Love to Make
June 2015
One of our favourite foreign crafting magazines of all time is Marie Claire Idees from France. We have often sat and pored over their gorgeous designs and beautiful projects, so we were very excited to discover this book featuring a collection of 50 animal themed projects from their magazine. The projects are really cute and the instructions are easy to follow, with pattern templates provided for each project. Beginners and more experienced stitchers alike won't be able to resist making up these imaginative and charming creatures.
SEWING WORLD
Aug 12
If you love lots of ideas for toy making this book is sure to please. Packed full of 50 projects ranging from traditional teddies, bunnies, mice, dogs and cats and some great animal appliqué designs for decorating cushions, bed linen, bags and books. The choices of fabric are varied from warm winter fleeces to brightly patterned cottons and even using floor cloths to make a floppy eared dog! Patterns are included but need to be enlarged to full size.
Craft Focus
Jun/Jul 12
Project fans will love this collection of 50 animal-themed fabric makes from a classic brown teddy bear to more unusual designs like the bright and funky button-eyed bunnies. There is also a selection of appliqué and embroidery projects. The book includes easy-to-follow instructions along with full pattern templates.
Myshelf.com
June 12
There are people who dont like animals, but they are fortunately in the minority. This is why this book is a great one to own when it comes to finding a special handmade gift. Choose from a whole farmyard or zoo of beasties depicted in many different imaginative ways. Éditions Marie Claire originally published this in France in 2011, which is perhaps why there is more than a little French chic about it. There are bears aplenty as well as dogs, rabbits and other familiar creatures but somehow they have been given a twist to make them seem original. Turn floor cloths into a big floppy dog, or make a fun quilt shaped like a bear. How about teddy head cushions, a patchwork cow, faux fox stole or hanging bird decoration for the Christmas tree? There is even (very French this) a bear dressed like a chefdivided into several sections choose from traditional designs, appliqué applications, working with natural fabrics, winter-themed items or bright, fun projects. Each project has a full page photograph of the finished item plus instructions and pattern pieces. The latter need to be enlarged usually with tips on how to do this at the front of the book, and the instructions tend to be the kind aimed at the intermediate crafter rather than the beginner. There are no Search Press staged photographs here, but anybody with a bit of sewing know-how ought to be able to make these projects without too much trouble as none are advanced. I anticipate a lot of fun with this innovative book.
Machine Knitting Monthly
June 2012
This collection of 50 animal-themed fabric projects is a 'must have' book for us. There are full size blocks, so we can transfer shapes onto a charting device or knit the fabric and use cut 'n' sew. There's a mix of styles to suit everyone and the book also includes a large selection of appliqué and embroidery projects. Suitable for all levels of expertise, it's totally inspiring.
