Little Sew & Sew by Christine Leech

Textile Art Book Reviews

At Mr X Stitch we love to review textile art and embroidery books for you. There are so many great books to discover, packed with needlework inspiration and textile techniques, so we dive into each book to find out what’s good, what’s bad and let you know why you should pick it up.

Introduction

Little Sew & Sew by Christine Leech is the perfect companion for any avid embroiderer or beginner. There are over 50 embroidery patterns and 16 projects, all of pieces that can be displayed around the home. Leech describes embroidery as “the new yoga” meaning there are recognised therapeutic benefits to slow stitching – you just need the perfect project to unlock them. 

Who is it for?

Little Sew & Sew is perfect for beginners – particuarly those who believe embroidery to be left in the past and something maybe not for them. This trendy and accesible guide is guaranteed to give the reader a new perspective. Marie Claire gave a glowing review to the book, commenting that it “stylish” and responsible for “whisking craft out of the church hall and into the sitting rooms of hipsters and fashionistas”.  It’s trendy and it’s good for your mind – what’s not to love?

Little Sew & Sew by Christine Leech

The projects begin with a “recipe” of essentials needed for making, meaning they are perfect for beginners. This is a thorough materials list meaning the reader is able to prepare for the crafts and ensure they have everything they may need to tackle each project. The style of these pages are well thought-out and inspiring.

Little Sew & Sew by Christine Leech
Stitches are clearly illustrated, shown as you would embroider them yourself.

Content

Simple sewn projects are divided into sections, some for the home, some for personal use and some for children.  Following the sewing patterns, there is a wealth of embroidery patterns to embellish your projects. There is a style and design for everyone.

The staging of the projects and the overall style of the book are appealing; small drawings are merged with images of the final outcomes, so we can observe the whole process.

Little Sew & Sew by Christine Leech
Helpful hints for what you need to begin.
Little Sew & Sew by Christine Leech
Embroidery thread advice, clearly illustrated.

What is special about this book?

The projects are great for gift-giving and for those with and without kids.  One design I was particularly drawn to was the Embroidered Peg Bag.  It’s easy to sew and the embroidery is bold. It’s always special to pay extra attention to practical objects – just because it’s used for hanging out the washing doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be stylish! 

Little Sew & Sew by Christine Leech
The embroidered peg bag

Other fun projects include:

Little Sew & Sew by Christine Leech
Not just a comfy seat..an embroidered comfy seat (just remember to remove all the pins!)
Little Sew & Sew by Christine Leech
Hanging hearts, artfully staged for this photo shoot.
Little Sew & Sew by Christine Leech
Ideas for those storage boxes, which you will have made yourself and find copious objects to store in them.

My favourite section has to be “Children’s Keepsake Samplers”. You see children’s drawings on fridges, in frames, even engraved on necklaces, but have you ever seen them embroidered?  I think it shows real appreciation for your chidrens artwork when their drawings are forever captured in stitch.

Little Sew & Sew by Christine Leech
Framed and ready to hang children’s drawing, saved forever.
Little Sew & Sew by Christine Leech
These samplers could be grouped together for a nice feature.

Conclusion

Little Sew & Sew by Christine Leech is a worthwhile read; perfect for those looking for a fresh perspective on embroidery and those looking to engage with a new craft for therapeutic and stylish benefits. 

Little Sew & Sew: Over 30 Delightfully Simple Sewing and Embroidery Projects by Christine Leech is published by Quadrille

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