I was drawn to this book by the Yo Yo Bucket Bag on the front cover, and it is one of my favorite projects. I found I'm actually quite partial to the tote, bag and purse collection especially the Vintage Lovers Phone Case and The Best-Dressed Bag which has a '50s housedress vibe. It's definitely the category with the most usability.

There are several very "cutesy" items that won't seem practical to some, but the title of the book is "Sew Cute" Quilts and Gifts, so that's to be expected and can't be held against it, in my opinion. I think the current trend, however, falls more toward what is being offered here, so someone picking up this book will be doing so specifically for the styles found inside. The fabric being used tends to lean more towards vintage and girlish, but that can easily be changed in many cases by simply opting for different patterns and colors. A more experienced person will be able to alter the patterns to remove ruffles, also, if they so choose.

Possibly the best thing about this book, for me, is the fact that the templates in back are all full sized. None of that having to enlarge by a certain percentage and wasting time, ink and paper trying to get the original set up just right on the copier so as to fit properly on the paper without going off the edges. An important thing to note, though, is that there is no seam allowance on the pattern pieces. Because of this, it's better to use the patterns provided as master copies and create your own that actually include the seam allowance so as not to make mistakes by forgetting to add it when cutting the fabric.

Taking the above point into consideration, there are more than a few projects that a beginner should have no real issue with. I would prefer to see each one indicate a level of skill necessary for completion. To me, this is something that should never be left out of a book such as this. It's just a nice way to avoid frustration that can be brought on by someone attempting to make something they aren't at an experience level to tackle yet.

All in all, there's a nice mix of items here from tiny pouches to playmats, corsages to wreaths and also a good number of different techniques used. Based on Atsuko Matsuyama's work here, I will absolutely look for more.

I received a copy of this book and have chosen to leave my objective review.

I have been looking for beginner sewing resources to share with others, and this book has inspired me beyond measure! There are some really cute and creative ideas here, and most don't require a lot of fabric or special supplies. Great resource!

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

There are some good projects in this book. Clear instructions and great tips. I am a sewer and this is a book that I will dip into when I need an idea.

There was a nice variety of projects and different ways to accessorize. It had some good ideas but I may adapt some ideas but most of the projects weren't that interesting to me. I may use 1 or 2 ideas the book presented such as the braided handle and some applique techniques. .Readers should have some sewing experience to enjoy the book. The directions and patterns were done well. Thank you to Net Galley and Zakka Workshop for the opportunity to read and give my honest review.

Beautiful, adorable projects. You can see on the cover the gorgeous vintage bag, reflecting the quirky projects in this book, patchwork, eye-catching and whimsical.
The book has in-depth instructions for making every project. You can choose your own materials or take inspiration from those in the book, just be careful to consider fabric weight and/or stretchiness if you substitute materials, I like to use reclaimed or recycled materials myself which is why I mentioned it.

Happy sewing!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wonderful pictures and unique gift and quilt ideas. If you are looking for something cute to make then this is your book.

I couldn’t for the life of me get the protected pdf to open, so I bought this book so that I could review it. Now, how dedicated is that ;-) I didn’t mind, as I had a very good idea that it would be a worthwhile investment as I love this designer’s creations.
And I’m absolutely not disappointed one little bit. There really are some cute projects in this book. You can never have enough purses and pouches and there are some gorgeous ones in this book, and there isn’t anywhere that can’t be brightened up by a pretty mini-quilt.
The instructions are clear with helpful diagrams, but you can always adapt here and there with alternative fastenings and a bit of mix and matching.
Lovely, inspiring, fresh, sweet ideas.

This is a great way to come up with gifts for friends and family. I am a beginner and i found the intructions within this novel helpful and easy to understand.

A very cute book full of lots of designs using lots of colour and a retro design style. Featuring 30 patterns to choose from there is a good variety to choose from including bags, quilts and accessories, all beautifully photographed. Very colourful, even if you don’t make anything from it its lovely to look at!

In the introduction, the author, Atsugo Matsuyama, mentions her fascination with princesses and beautiful clothes as a child. Even now she loves making pretty things. Her new book Sew Cute Quilts And Gifts sincerely reflects this love.

With 30 patterns to choose from, including bags, quilts, and accessories, there is a good variety of traditional and whimsical. Beautifully photographed, the patterns include detailed information on the materials required and lots of diagrams.

