Sewing For Boys: Book Review and Giveaway!

For over a year now I have had the honor of being a pattern tester for Patterns By Figgy’s.  Karen and Shelly, the women behind the patterns, have created a collection of children’s clothing patterns for girls and boys that rival all other children’s pattern makers.  In fact, their patterns raise the bar by being simple yet fun, easy to follow and kid-friendly to the wearer.  Their attention to detail is one of the things that I love about working with their patterns.

I was delighted when Shelly contacted me earlier this year to ask if I would be willing to test a couple of patterns for their first book, Sewing For Boys.  She didn’t have to twist my arm to get me on board.  I was eager to see the new patterns and give them a whirl.  There is such a huge market to sewing for girls, the boys have been a bit left behind.  Sewing for Boys fills a gaping void in the market!  One of the patterns that I tested out was the Race Car Playmat, and it was a huge hit with the boys.

I didn’t add to much to the playmat as far as ponds and houses and bushes were concerned, but you could really go crazy with this mat and make it even more fun.  Really, I don’t think boys care for the fluff too much.  What my boys liked was the tunnel that they could drive their cars through.

Sewing For Boys has other great non-apparel projects as well as clothing for each season of the year.  There’s an Easy Linen Shirt for spring…

Bobby’s Bathers for the summer…

Treasure Pocket Pants for fall…

and a Just-Like-Dad flannel robe for those cold winter nights…

…just to name a few.  Shelly and Karen have put a lot of thought and work into this book and it shows!  The book is hardcover with spiral bound pages, and it comes with the patterns stored in a handy pocket, just ready for you to use.

I had the opportunity to ask Shelly and Karen a few questions about their experience writing their first book…

How scary was it to go out on a limb and write a book?

Shelly: I think it all happened so fast that I skipped scary and went straight to busy.  I am the type of person that thinks of an idea and just goes for it.  Sometimes its great and sometime I wish I would have sleept on it.  Luckily this time it was great.  


Karen: Looking back, I think we should have been more scared to write the book.  What a huge undertaking!  But our excitement over finding a compatible publisher who was as enthusiastic about the subject as we are really overshadowed any fear.

Besides your little ones, where do you draw your inspiration from ?

Shelly: I love old family photos.  I could look through my parents & grandparents photo albums all day.  When I look through them, I begin to come up with all kinds of ideas of how I’d like to modernize the classic pieces that my great grandmother once wore.


Karen: I just love classic vintage children’s clothes, and I’m always inspired by natural fabrics.

Was it hard to work and write a book from different areas of the country?  How do you manage that?

Shelly: I would say it’s definelty harder to write a book together being in differenet time zones.  When I was ready to start work Karen was putting her little one to sleep or vice versa.  Sometimes when you’re rushed to meet a deadline waiting can be like watching water boil.  Although it was sometimes tough I wouldn’t have changed a thing.   


Karen: It is hard.  Very hard. We made it work with the use of a lot of Skype time, emails, file sharing utilities and phone calls.  The time difference was a challenge to coordinate as well, but we made sacrifices in order to dedicate time to the projects at hand.

What does the future hold now that you’ve completed such an amazing project?

Shelly: The future holds some exciting adventures with the pattern company that I look forward to sharing with all of you in just a few months.   I love my Portland kids, so I’ll continue teaching them how to sew at Modern Domestic. Maybe another book? You never know.  


Karen: What’s next? Another book I hope!  I’m looking forward to teaching some classes and participating in some fantastic local craft shows. The project isn’t really over, though, since promoting the book is a part-time job in itself!

Do you have anything to say to moms of boys out there?

Thanks so much to Shelly and Karen for taking the time to share a bit more about the new book.  Even more importantly, thanks for taking a chance on this pattern tester and letting me be a part of the process!

Today I get to offer one of you your own copy of Sewing For Boys, thanks to Wiley Publishers!  If you can’t wait, you can buy the book on Amazon- it’s on sale!  And did you know that Wiley has a craft blog where they post free patterns and author interviews?  Visit them here.


To enter: Tell me, who are the boys in your life?  Leave a comment and be sure to include your email address if your comment is not linked to one.

Extra Entries: Visit Patterns By Figgy’s pattern shop and leave a comment here telling my your favorite pattern.

I’ll take comments through Sept. 16th.  Good luck!

For more reviews and maybe another giveaway or two visit the other stops on the Sewing For Boys blog tour:

September 5    Wiley Craft & Made by Rae 
September 6   Sew, Mama, Sew
September 7   The Southern Institute & Film in the Fridge
September 8   Elsie Marley
September 9   Noodlehead & Oh, Fransson!
September 10  I Heart Linen
September 11  Anna Maria Horner
September 12  Craft Buds, Pink Chalk Fabric , Prudent Baby , Sew Much Ado 
September 13  Very Purple Person & Sew Sara
September 14  The Long Thread
September 15  Susan Beal
September 16  True Up
September 17  All Buttoned Up & Bolt Fabric Boutique
September 18  MADE

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Jenny Yarbrough

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Jenny is a wife and mother first and foremost. You can find her here at The Southern Institute, as the founder and owner of the blog, as well as at unboundbirth.com. She enjoys blogging and sewing, cooking for her three picky eaters, and playing tennis with her husband, Tom.

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