The Giveaway is now Closed
Congratulations Leila!
A little while ago I was gifted a copy of a brand new release book called Sew Together, Grow Together. Trixi Symonds has written this crafty book full of projects that are especially designed for kids to make with a little help from Mum or Dad. Trixi has been teaching sewing to kids for years but she wanted to create a book that would allow even a non-sewing parent to encourage their child to sew. The projects are all tried and tested in her classes and graded from easier to harder so that parents and kids can work together and learn the basic skills as they go along. They are projects intended to be finished in a day and they all use hand sewing so there is no sewing machine investment needed.
For a few weeks I have been suggesting to my 10 year old girl that we have a look at one of these projects, but she was reluctant. Eventually I decided I would just get started one afternoon at the kitchen table and hope that she would join in. Sure enough, by the time I had found fabric and started cutting the pattern out, she was curious about what I was making. When I suggested that she could sew too, she happily grabbed a needle. In fact, when I finished the largest owl and moved onto the third one, she wanted me to leave it for her!
This family of owls are my favourite pattern from the book but there are also some other animals, bags and cushions to choose from. The instructions are super clear and easy to follow. We improvised eyes with buttons since we didn’t have any eyes on hand. The fabric was chosen with a Christmas theme in mind so I’m calling these my Three Wise Owls. Little Miss already has plans for another one in pretty fabric for her room. They’d be great enlarged as a bed cushion too. The book says to fill them with rice, but we used bird seed left over from making Bean Bags.
The book is available over at Cooperative Press for only $16.95 in either hard copy or digital PDF format. I have the digital format and it is easy to just print the page of patterns that you need to use.
UPDATE: Trixi’s book is no longer available from Cooperative Press. She will be selling it via her Etsy shop from early 2014. Find the link at her blog, Coloured Buttons.
Giveaway
One lucky reader can win a copy of the digital version of this lovely book, Sew Together Grow Together
To enter, just pop over to the book order page and check out all the projects. Which one would you make first?
Come back here and leave a comment on this post telling me which one you would like to make and how you would make it special.
Fine Print
- Only one entry per person.
- This is a game of skill, not chance. I will be looking for creativity in the answers. The most creative answer will win.
- You must leave a valid email address for me to contact you for a valid entry.
- Open to International entries.
- Entries open with this post on Monday 18th November 2013 and close on Monday 25th November 2013 at 8pm Brisbane, Australia time.
- The winner will be chosen from the valid entries and contacted via email before midnight Wednesday 27th November 2013.
- If the winner doesn’t contact me, after 4 days I will choose a new winner to replace them.
- Once I have been in contact with the winner, I will announce their first name and pass on their details to Cooperative Press who will send out the prize via email.
- I can’t take responsibility for any issues in the delivery process.
Disclosure: This is not a Sponsored Post. I was gifted a copy of this book and chose to write the review for no payment. All opinions are my own, of course.
What a fantastic book! Id like to make the Triplets with my three daughters. It would be the perfect project as they could each be personalised to suit each girl.
What great creative animals and purses that look so easy to do.The Wise Owls would look so good done in any colour but the Grand daughters both love purple and I wonder if I could alter them make purses, their ears as the flap for the purse??
The Os and Xs Pouch. I’ve been looking for some fun games that all my children can play to add to our travel box (camping, picnics, wet weather days) and this one would be great as even if we have babies around the piers wouldn’t present such a choking risk.
We’d have to make the baby in a pouch.
My two are always wrapping their toys
and putting them to sleep on the couch,
singing rock a bye your bear – silly boys!
“Mum – can I press the pedal all the way down and make the table shake?” A boy comment of course from my 10yr – but he has a new love of learning to sew, and I am going to cultivate that whilst I can. Raul would be his first project as he looks like he needs a hug, and thats what softies are for. Hairstyles are also very important and Raul’s hair with hippy beading is “just awesome”.
I would make five froggies as props for singing “five little speckled frogs” with my three year old son to my baby girl.
I would love to have these patterns to share with my granddaughters.
I would make Floyd as he’s just adorable and looks like he could do with a good cuddle. But I would have to make him purple – my son’s favourite colour!
I know my daughter would like to make Sunny or flower power and my son would love his own floyd but I think the 3 wise owls look like the easiest project for my daughter to start with. She is only 4.5 and she has done some sewing on those felt kits but I am thinking the owls could be a good project for her to start on the sewing machine. I know you said it was a hand sewn project but my daughter doesn’t have the patience for hand sewing (takes after her mum!). I’m also thinking the O’s and X’s pouch could be adapted to be a christmas theme. Teachers and granparents do love a handmade gift. 🙂
How cute are these!! I would make the owls as I love owls.
I love these and it is hard to choose, but I think I would make Floyd first… I’d have to make a few changes though… a face on each side, where the one that isn’t in use at that moment, could be covered with a mop of hair, this is because in my house, we go from all sunshine to all clouds in a matter of moments and I would probably use Floyd to help me make light of the moment! Thanks so much for these!!
Nice inspiring book!! I would make the twins for my twin daughters,
One who is quite reserved as opposed to the other who loves to play up!!
Thank you for sharing. Just love your owls (my sister’s favourite!).