Hello ladies and gentlemen - if you are here for the Sew Cute To Cuddle blog hop, welcome! Today I'll be reviewing Sew Cute To Cuddle by Mariska Vos-Bolman, and it is a pleasure to do so! The nice people at Stitch Craft Create sent us a PDF copy of the book to review and they will also be sending 1 copy of this book to one lucky Feeling Stitchy reader!
Let's be clear that I am crafty but not of the sewing variety, so what I am offering is my inexperienced-at-sewing perspective. :) Well, if you can follow directions, you'll do just fine with this book. There are nice, clear diagrams and marks on the patterns that make it all very easy to follow along.
As proof, here is my finished hippo, freshly stuffed this morning:
The book is well-laid out and inspiring, and I love the way the author mixes and matches her fabrics in such a creative way. It definitely inspires me to pair things in ways I wouldn't ordinarily have done. The patterns are friendly to hand-sewing, so if you're afraid of a sewing machine (like yours truly), you can still sew your way through all of them. My hippo occupied about 2 full nights of sewing. Also, be sure to buy LOTS of stuffing - this little hippo ate up a 12 oz bag and a half of another, so about 18 oz, total!
This little owl was crafted by our patterns blogger, Jo:
Here's what Jo, a more experienced seamstress, had to say about the book:
I've had so much fun sewing from Sew Cute to Cuddle. It looks a lovely book and I will definitely be sewing from it again, I think the tiger will be up next, in time for my daughter's birthday (or maybe Christmas) as she loves tigers. I have just one criticism of the book though - no seam allowance, although it was fantastic that you don't have to enlarge the patterns. I did change the pattern slightly by hand embroidering on the appliqué pieces instead of machine sewing them on.
Be sure to stop by Emma Lamb's very thorough review, which includes wonderful details about the book and author, and which I will not try to reproduce here. Instead, I am keeping it brief with my final take on this book which is - totally worth it! If you like to sew stuffed creatures, or you are a relative sewing newbie, like myself, you will find the book a delightful addition to your craft library!
Here's a quick peek at all 12 toy patterns included in the book:
To enter our book giveaway, answer the following question: Which of these patterns would you make, or which is your favorite? I will close the comments on Sunday, Aug. 24 at 9 PM US CST, and we'll announce one random winner of the book soon after that.
I would have to make them all!! My favorites are the puppy, the koala and the monkey.
ReplyDeleteThe hypo is so cute, it calls for a hug.
ReplyDeleteThat hippo is the cutest!
ReplyDeleteMy niece is definitely getting that little girl doll for christmas
ReplyDeleteThey are all seriously cute but I think the cat and the hippo are my favourites!
ReplyDeleteIf I had to limit myself to just one, it would be the owl. But the boy, the girl and the little dog go on the list, too. They are all cute.
ReplyDeleteMust. Sew. Hippo.
ReplyDeleteI'd have my 3 yo decide! They are all so cute. Love the dragon!
ReplyDeletethey are all cute but i would love to make the dragon hes lovely not fierce!
ReplyDeleteTHE HIPPO !
ReplyDeleteOh the monkey is so adorable! I'd definitely make that for my daughter.
ReplyDeleteThat's a hard choice! but I think the Dragon. They are just too cute...all of them.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I would eventually sew most all of them....I love sewing stuffies, but first, I'd have to make that sweet little pup! :) So adorable! Thanks so much for the chance!
ReplyDeleteThat hippo! So adorable and a great use for smaller pieces of fabric.
ReplyDeleteI would make the monster, and the hippo, and the tiger...
ReplyDeleteI would have to say the dragon. My 2 year old cousins (twin boys) would love them.
ReplyDeleteI love that hippo!
ReplyDeleteThat dog is soo cute! I'd love to make it!
ReplyDeleteThey are all so cute!! I'd love to try the dragon but I am a novice and it looks intimidating, so I'm thinking the hippo or monster would be first.
ReplyDeleteI love the monkey but they are all very cute.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to make the hippo!
ReplyDeleteThe dragon! Dragons are big in our house right now.
ReplyDeleteI would like to make the little girl for my daughter and her best friend in colors that match their personalities and features and then one of the boy for my son.
ReplyDeleteThe dragon is my favourite!
ReplyDeleteThat dragon is adorable. I'd have to give it a try.
ReplyDeletemadameugly at gmail dot com
They are all so cute but my favourite is the monkey. I would love to make one. Thanks for the lovely giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThe monkey is my favorite. Thank you for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteThe pigtail girl would be the first thing I would make but they are all so adorable I might have to make them all.
ReplyDeleteThe litlte doggie with a bone is the pattern I would try. What a lovely book and a great giveaway.
ReplyDeleteMy son would love that dragon!
ReplyDeleteI am having trouble deciding which I would make first - the dragon, the monkey or the hippo. The little doll would also get good use in my house. Your hippo is beautiful by the way, you must be just delighted with it.
ReplyDeleteThey are all pretty cute! I do like the monkey and it's a favorite of my grand daughters too!
ReplyDeleteSo so cute! I'd make them all, though my first might have to be the puppy or monkey. Great job on the hippo, she looks perfect!
ReplyDeleteI'd most likely make the dragon first. I know my daughter would love it.
ReplyDeleteMy computer must have been having a sleep - it wouldn't let me post earlier - These animals are all so cute but for me the hippo is the star he is so fat and cuddly - a friend is expecting twins in November it would be lovely to give her some of these fab creayures.
ReplyDeleteThe Dragon, for sure!!
ReplyDeleteoooo so cute. I'd like to make the monkey, he's gorgeous. :0)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to make the dragon and the monkey! Cute book!
ReplyDeleteI think the monkey is "totes adorbs"
ReplyDeleteI love the dragon!
ReplyDeleteThey are all so cute, but I would probably make the hippo. Thanks for the chance!!
ReplyDeleteI would make that adorable monkey! Too cute!
ReplyDeleteHow cute! First, I'd make the hippo, then the monster, then the owl, then the koala and then...
ReplyDeleteThe orange kitty is my favorite!
ReplyDeleteI would love to make the hippo, dog, and owl for my nieces and nephew!
ReplyDeleteI would sew the monkey first then the puppy, the hippo...
ReplyDeleteThey are all so cute!
If I had to choose... I would sew the owl and place it on my desk in my Kindergarten classroom! I love them all though so that would just be the start of my sewing!
ReplyDeleteI would love to make the monkey for my 1st Grandson. He is 1 year old & loves all monkeys especially Curious George. We call him our Chunky Monkey.
ReplyDeleteThen I would make him the Tiger because he is into making the roaring sound they make.
Oooh they are ALL Adorable!!! Love the Bear...but the Sleepy eyed Owl is soooo sweet! Would make him first!! Then on down the line! What a fun book!! :)
ReplyDeleteThe dragon is so cute! I would love to make that as a present for a friend's son! Beautiful book!
ReplyDeleteI would love to try to make the monkey, the hippo and the owl. My favorite is the doogy :)
ReplyDeleteoooh, the bear or the dog or the koala. so cute!
ReplyDeleteI love the puppy the most, but as I'm a beginner at sewing I think I would make all of them starting from the easiest moving to the more difficult ones!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the opportunity! :)
Oh my gosh! that hippo screams with cuteness! It is darling. What a great book! This Hippo tops my list as the project I would like to make 1st...LOL! Then I thing I would have to make the owl for my adult daughter. these look like they would ALL be fun to make. Yep, definitely hippo would be the one I would start with....
ReplyDeleteI would make all of them- but the dragon is my favorite :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to make the cat!
ReplyDelete