Sew Cute Quilts and Gifts: 30 Lovely Bags, Quilts and Accessories to Stitch, Applique & Embroider

I really like the variety of projects and how cute they all are! They are fun ways to use up my scraps and my stash. My only complaint has more to do with the way it was packaged- the back cover was creased when it was put in the mailing envelope.

love every project in the book. such an eye candy

Perfect designs for great little gifts.

Sew Cute Quilts & Gifts by Atsuko Matsuyama presents some wonderful projects that can be used either for yourself or as a gift. I shared this book with a friend who does these types of projects to get feedback so this will be a two part review, my opinion about the book from a non-quilter's perspective and then the notes my friend gave me from a quilter's perspective.I tend to enjoy arts & crafts books even if I don't actually do that particular craft, and this book falls into that category for me. I look for ideas I might use elsewhere as well as simply enjoy admiring both the work of a skilled craftsperson and the photography. This book succeeded for me on both counts. The pictures included both detailed (while enjoyable for me they are probably far more valuable to someone who might make the item) pictures as well as finished pictures with the item as it might be used (these are the ones where I usually get ideas).The layout seemed to me like it would be easy to follow and use. The projects included both decorative and functional items, so there is probably something that would suit most people, especially as a gift.I am just going to put my friend's comments without trying to paraphrase them, I would probably do a poor job. These are in the form of some notes she sent me in an email, so..."Lots of cute projects. For those who like traditional quilts, Sunbonnet Sue makes an appearance and there are a number that feature hexagons, an old standby. There are also innovative decorations and bags that you don't see every day, so there will be at least one project for everyone.Projects are well constructed, with linings and gussets and darts with embroidered details. No slap dash construction.Full size templates are provided for every project. Caveat: for those enticed by the cute baby quilt, these are constructed from panels which are, of course, not provided. You provide the panel of your choice and then follow directions for assembly.That being said, despite the small size of some projects, it would be best to have some background in quilting and/or hand sewing before beginning. If you are really interested in a project, spend some time on YouTube or Google, and familiarize yourself with different techniques. None of these are "Quilt in a Day" (TM) type projects. Inset seams are notorious for their difficulty in machine sewing, and are best done by hand, which is how she expects them to be done. The diagram illustrating the connections was not as clear as it could be, and she fleetingly mentions the possibility of paper piecing them - but provides no directions for this option. Its possible to sew together hexagons without paper templates, but there is a good reason these stiff papers are so popular.Additionally, she provides templates without the seam allowances. (this is common practice, and not a criticism). Although she references the standard 1/4 inch allowances for piecing and 1/8 inch allowances for applique frequently, she doesn't call attention to the fact that you can make your life easier if you have some simple tools to speed this process along. In a pinch an index card with 1/4 inch lines can be useful, but if you plan to do a number of these projects an "add a quarter" or "add an 1/8" mini-ruler can make your life much easier. And if you want to add those embroidered details, including the herringbone stitch, you're probably going to need to consult some references if you'e a novice at handwork.Sum it all up, maybe not a beginner book, but if you are a beginner and are intrigued by the designs, do a little research first and you'll have a beautifully finished product at the end."We both recommend this book, whether you're like me and just enjoy the book itself or you're a quilter like my friend.Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

When I started thinking about how I was gonna review a craft book, I knew that I couldn’t really review it without trying a project so I could pass on whether the instructions were clear, any issues, and etc. I decided to make the Vintage Panel Drawstring Pouches even though the panel I had wasn’t vintage. The project was quite simple and easy to follow as long as you payed attention to the diagrams she draws for each project. I wish she had gave other ideas for the waxed cord that was used for the drawstring. That was the only time I didn’t follow her instructions exact; I used ribbon instead. She follows the same format for each project. A list of supplies, written instructions, and diagrams.I loved several projects from this book, and I look forward to making more than just the drawstring pouches. Some of my favorites included the Flat Zipper Pouch made with assorted print scraps. I loved the handle on the Dancing Flowers Purse, but not the flowers so much. The Puffy Pouch was cute and I especially loved the beading on the front. The Fresh & Sweet Framed Mini Quilts made my mind think of great gifts using my embroidery machine designs and the Vintage Panel Play Mat was adorable with the simple dashing and straight line quilting with a hexagon border. There was a solid technique section, stitch guide, and templates for the projects requiring them. Over all the book has fantastic projects and well worth the investment of owning it.I have two complaints about the book. One is that she doesn’t tell you to iron projects before starting and after certain steps. New sewers forget or don’t realize how important ironing can be to a project. Ironing should be a step in any sewing or quilting project. Two, cutting panels is not always easy. They print out crooked and you have to take time to square them up to make them look good in a project. And since she had panel projects, I think a section on how to cut them accurately would have been a good thing.Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this four star book.

Sew Cute Quilts & Gifts is a new tutorial project guide by Atsuko Matsuyama. Originally published in Japanese in 2018, this English language translation from Search Press is 144 pages and available in paperback format.This is a beautifully photographed collection of pouches, bags, small soft furnishings, and home decor items. Most of them can easily be adapted for different sizes or applications. It follows a logical format with bags and pouches in one section followed by home decor items. The projects themselves are well selected, colorful, and appealing. Many have a 1950s retro vibe with lots of floral prints, nostalgia panels, and primary color schemes.The tutorials themselves include fabric and supplies (measurements given in both US standard and metric), tutorial construction and piecing diagrams, and full color photos of each project. The instructions are easy to follow and clearly written.The book includes all the templates in full size. There are instructions included at the back of the book for basic techniques such as piecing, applique, simple surface embroidery, and quilting.Appealing projects. There are a lot of nice quick projects here which would be perfect for gift giving ideas or charity sales.Four stars.Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Book came bent in the corners. All the projects look super cute though!

I bought this during self-isolation to cheer myself up. I has arrived and I AM SO PLEASE. It has a variety of projects clearly photographed with plenty of diagrammatic instructions. I have other Japanese authors on my bookshelf and really commend their style - colourful, fun and certainly unique. I hope this author writes some more.

Lovely book. Currently in the middle of making my first item. Instructions are clear and easy to follow. The patterns for each item are great, no need to enlarge, which makes cutting out much easier, but do allow for seam allowance which is not included.

I've just received this book which is full of beautiful projects. Very easy to follow patterns from full size templates. Lots of diagrams and pictures.

I found it a very good book thank you