Melissa Wastney - Sweet & simple handmade: 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

Creative Director: Gailen Runge

Art Director/Cover Designer: Kristy Zacharias

Editors: Cynthia Bix and Jill Mordick

Technical Editors: Ann Haley and Amanda Siegfried

Book Designer: April Mostek

Page Layout Artist: Kerry Graham

Production Coordinator: Zinnia Heinzmann

Production Editor: Joanna Burgarino

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

Sweet & Simple Handmade Download

Copyright 2013 by C&T Publishing, Inc.

ISBN 978-1-60705-666-9

Published by C&T Publishing, Inc.,
PO Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549.
www.ctpub.com

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Pattern Note: This digital file contains patterns that may not print true to size and may require sizing adjustments (inchmarks are included on patterns for reference). Depending on your viewing application or device, printing desired page may result in multiple printed pages.

I dedicate this book to my family, with love.

I had such fun making this book! But I couldnt 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 encouragement 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 caf last year.

Thank you to the team at Stash Booksespecially Susanne, Diane, Cynthia, and Amy.

The biggest thank-yous must go to my patient familyTom, Arlo, and Keirawho 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 support; 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 modelsthank 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.

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.

Patterns are available to print from http://tinyurl.com/10902-patterns.

In writing this book, my main aim was to collect 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 wasnt 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. Its 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 constantly inspired by the natural world, as well as by traditional handwork, vintage ceramics, and fabric. My friends and familymany of whom are artists, designers, writers, and musiciansare also a source of inspiration.