillow for breastfeeding mothers, the essential diaper bag (that the dad can carry too).

Many of these projects are not new to the world of new mothers, but Lotta manages to put a new spin on old designs and offers new mothers something fresh to help them out in this exciting journey of parenting and creativity.

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book: Quilts baby

by kath_red on August 6, 2009

in Books, Features

Quilts, Baby!: 20 Cuddly Designs to Piece, Patch & Embroider by Linda Kopp. Lark Books (May 5, 2009).

A fun, quirky and energetic book of baby quilt designs, from quilt designers you know and love. These are non-traditional quilts, unique and bright and colourful, with folky applique and improvisational piecing. Many of these quilts tell a story, include interesting characters and textures all making for a wonderful playful addition to your babies room and a project to sew that will keep you interested along the way.

The quilting techniques section is pretty thorough, and the projects themselves are suitable for those with only minimal sewing skills and the addition of alternate designs give the maker inspiration to alter the quilt design to suit.

Malka Dubrawsky is one of my fave quilt designers and she has two designs in this book – a colourful circles and improv pieced quilt – and a squares and stripes quilt. I love her use of colour and pattern and improvisational cutting and piecing. Another of my fave quilt designers, Victoria Gertenbach, has an outer space inspired scrappy quilt, with lots of embroidered stitches and appliques circles. Erin Harris has a beautiful understated yet incredibly fun elephant quilt. Kajsa Wikman’s whimsical quilt has appliqued birds and trees amongst pieced lines and squares for a simple and stylish quilt. Carly Schwerdt’s interactive quilt is adorable, bundling up into a bag and opening up to find pockets hiding cute characters. With 20 patterns and lots more inspiration for creating your own style quilt, this little baby quilt book is an adorable addition to your library (or would make a great gift for an expecting mum).

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