Pretty Birds

January 19, 2015
A flock of sweet birds will soon roost at home of the sewist who picks up this small but pleasing book by Lindsay, who blogs as Gingercake, a name many sewing enthusiasts will recognize. She presents 18 stuffed birds, from owl to swan, sewn in a patchwork style that takes advantage of the scraps of fabric most crafters save. Accompanied by lots of sketches and photographs, the designs have a pleasing, homespun quality, such as a small blue Fairy Wren and terry cloth–tummied Penguin. Lindsay provides two functional variations for each bird to show how, for example, the robin can become a potpourri sachet or the kookaburra a car air-freshener. The book allows for hand or machine sewing and assumes basic knowledge of how to download, cut out, and use patterns, as well as how to employ basic embroidery stitches. Though nothing seems very difficult—the “simple” of the title is accurate—this isn’t for novice sewists. Those who’d like to create a sweet flying friend or fashion a unique gift will enjoy this book very much. Full-color photographs.