Girl's World: Twenty-One Sewing Projects to Make for Little Girls

By Jennifer Paganelli and Tim Geaney

Delight the girls in your life, from toddlers to tweens, with these pretty sewing projects!
 
Jennifer Paganelli, who designs one of the most popular fabric lines in the crafting world, presents twenty-one adorable sewing projects to make for little girls—frilly dresses, ruffled pillows, bed canopies, stuffed animals, and more!
 
Each project features Jennifer’s fresh, feminine flair in sizes and styles perfect for toddlers to tweens. With step-by-step instructions, a comprehensive techniques section, and simple sizing charts ranging from extra-small to extra-large, this ebook is exceptionally easy to use. Featuring whimsical design, lush color photos, and downloadable patterns, Girl’s World makes sewing girly goodies a joy for crafters of all levels.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Sep 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781452105765

Book preview

Girl’s World

Twenty-One Sewing Projects to Make for Little Girls

JENNIFER PAGANELLI

CREATOR OF SIS BOOM FABRICS

WITH

DOLIN O’SHEA

PHOTOGRAPHS BY

TIM GEANEY

To my amazing husband, PETER, for allowing me to overrun our lives—and our home—with glitter, flowers, fabric, a big chubby Labradoodle named George; and to my two extraordinary children who are on their way to doing great things. I love you, MATT and KATE.

To longtime friends TIM and NANCY GEANEY, who continue to help celebrate the small successes and always shine a light of hope in my direction. I love you both.

To MARY, my witty and good-natured friend with a gift for styling the most amazing rooms. You make it so easy.

To DOLIN O’SHEA, who jumped right in and made it all happen. I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect union.

And to CARLA HAGEMAN CRIM, who had our backs and whose love and loyalty bring me joy.

To MY CLOSE GIRLFRIENDS, who help me to focus on abundance and the good things in life. They always bring me perspective and I love them for that. You know who you are.

To MARITZA, the upholstering magician and incredible spirit, and to BETTYANN, my friend and seamstress who spins it all into gold.

To MADDIE and DANA, for their goodness.

To THE SIS BOOM FANS, who keep my inbox overflowing and my heart full.

To JOHN and DANDERS, and our extended family on both sides who can’t get enough Sis Boom, all my love.

To my literary agent, JILL COHEN, who as if by some divine design was able to bring Sis Boom to you, the reader, in the most beautiful of ways. Jill, your friendship and passion means the world to me!

To FREESPIRIT FABRIC, for providing oodles of Sis Boom fabric for the book. And to my friends at CHRONICLE, who were so patient with this first-time author and made a book that surpassed my wildest dreams.

And to MY FAMILY:

To my PARENTS, for taking us to the U.S. Virgin Islands when I was eleven years old and exposing me to the tropical beauty of St. Croix.

To my mom, PATRICIA, who said I could be whatever I wanted to be, and believed it. She taught me the everyday beauty of island living. I love you!

To my siblings BRIDGET, MOLLY, SHANA, and MEGHAN and my womb mate, JAMES—you bring out the best in me.

To BETH, for her beautiful spirit, friendship, and guidance.

And finally to BILL W., for a better way.

Copyright © 2011 by Jennifer Paganelli.

Photographs copyright © 2011 by Tim Geaney.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced

in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Paganelli, Jennifer.

Girl’s world: twenty-one sewing projects to make for little girls / Jennifer Paganelli with Dolin O’Shea ; photographs by Tim Geaney.

p. cm.

ISBN: 978-0-8118-7444-1 (HC)

ISBN: 978-1-4521-0576-5 (EPUB, MOBI)

CPE Stick-It Felt is a registered trademark of CPE Felt Company.

Dritz is a registered trademark of Prym Consumer USA Inc.

Elmer’s is a registered trademark of Elmer’s Products, Inc.

Homasote is a registered trademark of Homasote Co.

Hug Snug is a registered trademark of Lawrence Chiff Silk Mills, Inc.

HTC Ultra Firm is a registered trademark of HTC-Retail, Inc.

Mod Podge is a registered trademark of Plaid Enterprises, Inc.

Thermolam Plus is a registered trademark of Stacy Fabrics Corp.

