Recently I was contacted by designer Trixi Symonds asking me to review her new book Sew Together Grow Together: Sewing Projects for Parents and Children. As you can imagine I jumped at the opportunity!
Trixi is a teacher who lives in Sydney, Australia. She has spent more than two decades exploring the excitement and endless creative fun of hand-sewing with students.
The book has 20 fun projects which kids (and parents) are bound to love, with lots of photos and clear instructions to guide you through each step. Here are some of the projects included in the book:
The children spent ages deciding what to sew, Maia eventually settled on the starry night pillow. A friend came to play one rainy afternoon so we ended up making two… they had great fun!And were both incredibly proud of their creations…
Both girls are six, and needed a bit of guidance with the instructions. I printed out the patterns and helped them cut out the shapes, they did the sewing themselves and (aside from my role of untangling messes, and re-threading a gazillion needles) it all went very smoothly.
The book is the perfect inspiration for any budding crafter, like Maia, who has done a little sewing before, and is always asking about new projects she can make by herself.
Carter’s choice surprised me, I was sure he would pick one of the monster projects… but instead he chose the cute little froggy and this too was a breeze to make. Although not much sewing was actually carried out by Carter, he did fill the frog up with rice and glue the eyes on at the end 🙂
He was proud as punch of his new froggy friend! But getting a sensible photo was clearly out of the question 🙂
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! There are loads more projects the children want to make, and it’s a perfect resource for ideas and techniques. You don’t even need a sewing machine as all patterns are hand sew. If you’d like to purchase a copy of the book or find out more about it click here. You also might like to check out Trixi’s blog coloured buttons for more fun ideas. There’s a fun pencil case tutorial I’d love to try too!
Giveaway time! I’m very happy that one lucky reader can win an electronic copy of this book by leaving a comment below… The giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere in the world and Ill draw the winner next Monday 4 November. Good Luck!! Janette xox
love the pictures 🙂
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Ooh – I looked this up when you posted before and it didn’t seem available in the uk. E-version would be great to receive – thank you for the opportunity! Xx
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Hi, this is Elizabeth from Cooperative Press – we do indeed ship printed copies to the UK (or anywhere else in the world), and the digital/PDF version is even more readily downloadable from anywhere.
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Thanks for that Elizabeth!
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Looks like a beautiful book, would love a chance to win 🙂
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What a great book. I love the fact that projects look challenging enough to interest both the child and the adult. So many kids books are pitched at too low a level.
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Would love to be in, it would be fun to have for our grandson we could craft together.
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Hi, looks a lovely book for children to make there own project with a small amount of help from an adult. Love the pillow and frog, well done. Regards Jenny x
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Looks interesting,thank you for the chance to win it.It would be fun to make something from it.
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This is really a very nice book. I love it !
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Look likes a fun book! I want to give it a try for a creative afternoon with my nieces!
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I am impressed with the simplicity and various sewing ideas in this book. What a great resource. I would love to win a copy and use for my K-5th grade artists. I have several parent volunteers and they would love to help. Thanks for a chance to win.
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What a lovely book! i particularly like the Koala. the children’ s projects of cushion and froggie were delightful to look at! 🙂
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Oh I’d love live love to win this. I have two girls who love to sew and I’m always stumped what to sew with them!
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My girls would live this and like another reader doesn’t seem to be available in the uk.If all else fails my mum and dad spent our winter in New Zealand ( lucky them) so I shall be requesting a copy! Love your blog and glimpses of beautiful n.z.
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The art of hand sewing seems to be fading for the next generation… What a perfect book to reacquaint parents and offer ideas for fun, basic projects that will introduce children to the wold of sewing and crafting with fabric.
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My daughter is being exposed to sewing this year at school and this book looks like it would be ideal to encourage her interest.
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Your kids are so adorable. The projects they did are awesome!! Looks like a great book for a beginner sewer too!! Have a wonderful day!! Hugz Lisa and Bear
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This looks like a great book. I’ve been looking for a way to teach our boys a little sewing
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I teach arts and crafts at my local park, this book has some great ideas, thanks for sharing. Sharon
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This old make a fantastic book for my newly appointed teacher daughter!
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This would be so much fun for the grandkids! Thanks for the opportunity to win this adorable book!! Patty
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I would love to make the frog it looks like a good stress reliever!!!
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I love the things you put on your blog. The book looks like great fun.
Enjoy your Spring and Summer.
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The book looks great! I want to make a frog for myself ( my daughter would have something to say about that – maybe she could make Mummy a Christmas present?!) Thanks for the opportunity to get a copy!
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My great nephew would love some of these. Problem is, his mom doesn’t sew. I’d love to teach her!! And get her started on e-books at the same time!! Thanks for your blog, Janette!
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Looks like a great book to get ideas from for the Kids Arts program at our Arts Council. Thanks for the chance to win.
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I love the great projects in this book! Would be wonderful to win the ebook and have fun with my 2 girls.
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I would love to have this book for my new little crafter and I!
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Oh I want to read that one! 😀
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This is so cute! I am a novice sewer and would love ideas for things my kids and I could sew together!
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What a fun book! I’ll definitely have to check it out! 🙂
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Love it! I have 2 girls 4 and 5 and they both want to learn how to sew this would be perfect
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How cute! I would love to try some of these projects with my 6 year old. I am sure that he would pick one of the monsters to make first!
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You’re right about the kids loving sewing, I made sock creatures with my class a couple of years ago and they loved it. Yes there was a lot of needle threading and finishing off to do but it was so much fun. I often think it’s a shame so many kids don’t get to do things like this anymore so a book that gives ideas and instructions sounds like a fab starting point 🙂
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It is so nice to see children encouraged to make things, such a sense of achievement when they can see the results of their hard work.
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That looks like a great book! Thanks for having a giveaway!
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Great book, the beanbag frog looks great, my son would live to make that with funny eyes
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So cuuute! Thank you for all your inspiring posts
and of course for this giveaway.
Greetings from Germany!
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Wonderful!!! It is so nice to find crafts that can be shared with children. My daughter is always watching me sew, and I have been so excited for her to begin. This would be so nice to share in a children’s crafting group. I am always looking for ways for the children to express their creativity and this is another brilliant way. Thank you for sharing 🙂
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I’ve been wanting to start sewing with my three little daughters. This would be a fun book to help us get started.
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I don’t have kids but I think the projects are fun to make even for an adult.
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My children (6 and 9 years) would love this! So fun 🙂 I would love to see the book. Do you think my kindergarteners could handle any of the projects? Maybe as a guided choice center?
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I think if you were going to tackle any sewing project with a whole class you would need to have more than one helper. I had 2 6 year olds and that kept me busy for a good couple of hours. I definitely think the projects are suitable for kindergarteners working one on one, two or three with an adult. Hope that helps 🙂
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Yes, if you were working with kindergarteners one adult to anywhere up to 4 would be great. Also when working with younger kids I always pre thread needles because younger children often find threading needles difficult so i give them a threaded needle and they can just enjoy their sewing!
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Looks like a great book to inspire young crafters!love that its available as an e book too. Fingers crossed!xx
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I have a 6, an 8 and a 15 yr old boys who would all love to have a go at this book, fingers crossed xxx
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It’s great that your son was interested in this book too. I’d love to win a copy to make something with my girls.
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A lovely prize to win.
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Lovely book and I would love to be in the draw to try and win one 🙂 x
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This book looks fabulous – thanks for the great review 🙂
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What a clever idea – love the frog
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Looks like something just perfect for an afternoon with the grandkids!
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