Stitched Paper Art for Kids

November 3, 2014
The author, an Australian textile designer, has created a slim volume that highlights the possibilities of combining cardstock and other heavier papers with freeform sewing. Benyon's aesthetic is friendly and familiar: lots of bright colors, owls, hearts, and other cheerful designs. The patterns include a Bag Tag for a child's backpack, and a Hexagon Purse which uses kraft*tex, a leather-like paper manufactured by this book's publisher. Benyon also incorporates vinyl and clever recycling ideas, including using newspaper to sew an envelope for a present. But there's something off about this volume. The title and writing aim it squarely at "kids" (ages 8 and up), but the projects often involve small pieces, not to mention a need for precise sewing that most children will find too challenging. And why would a child want to create projects like drink charms, usually used for wine glass identification? For readers who are interested in giving this craft technique a go, ignore the "for kids" part of the title. Readers who want to give a child a crafting book should look elsewhere. Full color photos.