Handmade Beginnings : 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby [With Pattern(s)]

by Anna Maria Horner

wiley publishing handmade beginnings. this book features twenty four sewing projects to welcome baby. mothers to be grandparents family and friends will treasure this collection of sewing projects to welcome home a new baby. stylish prints and colors combine in unique designs to give you projects ranging from booties and a quilt to an embroidered family tree and a thank you note organizer and everything in between. featuring seven original anna marie horner paper patterns. author anna marie horner. hardcover spiral bound 160 pages. imported.

Genres: Sewing, Crafts, Nonfiction, Parenting

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice book! Wish I knew how to sew BEFORE having babies. I love the maternity dress and the nursing shirt. Also there is a beautiful pattern for a family tree! Other patterns include booties, diaper bag (one for mama and one for daddy,) sleep sack, blankets, mobile, wall art, nesting cubes, and more.

[Nahuatl P Vargas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy bonito libro de patrones de costura muy bien diseñados con proyectos para la mamá y el bebé.

[Ciara · Rating 4 out of 5]

crafty sewing projects for new moms, babies, other caretakers, & siblings. there are so many ideas here! everything from the expected (baby quilts) to the ingenious (d.i.y. swaddle!). some of her ideas for mama clothes are really smart. she has tips on making them for a pregnant lady & then taking out a few elements, adding in new ones, & boom! a nursing top!

horner wrote this book upon the arrival of her SEVENTH child, so obviously she's been around the block a few times & knows what a baby & a new mama could really use. some of her projects are probably a bit beyond my current skill level, but they are still very inspiring. my one criticism (& this is really just a matter of taste) is that her fabric choices can be kind of loud/grandma-style for me. horner is a pretty well-known fabric designer, on top of creating all these patterns. i like a lot of her fabrics & have used them in my own projects (reupholstering a bench, curtains, skirts, etc), but i find that i need to be careful because she uses unusual scales & color combinations that can go long really quickly when combined with other prints. i feel that this is apparent in some of the projects photographed in the book. they're just a little crazy-making for me. but like i said, that's just a question of personal opinion, & obviously you can use any fabric you want when making one of these projects.

[Drea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many great projects and ideas. I love that this book includes patterns for Pregnant ladies! Not too many books out there with up-to-date maternity clothes... Lovely photographs of finished projects.
However, the directions are a bit skimpy. Step-by-step instructions are lacking in detail with some steps entirely indecipherable. I only made it through one pattern (the maternity dress) before having to return this to the library (I'll be trying out some of the other projects when I get a chance.) Found that some pattern pieces don't match up quite right (and I have a LOT of experience with patterns). Also found some typos in the directions where references to instruction #'s don't match the instruction step # - makes it a little confusing when trying to follow numbering. Probably editing mistakes from draft versions that didn't get updated...

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was lovely. Anna Maria covered some great welcoming baby basics. I loved the section just for Momma and I have currently finished two projects from this book. Like most sewing books, there were a couple of projects that didn't appeal to me, but taste is in the individual. Well written with lots of great photos for inspiration.

[Vitalmommy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is my go-to for any new baby gifts I need. I have made the quick change trousers so many times I barely refer to the book.

The instructions could be a little more clear on some patterns, but I have always been able to complete the projects, so not too bad. The pictures are gorgeous and inspiring.

[Miss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously these things are very subjective - I only like one project enough to make it: the Mama Hen & her chicks.

Although...I wonder if the maternity tunic/dress would work for a regular old plus size...Hmmmm...

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

What fun! Good patterns written clearly enough for a beginning with lots of room to experiment if you're so inclined. The author has an engaging, conversational voice throughout. I'm considering making the tunic/dress for myself just because it's adorable and looks comfy.

[Sarahmarie]

I just finished making my own version of the Spectrum Quilt in this book. her aesthetic and mine didn't match up well in general, but this one project was fun and turned
out well using her clear instructions.

[Jess Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful photographs, wonderful projects - can't wait to start sewing some projects from this book!

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute projects. Maybe by the time we have another kid my sewing skills will have improved such that I can make some of them. :)

[Xuan · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of good ideas and explanations. i gotta get a copy for myself, which shows how much i enjoyed the ideas.

[Holly Booms Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good pattern book for babies and expectant mommies from Horner. Her books are a visual joy.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to make some of these projects. Anna Maria uses fantastic fabrics to make simple designs really spectacular. I love many of these projects!

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

spiderweb baby quilt. a couple of interesting designs for tops for nursing. wonderful family photo of the kids with the new baby. fun.

[Leila T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is cute, if a skosh too rough-and-ready to be aspirational, but I love the ideas in here and hope to try at least one of the several patterns that appeal the most to me.

[Carol-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! You can gain sewing inspiration even if you are not sewing for a baby. Interesting, slightly liberated projects. A lovely book.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has some cute patterns, but this type of book assumes one has lots of time available to sew or shop for fabric. Probably a better choice for someone sewing for someone else, rather than themselves.

[Emelda]

Not really stuff my style, although it's renewing my want to start on a quilt when I move! I really like the last quilt in the book.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the booties in this book