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Review
(This) book is like sitting down with a patient, and exceedingly competent, friend for an afternoon of sewing. Abreu...is nothing if not helpful, providing tiny inset tips...and creating the feeling that anything is possible. --Publishers Weekly
Reading Abreu's book is like sitting down with a patient, and exceedingly competent, friend for an afternoon of sewing. Abreu, who created the popular blog Confessions of a Craft Addict, is nothing if not helpful, providing tiny inset tips such as If you cut along the Tiered Pants line, you can make a quick pair of shorts instead of pants or capris, and creating the feeling that anything is possible. She provides a quick review for the unsteady reader in Techniques A to Z, with good, clear photos helping make her points. And she's always encouraging and forgiving. In Handmade vs. homemade she reminds a frustrated seamstress, There is no shame in 'unsewing' your work. For the non-natural fashionista among us, she suggests pattern pairings, like a Barely Basic Top with the Twirly Girly Skirt. Yes, the names the author gives her outfits crank the cute to 11 but, after all, this is a book for girls who are proud to fly their feminine flag, sometimes with the help of their mothers. And while the names often cross the line from cute into cloying, the photos put everything in perspective. This parade of adorables will have readers saying, Who cares about the dress, I want the kid!--Publishers Weekly (1/31/11)
Mary Abreu has created four basic wardrobe pieces for little girls - skirt, pants, pull-over dress and peasant-style top/dress - and designed a series of variations to result in 23 different items. As the mother of a young daughter herself, she believes that sewing clothing fills a need to be creative, making something useful and fell the satisfaction from being able to say I made that. Her patterns provide you with the opportunity to dress your daughter or grand-daughter in one-of-a-kind outfits that fit perfectly. The book begins with a good overview of various techniques before moving into detailed and well illustrated step-by-step instructions for each garment. Full-size patterns are provided on sheets inserted inside the back cover...
Another fun sewing book for children's garments is Little Girls Big Style by Mary Abreu. Mary Abreu hit it out of the ballpark with this book, as her patterns are all the rage in mainstream children's fashion. Lots of ruffles, lots of colors and mix-matching fabrics. Mary focuses on garments that have a "boutique" feel to them. Not the pricey, ritzy brands we usually think of, but the "one-of-a-kind" custom-made garments that every little girl will love. Mary gives a lot of thoughtful comments about how she goes about choosing fabrics, colors, styles and weights as well as always keeping in mind whom she is sewing for.
Mary gives a thorough introduction to tools and techniques, which include many clear and easy-to-understand photos.
The patterns are divided into four basic garments: Basic Bodice, Peasant Top/Dress, Pants, and Skirts. She offers nice variations and a ton of embellishments to truly make your garments one of a kind. Mary offers 23 patterns in sizes 2-6. -- Review Source: www.petitepurls.com
Review Product
Although I am quite crafty in other ways, I had never been a machine sewer until I got a sewing machine last Christmas. The machine sat in a box until this Christmas, when my husband got me a copy of this book. What an amazing gift! I quite literally went from taking the machine out of the box to having a finished skirt for my daughter in less than four hours--and that included setting the machine up!
What sets this book apart from commercially-prepared patterns is that it actually explains what you're supposed to do, with great pictures to illustrate. There's an illustrated reference section in the front about various sewing techniques that's invaluable for a beginner. I suppose if you're an experienced sewer, that's not a big deal, but I found it to be EXTREMELY helpful, and I have consulted it often.
I can see how more advanced sewers might find this book a little "basic," but I found it to be totally approachable, non-intimidating, and easy to follow. The patterns are simple, but the resulting projects don't look that way. What a great way to build confidence and skills!
Since Christmas, I've made three of the skirt patterns, and am just starting on one of the "basic bodice" tops. Every project I've finished has looked just as cute as the pictures, and that makes me proud and fires me up to try the next pattern and make something else for my daughter.
The only downside: I think I'm addicted to sewing now, and I've spent far too much money on fabric to make cute things!
