Sew It! is the new book by Australian teacher and designer, Allison Nicoll. I am super excited to see this book in print and to have received a copy in the mail last week. I’ve “known” Ally for a while as she is a fellow designer for the same magazines for which I design projects and I am so happy for her and for her wonderful first book.

Sew It! is a wonderful book for beginner sewists. It includes 17 projects which will inspire the budding sewist to create fun bags, pillows and quilts. The projects are all made from pre-cut fabrics which eases the new sewist into this addictive craft.

The book begins at the “Getting Started” chapters. Ally covers everything a novice sewist needs to know about tools required, basic skills like cutting, seam allowances, nesting techniques and pressing. These pages are filled with useful tips and excellent colour photographs.

Sew It! is then divided up into sections, by the type of pre-cut (ie charm pack, fat quarter etc). These sections are then divided into skill levels. 

Skill Level 1 is perfect for starting out and completing a basic project with this precut (eg a charm square sewing mat or a pin cushion).

Skill Level 2 is the next level. Once the starter levels have all been completed, these projects require a little more technique and practice, but are absolutely achievable for a newbie (eg a wall organiser made with charm squares).

Skill Level 3 can be attempted after completing a few skill level 1 and 2 projects. Projects in this skill level include messenger bags or an indie sling bag.

I decided that I could do with a new pin cushion, so I made the one from the book. Yes, I did go a little embellishment crazy.

This book is a fantastic resource for a new sewist. If you know someone who’d like to learn (and become addicted) to patchwork, quilting and sewing, Sew It! plus a few pre-cuts to get them started, would make a wonderful gift.

Sew It! : Make 17 Projects with Yummy Precut Fabric-Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes, Charm Packs & Fat Quarters is published by C & T Publishing and available through Amazon.