Butler Amy - Amy Butlers Little Stitches

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data.
Butler, Amy.
Little Stitches for Little Ones / by Amy Butler:
photographs by Colin McGuire.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN: 978-0-8118-6128-1 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-4521-3256-3 (epub, mobi)
1. Infants clothing. 2. Sewing. 3. Infants supplies. I. Title.
TT637.B976 2008
646.4'06dc22
2007038148

Technical Writing by Dianne Barcus and Kim Ventura
Illustrations by Jacob Redinger
Designed by Warmbo Design
Styling by Natalie Marotta
Text and Projects by Amy Butler
Art Direction by Amy Butler

Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street
San Francisco, California 94107

www.chroniclebooks.com

Text copyright 2008 by Amy Butler. Photographs copyright 2008 by Colin McGuire. Illustrations copyright 2008 by Jacob Redinger. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

The publisher, author, and artistes who produced Little Stitches for Little Ones disclaim all liability from any harm, loss, or injury that may result from the use, proper or improper, of the information contained in this book. We advise that common sense dictate any use of the suggested crafts and do not claim that the information contained herein is accurate or safe for your specific situation. It should by no means be considered a substitute for good judgment, skill, and the aforementioned common sense.

Adobe Photoshop is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Inc. Coats Dual Duty Plus is a registered trademark of Coats & Clark Inc. Fairfield Poly-fil Hi-Loft, Soft Touch, Nature-fil, and Nu-Foam Bumper Pads are registered trademarks of the Fairfield Processing Corp. Pellon Print n Create Cotton Poplin, Pellon Print n Create Cotton Sheeting, and Fusible Thermolan Plus are registered trademarks of the Pellon Corp. Prym-Dritz is a registered trademark of the Prym-Dritz Corp. Scotch brand tape is a registered trademark of the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company Corp. Snuggle is a registered trademark of Chesebrough-Ponds Inc. Velcro is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries. WackyTac Quick Dry Craft Bond is a registered trademark of River City Products, Inc. Wonder-Under is a registered trademark of Freudenberg Nonwovens Ltd. X-Acto is a registered trademark of Elmers Products, Inc.

acknowledgments

This book is dedicated to the sewing community at large. Without your enthusiasm and spirit, the fine craft of sewing would not be as vibrant.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the making of this book. This creative adventure would not be possible without you.

A special thanks to Dianne Barcus, Kim Ventura, and Jake Redinger for your energy, creativity, and support in writing the instructions and illustrating the projects. Im blessed to be able to work alongside you, and I am constantly inspired by your talents and abilities. My husband David for being so good to me always and for helping write this book. Diane Capaci for keeping the studio humming. Colin McGuire for his beautiful, warm photography and Anita for her positive support. Natalie Marotta for her incredible styling and vision. Anna Aschenbeck for her help with grading our pattern pieces. Sarah Amrhein and Joyce Robertson from Westminster Fibers for being so good to us and sending loads of fabric our way. Rolando Berdion from Pellon for keeping us stocked in printable fabric and interfacings. Janome Corporation for providing us with incredible sewing machines. Coats & Clark for providing notions and thread. Catherine Hurlbut from Fairfield for keeping us stocked in batting, Nu-Foam, pillow forms, and Nature-fil. Caroline and Marc for their constant vision. Sara Lorimer and Laurel Leigh for editing our instructions. Ayako Akazawa for her guidance and great attitude, Kate Prouty for her energy, support and patience. And Jodi Warshaw for her leadership, enthusiasm, and encouragement... working with you is a joy.

(DIFFICULTY LEVEL 1 = EASIEST; 5 = HARDEST)

introduction

Everyone loves to see a babys eyes light up at the sight of familiar faces and objects. The idea for this book came from my love of making special treasures for the little ones in my world. I believe the most important possessions are the ones that connect us to the people we love. Creating what I call modern heirloomshomemade items that are absolutely chic and up-to-date and that can be lovingly handed down through the generationsis the impetus for each of the sewing projects in this book.

While trends are always changing, the art of sewing remains timeless. When you make it yourself, a useful article is infused with your passion, style, and loveand youre no longer restricted to buying cookie-cutter, off-the-rack gifts! A one-of-a-kind toy, sewn from a favorite printed cotton, holds value and meaning for its owner that will only increase with time and use. Little stains and wear marks that will appear over generations of use will become part of a story you started.

The projects in Little Stitches for Little Ones are designed for babies 012 months. There is something for every little one, including a snuggly bedtime wrap blanket, PJs, cute booties and hats, a diaper bag and pad, imaginative soft toys, and even a soft fabric photo album.

There is something here for every sewer, too. No matter what your skill level, youll find projects just right for you. Within each chapter, projects are organized by level of difficulty: #1 = easiest and #5 = hardest. And, all of the projects are achievableeven if youre just learning to sew!

I encourage you, especially if youre new to sewing, to begin by reading Getting Started for handy sewing definitions and illustrated how-tos.

Little Stitches for Little Ones is perfect for modern women who wish to make unique items rich with meaning and emotioncherished treasures that will retain their beauty through generations of cuddling, sleeping, playing, and yes, gnawing. Let your personality shine through each treasure you create, and always keep in mind my mantra:

Utility can be beautiful.
Comfy can be stylish.
Handmade is best!

Enjoy!
Amy

We all know once babies take those first few hesitant steps, in no time at all theyre walking with confidence. Similarly, learning to sew starts with baby steps.

This chapter will help you start off on the right foot (so you can finish that beloved baby treasure before the intended recipient is running from room to room or too big to wear it!). Here youll find sewing basics, from choosing fabrics to taking measurements to selecting the best tools and materials. With a little patience and practiceand a lot of fun along the wayyoull be sewing with confidence.