Make it personal this Christmas with a bookful of fun projects aimed at tweens and teens who want to learn how to sew. Like the others in the FunStitch series this book starts with the basics on what to buy and using a sewing machine, and shows how much fun you can have making your own decorations and gifts. It explains simply how to use power tools like a sewing machine, domestic iron, and hot glue gun, so the young user respects them but learns not to fear them. As with all the titles in this series, there is an emphasis on the feeling of accomplishment when you make something yourself, but asking for adult help is okay too
like using a "scary" tool it is all part of the process of learning. Most of the techniques you need to know are covered at the front, which is a bit of an info dump if you deal with it all at once, but all the topics covered are the type you need to practice first. These are mostly sewing machine skills as well as making a pompom and working with fusible web. Projects have difficulty ratings, but because they are all Christmas related there are no themes or chapters. Each pro ject has a large page-sized photograph of the finished item, plus stages with photographs for foolproof crafting. There is a list of what you need, preparation, plus a handy checklist of all the skills you need. I love this last touch and wish it was included in adult craft books too. Projects include a tree skirt, bunting, stocking, wreath, advent calendar, pillow, wrapping a gift in fabric etc. Not all the projects involve sewing and not all use fabric; there are paper options, too, and hand sewing as well as machine sewing gets covered. I think my own favorite has to be the plastic zoo animals dressed in their holiday best, a lovely idea to incorporate toys into the décor. This is a great way to get girls into making things and discovering what fun it is to personalize the holidays.
Rachel Hyde - Myshelf.com
This is a delightful book, perfect for Christmas crafting, we loved the selection and range of projects in this book, everything from a skirt for the christmas treee to cute wreaths for the front door. As well as detailed descriptions and templates for the projects there are also tips and tricks for successful crafting our junior reviewers loved it! Highly recommended!
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