I-Spy Bean Bags & Simple Sewing Book by Katie Lewis Giveaway

I am really excited about today's project and giveaway...as in REALLY excited.  My sister Katie Lewis of The Red Kitchen has just published her first sewing book.  Simple Sewing: 30 Fast and Easy Projects for Beginners.  That's right.  It was officially released Monday, but Amazon was super awesome and those of us who pre-ordered the book got it in the mail a few days early.  (Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy by the publisher, but I had already ordered my own.  All opinions are my own.  This post also contains affiliate links to Amazon.)

Which means the kids and I have been sewing up a storm.

I'll share a little secret with you.  As much as I LOVE to sew, I have a hard time sewing with my kids...which honestly makes me feel a little guilty because my mom has patiently been helping me with little sewing projects since I was about 4.

Turns out part of my problem was that I was choosing projects that were too hard...yeah...like quilts...what have I been thinking?

The projects in Simple Sewing are perfect for sewing with the kids.  The photographs are bright and airy and make each project look super enticing.  The directions are clean and the step-by-step instructions mean that my 8-year-old Katie has been able to read and follow the directions mostly on her own.  The practice reading and following directions is as valuable as the sewing skills.

My kids have loved poring through it looking for their next project.

And as you've probably guessed, they chose bean bags.  Seth chose bean bags first, and then Becca saw how much fun they were and decided to show him up by making more than he did. (Can you tell Becca loves I-Spy?  Just look at her skirt.)

We switched the project up a bit and used slightly smaller squares, since I already had a LOT of I-Spy squares on hand.  (If you're a regular blog reader, you know how obsessed I've been with I-Spy Quilts this year.  If you're not familiar with I-Spy Quilts, each square has a different picture on them, and you generally get the squares as parts of I-Spy swaps.  I've hosted several swaps in the past, and will be doing one again soon.  If you'd like to be notified of the next one, you can go here and fill out the form at the bottom of the post or I have a couple of extra sets of I-Spy squares listed for sale in my shop here.  I also make custom I-Spy quilts if you're not up for making one yourself.)  My I-Spy Squares are all 4".  I actually loved the size of these finished bean bags because they fit in Anson's little hands really well.

To make up for the smaller squares, we used a slightly smaller seam allowance, which was fine because the top stitching on these makes the seams extra secure.

And can I just say that these are definitely the nicest bean-bags I've ever made.  Katie's projects are so well thought-out that each project I've tried has had some little touch that gives the finished piece some extra polish...like the top-stitching on these beanbags.  I'd never thought of doing that myself, and it really makes all the difference between a boring beanbag and a classy gift-able one.

The I-Spy fabrics were a huge hit with the kids, and it made the project really easy for me since the squares were already cut out.

You can purchase a copy of Simple Sewing: 30 Fast and Easy Projects for Beginners at your local bookstore or at the following places online:

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble
• Books and Things

Be warned though...bean bags in the house may lead to smiles, giggles, and bean bag fights.

And of course requests to sew more bean bags...

Want your own copy of Simple Sewing: 30 Fast and Easy Projects for Beginners by Katie Lewis?  Katie and her publisher and giving away a free copy to one lucky Pieces by Polly reader.  Just enter using the Rafflecopter gadget below.  Want more chances to win?  Be sure to check out all the other bloggers participating in the Simple Sewing Blog Tour, especially Jess at Craftiness is Not Optional who is also posting today.

Due to postage costs, giveaway is open to US addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want to see my Katie's Simple Sewing Project?  You can see her glasses case soon...

If you're interested in participating in an I-Spy Swap, I'm not planning on doing any soon, but you can sign up to get an email when/if we do another one here.  I also ended up with a couple extra sets from our last swap, and those are here in my Etsy shop.

Please show my sponsors some love...

200+ I-Spy Charm Squares Set - From Pieces by Polly Quilts

The Pigeon Fabric - From Quilt Sandwich Fabrics

Berenstein Bear Fabric - You Keep Me in Stitches

Made to Order - I-Spy Quilt - From Pieces by Polly Quilts