Little Girls, Big Style: Sew a Boutique Wardrobe from 4 Easy Patterns
Reading Abreu's book is like sitting down with a patient, and exceedingly competent, friend for an afternoon of sewing. Abreu, who created the popular blog Confessions of a Craft Addict, is nothing if not helpful, providing tiny inset tips such as If you cut along the Tiered Pants line, you can make a quick pair of shorts instead of pants or capris, and creating the feeling that anything is possible. She provides a quick review for the unsteady reader in Techniques A to Z, with good, clear photos helping make her points. And she's always encouraging and forgiving. In Handmade vs. homemade she reminds a frustrated seamstress, There is no shame in 'unsewing' your work. For the non-natural fashionista among us, she suggests pattern pairings, like a Barely Basic Top with the Twirly Girly Skirt. Yes, the names the author gives her outfits crank the cute to 11 but, after all, this is a book for girls who are proud to fly their feminine flag, sometimes with the help of their mothers. And while the names often cross the line from cute into cloying, the photos put everything in perspective. This parade of adorables will have readers saying, Who cares about the dress, I want the kid!--Publishers Weekly (1/31/11)
Mary Abreu has created four basic wardrobe pieces for little girls - skirt, pants, pull-over dress and peasant-style top/dress - and designed a series of variations to result in 23 different items. As the mother of a young daughter herself, she believes that sewing clothing fills a need to be creative, making something useful and fell the satisfaction from being able to say I made that. Her patterns provide you with the opportunity to dress your daughter or grand-daughter in one-of-a-kind outfits that fit perfectly. The book begins with a good overview of various techniques before moving into detailed and well illustrated step-by-step instructions for each garment. Full-size patterns are provided on sheets inserted inside the back cover...
Another fun sewing book for children's garments is Little Girls Big Style by Mary Abreu. Mary Abreu hit it out of the ballpark with this book, as her patterns are all the rage in mainstream children's fashion. Lots of ruffles, lots of colors and mix-matching fabrics. Mary focuses on garments that have a "boutique" feel to them. Not the pricey, ritzy brands we usually think of, but the "one-of-a-kind" custom-made garments that every little girl will love. Mary gives a lot of thoughtful comments about how she goes about choosing fabrics, colors, styles and weights as well as always keeping in mind whom she is sewing for.
Mary gives a thorough introduction to tools and techniques, which include many clear and easy-to-understand photos.
The patterns are divided into four basic garments: Basic Bodice, Peasant Top/Dress, Pants, and Skirts. She offers nice variations and a ton of embellishments to truly make your garments one of a kind. Mary offers 23 patterns in sizes 2-6. -- Review Source: www.petitepurls.com
Review Product
Although I am quite crafty in other ways, I had never been a machine sewer until I got a sewing machine last Christmas. The machine sat in a box until this Christmas, when my husband got me a copy of this book. What an amazing gift! I quite literally went from taking the machine out of the box to having a finished skirt for my daughter in less than four hours--and that included setting the machine up!
What sets this book apart from commercially-prepared patterns is that it actually explains what you're supposed to do, with great pictures to illustrate. There's an illustrated reference section in the front about various sewing techniques that's invaluable for a beginner. I suppose if you're an experienced sewer, that's not a big deal, but I found it to be EXTREMELY helpful, and I have consulted it often.
I can see how more advanced sewers might find this book a little "basic," but I found it to be totally approachable, non-intimidating, and easy to follow. The patterns are simple, but the resulting projects don't look that way. What a great way to build confidence and skills!
Since Christmas, I've made three of the skirt patterns, and am just starting on one of the "basic bodice" tops. Every project I've finished has looked just as cute as the pictures, and that makes me proud and fires me up to try the next pattern and make something else for my daughter.
The only downside: I think I'm addicted to sewing now, and I've spent far too much money on fabric to make cute things!
Little Girls, Big Style: Sew a Boutique Wardrobe from 4 Easy Patterns