DESIGN BY DESIGN ARMY

CHRONICLE BOOKS LLC

680 Second Street

San Francisco, California 94107

www.chroniclebooks.com

Contents

WELCOME TO GIRL’S WORLD 15

GETTING STARTED 16

Sewing Basket Basics 17

HERE ARE THE ITEMS YOU WILL NEED TO KEEP IN YOUR SEWING BASKET 17

THE ITEMS BELOW ARE NOT NECESSARY, BUT THEY ARE NICE TO HAVE AROUND 17

Craft Cabinet Basics 18

General Notes for All Projects 18

Sizing 19

Glossary of Techniques 20

BACKSTITCH 20

BASTE 20

BIAS 20

BINDING 20

CLIP SEAM ALLOWANCE 22

CUT ON THE FOLD 23

EDGE STITCH 23

FINISHING EDGES 23

FREE-MOTION QUILTING 24

GATHERING 24

GRAIN OF FABRIC 25

HAND-TIED QUILTING 27

NOTCHES 27

PIVOT 27

RUNNING STITCH 27

SEAM ALLOWANCE 27

SLIP STITCH 27

STITCH IN THE DITCH 27

TRIM CORNERS 28

TOPSTITCH 28

UNDER STITCH 28

DRESS-UP 33

NO 1 Mary’s Fancy Sash Dress 35

NO 2 Tallulah Halter Dress 43

NO 3 Josie Dress 51

NO 4 Agnes Tunic Dress 63

NO 5 Sophie Glittered Apron 71

NO 6 Georgia Tulle Ballet Skirt 75

NO 7 Annabel Apron with Frilly Pocket 81

ACCESSORIES 89

NO 8 Hadley Headband 91

NO 9 Penelope Ruffle-Top Purse 95

NO 10 Chloe Paper Doll Overnight Bag 101

NO 11 Girls’ Ambassador of Goodwill Badges 107

NO 12 Fiona Fabric Flower Pin/Barrette 111

HOME 115

NO 13 Bridget Banner with Pom-Poms 117

NO 14 Gigi Ruffled Pillow 123

NO 15 Willow Small Pillow with Pom-Poms 131

NO 16 George the Puppy 137

NO 17 Genevieve Patchwork Square Quilt 141

NO 18 Olivia Floral Lamp Shade 149

NO 19 Katie Eliza Canopy and Pinwheel Strands 153

NO 20 Molly Patchwork Memory Board 159

NO 21 Happy Birthday Banner 165

PATTERNS

Patterns

RESOURCES 172

SEWING AND CRAFT SUPPLIES 172

WHERE TO FIND SIS BOOM PRODUCTS AND FABRICS 173

INDEX 174

CREDITS 176

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 177

Welcome to Girl’s World!

AS A FABRIC DESIGNER FOR MY COMPANY SIS BOOM, I get all sorts of inspiration from the girls in my life. Their energy, imagination, and joy spur me on to come up with playful patterns and exuberant color combinations. In this book I hope to share a bit of that Sis Boom inspiration. You’ll find my favorite projects and something for every skill level—from the simple and elegant Sophie Glittered Apron (page 71) to the more complex and sophisticated Josie Dress (page 51) . Although the projects in this book are designed for girls ages two to fourteen, there is no age limit on the Girl’s World style. I’ve even included a few projects that don’t require any sewing but are so much fun to make, like the Hadley Headband (page 91) and Olivia Floral Lamp Shade (page 149) . Close to my heart are the Girls’ ‘Ambassador of Goodwill’ Badges (page 107) ; words of encouragement can effect great change and build self-esteem. These badges are a cinch to put together and make for lovely party favors.

As a mom, and having grown up in a creative, supportive, and fun environment, I know firsthand how important it is to foster girls’ creativity and imagination. Encourage the girls in your life to help with these projects. Let them pick out the fabric for a new dress, or teach them how to sew by making one of the projects in this book. These handmade items create opportunities for lasting memories—a tea party with favorite stuffed animals, getting dizzy twirling around in a ballet skirt, picnicking on a pretty handmade quilt. It’s a joy to sew for your little girl knowing that the love you put into that stuffed animal, ballet skirt, or quilt will make those memories even more cherished.

At the front of the book you’ll find lots of helpful information on how to get started. I’ve included tips on stocking your sewing basket, along with a detailed Glossary of Techniques (page 20). At the back of this book you’ll find a link to downloadable pattern pieces.