Sweet & Simple Handmade: 25 Projects to Sew, Stitch, Knit & Upcycle for Children

333 Pages·2013·46.53 MB·English

by  Melissa Wastney

Sweet & Simple
handmade
Melissa Wastney
Includes garment tissue
paper patterns for
infant to age 10
25 Projects to Sew, Stitch, Knit & Upcycle for Children
Sweet & Simple
handmade
Melissa Wastney
25 Projects to Sew, Stitch, Knit & Upcycle for Children
Text and Style Photography copyright © 2013 by Melissa Wastney
Subject Photography copyright © 2013 by C&T Publishing, Inc.
Illustrations copyright © 2013 by C&T Publishing, Inc.
Publisher: Amy Marson
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Art Director / Cover Designer: Kristy Zacharias
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Illustrator: Valyrie Friedman
Photography by Christina Carty-Francis and Diane Pedersen of C&T Publishing, Inc.,
unless otherwise noted
Published by Stash Books, an imprint of C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456,
Lafayette, CA 94549
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artists as noted in Sweet & Simple Handmade. These designs may be used to make items
only for personal use. Donations to nonprofit groups, items for sale, or items for display
only at events require the following credit on a conspicuous label: Designs copyright © 2013
by Melissa Wastney from the book Sweet & Simple Handmade from C&T Publishing, Inc.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wastney, Melissa, 1980-
Sweet & simple handmade : 25 projects to sew, stitch, knit & upcycle for children / Melissa
Wastney.
pages cm
ISBN 978-1-60705-665-2
1. Sewing. 2. Knitting--Patterns. 3. Clothing and dress--Remaking. I. Title. II. Title:
Sweet and simple handmade.
TT715.W37 2013
646’.1--dc23
2012035173
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
3
Dedication
I dedicate this book to my family, with love.
Acknowledgments
I had such fun making this book! But I couldn’t have done it without
many of the great people around me. Thanks to Francesca, Charlotte,
Michal, and Jenny, who, in different ways, planted the seed of writing
this book in my mind. Thanks to Rachelle and Susie for their encourage-
ment and support. Also to Kirsty, Karina, Jess, Adele, and Karuna for
their love and friendship. Then to Sarah Laing, Helen Lehndorf, and
Emma McCleary for that encouraging coffee date in an Auckland café
last year.
Thank you to the team at Stash Books—especially Susanne, Diane,
Cynthia, and Amy.
The biggest thank-yous must go to my patient family—Tom, Arlo, and
Keira—who endured many grumpy times, fittings, and photo sessions
with grace. Thanks too to my parents, Ian and Sally, for believing in
and encouraging me; Clare and Dave and whanau for their love and sup-
port; Nick and Clare for friendship and a tripod; and Tamsin, Tristan,
Alexander, and Sarah, my sweet siblings.
Thank you to my dear blog readers, followers, and customers from all
over the world.
And, of course, to my beautiful models—thank you for letting me work
with you! Thank you to Millie, Guy, Noa, Eve, Richie, Arlo, Xavier,
Bernadette, and Keira; my nephew, Leo; and, of course, my gorgeous
nieces, Esmae, Phoebe, Fern, Noa, and Eve, who have provided me with
so much inspiration over the past ten years.
Contents
Contents 5
Introduction  6 Dress-Up Cape 76
Art Smock 80
Creative Upcycling • Before You Start
Involving Children • Size Chart Foraging Satchel 84
Sidebar: Embroidery Ideas 89
For Babies: Ages 0–12 Months  15
Everyday Skirt 90
Reversible Baby Shoes 16
Embroidered Cardigan 22 For Children: Ages 5–10  95
Sidebar: Embroidery Ideas 24 Sunday Best Dress 96
Starry Sky Baby Quilt 26 New-Again Sweater 102
Soft and Stretchy Pants 32 Mix and Match Pants 108
Modern Bonnet 36 Hooded Winter Coat 112
Linen Teddy 40 Messenger Bag with Pencil Case 118
New Mama “Everything” Tote 46 Velveteen Rabbit 124
Pom-Pom Winter Hat 130
For Little Ones: Ages 1–4  53
Pom-Pom Scarf 134
Corduroy Pants to Grow In 54
Holdall Bags 138
Kangaroo Pocket Sweatshirt 58
Sidebar: Wrapping Your Handmade Gifts 142
Crossover Cardigan 62
Sidebar: Making Bias Tape 64 About the Author  144
Snuggly Vest 68
Easy Wrap Dress 72
Introduction
Introduction 7
Kia ora! as we say in New Zealand. 

Welcome to my book of patterns and designs for the children in your life. I imagine that you are
either a parent or grandparent of a young child, or that maybe you have small friends or family
members for whom you wish to make something.
In writing this book, my main aim was to col-
lect together designs that might be truly useful
for the home sewer with small people (children
under about ten years old) around. I wanted to
make an appealing book to be turned to often
for inspiration and basic patterns. Most of my
designs are not particularly fancy; they owe their
specialness to the fabrics and embellishments
used. I hope that my interpretations of these
designs will inspire you to go and be creative
with them.
I have always been interested in creativity and
crafts, but it wasn’t until I was pregnant with
my son, Arlo, in 2002 that I rekindled my own
childhood obsession with making things and
looking for inspiration all around me. I was
keen to stay at home for the years that my two
children were preschoolers; it seemed like a good
decision for our family. We made do with our slim income by making lots of things ourselves,
from bedding and toys to clothes and gardens. It’s easy to glorify those times. The truth is that
they were challenging, but they were made easier by my decision to be at home every day of the
week. Now our situation has eased a bit, but I still love to make things. I find that I am con-
stantly inspired by the natural world, as well as by traditional handwork, vintage ceramics, and
fabric. My friends and family—many of whom are artists, designers, writers, and musicians—are
also a source of inspiration.
8 Sweet & Simple Handmade
Creative Upcycling
Buying secondhand is still a
priority for our family, as I’m
sure it is for a growing number
of people—if my recent trips
to garage sales and secondhand
markets are any indication.
Old things that still work (I’m
thinking here of equipment like
irons and sewing machines) tend
to do so for longer than new ones,
even if they don’t come with a
twelve-month warranty. They just
seem to be built better. Buying
secondhand is more affordable,
too, and the profits often benefit
local charities and churches. But
I think the biggest benefit of
buying secondhand goods is the
recycling aspect. Knowing that
you are using something already
in existence, rather than creating
more waste and packaging, is a
very good feeling.
Introduction 9
I write here about “thinking secondhand” because there are many opportunities for us to do so in
our creative work. If you keep an open mind, you can find good fabric everywhere, even without
spending much money. Your first stop should of course be your local fabric and yarn store, if you
have one. This is an invaluable resource for interesting supplies and good craft advice.
As for secondhand items, you
can find them in thrift stores, in
antique shops, on online auction
sites such as eBay and Trade Me
(New Zealand’s version of eBay),
and at garage sales. Many of the
fabrics used in this book were
found secondhand. Discarded
curtains, linens, and tablecloths
can make great bags, while old
sheets and duvet covers can be
used for linings and to make trial
versions of patterns.
If you are seriously interested
in upcycling fabrics for sewing,
put the word out to your family
and friends that you would be
happy to reuse any textiles they
are discarding. Your next biggest
problem might be finding some-
where to store them all!