Best Book: Fabric by Fabric One-Yard Wonders

This book is just in time for some last minute home made gift giving!  All of the projects are super simple to make and all require just One yard of fabric! Oh and there are 101 of them! So there is something to give to everyone on your list. P.S. the book also has full size patterns for all of the projects. It seriously packs a punch for just one book.   I have highlighted a few of my fave designs below.

A Handbag and accessories for your mom!

A great neighbor gift perhaps?

For your girlfriend who just had a baby.

For your artistic niece or nephew.

Seriously this book has something fast and fantastic that you can make for everyone on your list!

Best Book: Making Children’s Clothes

 

Making Children’s Clothes is the very best book for doing just that! You will want to make every single item inside! I have about 6 of the projects slated for the immediate future, if I can squeeze them in. There are baby dresses, tops, little boys and girls pajama sets, hats, shoes and much much more. Everything is very beginner friendly and has full size paper patterns. Make your little one (ages 0-5) the most stylish in the neighborhood! The book is by Emma Hardy and you can tell she has style in spades.

 

Best Book: Sewing Green

I thought this was an appropriate book to feature for St Patrick’s Day! I hope you are wearing your green! This sewing green is all about the environment instead of the color.  Betz White is the designer behind this book and if you haven’t ever been to her blog, you are seriously missing out. There are 25 different projects with patterns inside that can all be made with re-purposed materials.  There are tons of home items, great tote bags, quilts, and wearable items like aprons and scarves.   I have had the baby quilt below on my to do list for a while. How can we ever get everything made when there are too many fabulous ideas!!?? Every time I hear someone say they are bored I want to give them a smack!

Best Book: Dare to be Square

Dare to be Square Quilting is a fantastic new book from Boo Davis (love her name!).  The instructions in the book are geared towards a raw beginner so they are super easy to follow. There are 10 unique quilt patterns along with a bunch of fun accessories for home, bags, and softies. I love the modern feel of the quilt below and the simplicity of the colors. It reminds me a little of the Gee’s Bend quilts.

I truly want to make everything in this book. I am looking for lots of  boy quilts as of lately. I am pretty sure most little guys would go nuts for the robot quilt in this book. Seriously such a great and inspirational book!

Best Book: One More Skein

It is that time of year when you are trying to knit quick, and make something that you can give and the receiver will thoroughly enjoy. Anything hand made is truly appreciated, but many of the projects in this book will be sure to be favorites. I would truly love to make everything in this book. There are plenty of projects for everyone in your life, classic men’s scarves and such, beautiful accessories for the ladies and adorable baby and kids items. Besides everything being quick and beautiful, most everything will require only one skein of yarn. So you can dig into your closet of crazy left overs or spend very little and have Holiday gifts to check off your list. I am especially into cowls this year and love the one shown below from the book. Put it on your list, and check it twice. One More Skein!

Best Book: Sweet Needle Felts

We are totally obsessed with Needle Felting around here!  It is a super easy technique where you work wool roving into 3-d items or as a design into a wool background. The possibilities are endless! Sweet Needle Felts is the best book that I have found that shows you the many different ways that you can use needle felting. All of the patterns are fantastic and there are pages of photo instructions on the how to of it all. I really want to make the adorable little dog on wheels below, but make a little Bichon like my Henry. If you are looking fro something new to spice up your crafting, give this a try!

Best Book: Handmade Beginnings

This is the latest book by our favorite Ana Maria Horner. We carry of her fabrics for Freespirit.  This book is an absolutely delightful collection of projects for a new baby, the mom and even some daddy accessories. I am determined to make the quilt below! I also think the booties would be a perfect addition to our window display of little shoes that we have in the shop. This book is a keeper!

P.S. Don’t try to do too many things at once. Thanks Kim for catching my Boo Boo.

Best Book: Stitch Magazine

I purchased this magazine over the weekend mainly because I liked the cover. I am so glad that I did, I love it! It is well worth the $14.99 purchase price! There are a ton of darling projects for children, including a ruffle tunic that is to die for from Olive & S, an alphabet quilt, a whimsical growth chart and much more. There is an apron that I am sure to make for myself as well. Anyway, go out and get it! You will love it! The magazine is called Stitch, and is a special issue put out by Quilting Arts for Spring 2010.

Best Book: Sew Darn Cute

There is not one item in this book that I am not frantic to make! You will love this book if you like to make gifts that are useful and absolutely adorable, and easy enough that you will get them done in time. I am starting an assembly line and making ten of the square bears shown below so that I will have them on hand for gifts, they just fantastic! I love Sew Darn Cute !

One more pic! There are too many items to show them all, you’ll just have to get the book!

Best Book: Material Obsession

I thought this book was likely to be pretty amazing when I saw the Foreword was written by Kaffe Fassett, but it turned out to be better than I had imagined. This book is full of amazing quilt patterns and I would dare say it is my favorite quilting pattern book EVER! Really it is that wonderful! I love traditional patterns and more modern fabrics. This book has combined the two to make extraordinary quilts. I really want to make everything inside, especially the one shown below!