It is helpful that you get not only the cutting instructions but step-by-step construction details as well. Full-color pictures and color diagrams are helpful and the patterns are easy to follow.

There’s a good deal of variety in shapes and sizes of the bags. Certainly, the materials chosen seem a bit traditional, but they could be swapped out for something more modern.

The quilted home section includes patterns for a wreath, corsages, mini framed quilts, and ornaments. There are even a couple of quilts and a playmat included.

Full-size templates are available at the back of the book to be traced or photocopied.

If you liked the author’s first book Happy Flower Quilts, you will love this one. If you haven’t tried either book, I think you can’t go wrong trying this one out. Enjoy!

Great project for me to continue to learn to sew! I’m newer to sewing so some of these projects were a little overwhelming but also some seem doable for my beginner level.

Lovely projects ranging from small pouches suitable for headphones and keys to larger quilt projects. Some of the smaller projects can be made in an evening using some of your fabric stashes, whilst others will have you browsing the stores searching your next fabrics. My planned projects are the strawberry wreath, Blooming Flowers Quilt and the Dancing Dresses Quilt. I can't wait to get started!

What drew me to this book at first was the cover photo, a bright eye catching photo of a completed bag. It was so bright and attractive that I couldn't wait to turn the pages to see what else I would find. I quilt and sew and am always looking for new books and projects. The bags/purses are cute and fabric is gorgeous. There are definitely several that I would like to make. It's not all about bags , there are mini quilts, a corsage, other projects, and one vintage quilt in particular that I just have to make. Well written detailed instructions and diagrams. I will definitely be adding this book to my library.

I love the colors in the book. It has tons of small projects using tiny pieces of fabric. The colors are so fresh and juicy and summery, nothing drab or grumpy. The projects utilize many different techniques, from piecing to hexagons, to crazy quit and applique. There is a big variety of small pouches and baggies, and some purely decorative projects, too. A few small quilts and one 69 by 69 size quilt. All the projects have step by step instructions with drawn illustrations. The book is inspiring and fun to read.
I received a free digital copy of the book from NetGalley

I have only been sewing for about 18 months and started quilting around six months ago. I found that this book had some cute ideas but the style of the projects were generally very vintage inspired and not really my taste. The photography is clear and beautifully presented with detailed instructions and diagrams for each project. The "Lavender Clutch", "Puffy Pouch" and "Crazy Quilt Pencil Case" are adorable shapes which I would be tempted to make in a slightly different style but are great ways to use and show off those offcuts of fabric you can't bear to part with. I loved the "Strawberry Blossom Wreath" as again this could be altered to match the seasons. One of my slight bug bears with the book was what appeared to be fabric waste in some of the techniques. Minor alterations to the layouts would seem to save fabric but that is probably me being picky as I have a particular passion for minimising waste. It should also be noted that in the "Basic Quilting Techniques" that the templates do not include seam allowances. As I have recently been teaching others to sew, this may cause confusion and again make it harder to minimise fabric waste until the reader is used to including them. One option might be to create your own card templates as the book suggests but to add the seam allowance before cutting them out. This book was originally published in Japan and so there are no suggested sources for parts or slightly more specialist supplies. Another minor point would be to suggest alternatives for materials/supplies that are used which may help people to use up/upcycle items they may already have.

I really enjoyed this book, perfect for design enthusiasts. This book was generously provided to me through NetGalley. Highly Recommended!

Very nice book. Great variety of projects and ideas. Easy to follow directions. Would definitely recommend

Cute and simple pattern book for a variety of easy projects. The patterns are pretty straight forward. Would be great for a beginning sewer.

Of all of the quilting books that I have read, this one is the most vibrant and colorful. In the Introduction, the author, Atsuko Matsuyama, describes her work as, “happy and lovely.” These two descriptors would be spot on in the pictures and patterns that are found in this book. The directions are easy to follow along with, even for a novice quilter. The pictures and drawings are both colorful and helpful. The book is separated into 2 main sections: Bags & Pouches and Quilted Home. The quilted home section has so many wonderful projects that will brighten up any room. Towards the end of the book, there is a section on basic quilting techniques which are helpful for creating most of the wonderful projects in this book.

Aesthetically, I don't care for the fabrics, colors, and styles of these projects. This extends to the patterns themselves in some cases. The patterns have a very homemade, old=fashioned look and I prefer modern quilting. Some of the patterns could be done in more modern fabrics/designs though.