CICO Kidz – serie

Learn how to use a sewing machine while making fantastic projects! With 35 projects that you'll love to make and a helpful techniques section, this book will teach you all about sewing machines, from how to thread them and use them safely to all the different stitch settings. Start out with Awesome Accessories and Clothes, where you can make a ribbon bow collar and cosy scarf, as well as an elasticated skirt. Then try one of the Brilliant Bags, such as a cute zipped purse, an iPod case and even a canvas beach bag to take on holiday with you. Transform your room with the Beautiful Bedroom projects - the wall tidy looks great and gives you somewhere to store all your bits and pieces, and you can brighten up your bedding with a patchwork quilt. Finally, why not have a go at the Fantastic Toys? Make a rag doll, and then clothes for it, too, to get a feel for dressmaking, or create a fabric chequerboard for playing draughts and chess. Every project has step-by-step artworks to guide you, plus a skill level so you can start with easy items and move on to more challenging things as you get better at using a machine.

A complete course in machine-sewing for children aged 7+ yearsSewing is a skill that has so many benefits for children and can give them real pride in their achievements. Angela Pressley has been teaching children to sew for 15 years, and knows how to encourage and inspire them to learn, starting with the basics and building up a portfolio of skills. And to keep them interested, she has designed 30 makes that will help them cement the knowledge they've gained, from sewing simple seams to patchwork, curves and corners, hems, linings and so much more. The book starts with an introduction to the sewing machine and some of the basic skills and equipment needed to sew. Then there are four chapters, each beginning with technique workshops, followed by projects that put into practice the skills just learned. Every project includes clear artworks plus a difficulty rating, from 'easy peasy' to 'you're on your way', 'you've got this', and 'you're a star'. As children progress through the levels they will learn how to make their own toys, bags, accessories and clothes, and will be encouraged to put their own creative ideas into their sewing.