My First Sewing Book
(Cico Kidz)

One way to equip kids to create gifts for others is to teach them a core craft skill – like sewing.  My First Sewing Book is a great tool for doing that.

Designed for children ages 7 and up, this is filled with a well-targeted selection of projects.  Not only are these simple projects that a beginning sew-er (I just can’t type that without the hyphen!) can handle; they’re projects whose end results will appeal to youngsters.  This makes it a great resource for young people who want to make gifts for siblings or friends!

There are chapters for toys, accessories, decorations, and gifts/cards.  A few feature less traditional “sewing” projects, like stitched greeting cards.  Although, as might be expected, the majority of the projects will appeal primarily to the young ladies, there are a few the boys might like, too.  Most notably there are several varieties of “monster” stuffies.  (And, of course, the boys might like to sew for their sisters or brothers, too.)

As is the case in My First Origami Book, projects are designated as one of three levels of difficulty, and there is a techniques section at the end.  This doesn’t contain as much actual sewing instruction as I might like, though, for a book called My First Sewing Book, and I don’t think it would stand on its own.  Rather, I would rely on this as a book of supplementary projects to practice what kids are learning elsewhere.  (I think that Sewing for Children probably fills this gap fairly nicely, but I haven’t had a chance to see it in person yet.)

Give this as a gift to a child this year, and it might result in gifts from him next year!

Disclosure: The publisher provided me with a free copy of My First Sewing Book to facilitate this review.  All opinions, as always, are 100% my own.