About a year and a half ago, I was asked to contribute a project to a book, authored by the girls behind Sew Can She (a daily free e-mail in which I receive a new free sewing tutorial in my inbox every day). I’ve subscribed to their e-mails for what seems like forever, and they’ve featured some of my free patterns on their site, so of course I said yes. The book just came out, and it is called Just For You and it is beautiful!
My project for the book is called the Crafty Satchel. Co-author Sarah, who blogs over at Blue Susan Makes, prepared the step-outs for the book based on my written instructions. Sarah made the bag that appeared in the book, as the authors wanted the aesthetic throughout to be along the same lines. The book version looks beautiful, I love the fabric choice and the unique leather handles! Last month, Sarah guest posted for Purse Palooza with a bag that she made again from the book, and here is her version (she made some wonderful handmade handles and they look fabulous!):
The book is broken up into months of the year, with two “selfish sewing” projects for each month. They include bags, clothing, etc.
Here’s one of my favorite projects from the book, the Painter’s Clutch by Sarah Markos. I just love the simple lines and the thriftiness of using paint-stirring sticks for the handles. Really cute!
Another of my favorites is the Quilting Bee Dress by Caroline Fairbanks-Critchfield, which is a dress that can be made with quilting cottons. It has a casing at the waist for a drawstring tie, and pretty bias trim on the neckline and sleeves.
The thing I like best about this book is that they are all relatively quick sewing projects, which will leave you the pretty timely thrill of having a finished project in an evening (or what have you). Sometimes we all just need a bit of instant gratification with a beautiful yet quick project! If you liked some of these projects, I encourage you to give Just For You a look!
So now for the goodies! I have a couple of ways for you to win a prize. First of all, you can visit the Sew Can She site to win enough fabric for 4 projects…that giveaway is located right here.
Secondly, Stash Books is generously giving away one copy of the book to one of my readers (U.S. winner will receive hard copy, international will win ecopy). For a chance to win, leave a comment on this blog post and tell me what your favorite ‘selfish sewing’ project is (something fun for yourself). Giveaway ends Friday, November 28th.
And lastly, here are the other stops on the blog tour for Just For You…click on any of the thumb nails to take you to another stop on the hop!
This giveaway is now closed. The winner is Christina Wang.
My favorite “selfish sewing” to date has been The Weekender Bag. What a challenge that was and I love the way it turned out!
Bags are my favorite selfish sewing. Love yours featured here!!
I haven’t done much selfish sewing but I recently made some Halloween placemats that were pure silly fun and I love seeing them on our table!
The painter clutch is my favorite, also.
Bags and baskets are my first obsession, and things to wear are not far behind!
Oh hehe my selfish sew is always a sew sweetness bag 🙂
My selfish sewing is making anything for myself! I made myself a change purse about three weeks ago because the zipper in mine broke. Today I sit beneath a pile of sewing or my family.
My selfish sew is a pair of very wide legged pants that I made on the weekend in a very deep raspberry pink.
My other selfish sew is a tote bag made with owl designs on it, I am also mad about Owls.
My selfish sew ( and obsession at this moment) are table runners. Have had so much fun playing with these small quilts and combining colors, experimenting with a more modern look. Tons of fun!
My selfish sewing is making casual tops and pants. It is nice to wear garments that are unique.
My fav selfish sewing is undies – bras and panties.
I love to make infinity scarves.
I rarely sew for myself but I recently purchased a tunic pattern which is on the back burner until after the holidays. I adore making bags as well, but I give most away. The ones I have kept I don’t even use. I’m afraid to ruin them, lol. The book looks awesome! Thanks for an opportunity to win.
Since I’m always using totebags, making a new totebag for myself every so often is my “selfish sewing” project.
Bags just for me!
By far, purses are my favor selfish sewing. I have not carried a store bought bag in years and I love it!
Totes are my favorite.
I love the Painter’s Clutch. I could make this my selfish sewing project.
My selfish sewing is purses for me. I love to make them! Thanks for the great giveaway.
I love to make bags!
i have a purse cut out but not had time to sew. Only 2 years waiting, one day…I WILL get to sew soon, I hope.
My favorite thing to sew is dresses for myself, I never run out of ideas!
A lot of my selfish sewing is quilts but I need bags so I’m excited to try more patterns
I really enjoy making myself shirts!
I love making bags, purses and clutches. I make so many for gifts, but would love to make one for me!!
I love to make bags for myself as my selfish sewing.
I love ❤ making bags of all kinds and I learn something new with each one. I especially like the ones that challenge me.
I love making dresses and skirts for myself! There are so many great projects in the book. I would love to try making your bag and the Quilting Bee Dress. Thanks for the giveaway!
Actually, I just made myself your Rockstar Bag for a trip. It was just for me to carry the stuff I needed for a day out while on vacation.
I love the Painters Clutch and the Quilting Bee Dress! I would make them up in some coordinating fabrics!! Great collection!!
I recently made some beautiful pillowcases with Lonni Rossi (Andover) fabric. I love them.
Bags are my favorite! I really want to selfish sew myself a quilt though!! I keep giving all the quilts away!! Thank you!!
Bags are always my selfish sewing go to. I can’t get enough of them and love to try new techniques or patterns.
Oh man, I may have to get this book so I can make that dress — looks cute and easy to sew! My favorite “selfish sewing” projects have been bags. There’s something about all the work that goes into them that always makes me super proud and happy at the end.
I love to sew tote bags for myself. Can never have too many cool totes!
I love to make bags or t-shirts! Relatively quick and I can use fun fabrics.
Always fun to make a new “special” bag just for me. My husband might say/think – another one? But I just love to make them.
Love making myself a new purse or tote!
I really like your bags and the bags you featured this past month by your guests but I can’t figure out how to order any of them. I just find the blog but I would like to see the patterns to purchase.
Pajamas!
I like making pillows and tote bags.
My favorite selfish sewing is bags or something I can wear!
I love to make myself little wallets. 😮 I like to make them to match my purse. 😉 I don’t always succeed. Thanks for the fun!
My selfish sewing would be zippered cosmetic bags! Thanks for the great giveaway!
HI, a selfish sewing project for me would be a beautiful makeup bag! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Love to make bags. I would really like to make the painters clutch shown from the book.
I love making handbags! I’ve never been super girly, but I keep finding fabrics that just scream out to make them a bag… so I’m amassing quite a collection now. 🙂
I usually make things for other people, but would love to make this bag! It’s super cute 🙂
these bags are so cute. After our son gets married and we are all done with sewing for that, I can focus on something selfish to sew.
Can’t wait to get this book, there are so many things I want to make! Started to sew for myself about a month ago and so far have done 2 skirts, a top and a small tote to take to the gym. Thanks girls for being so clever.
Karen
A a new quilt for my bed at my new house! I have the fabric & pattern, now I just need to get it unpacked along w/many other boxes.
I love to make my own bags – many of them have been using “sew sweetness” patterns – I love the idea behind this new book.
I like to make bags
My selfish sewing is usually a bag for me!
i love the painters clutch!
Bags for me 🙂
My selfish sewing projects are small zipper pouches like coin purses. Plus bags. I usually keep them all for myself because I’m not sure if others would like my style anyway. Would love to win this book! Thank you.
Like the satchel but I do not think it is bib enough!
My favorite “selfish sewing” projects are always bags!
My favorite selfish sewing projects are tops made from quilting cottons.
Hi, I love making all kinds of bags with pretty fabrics for gifts and myself!
Something fun for myself – I made a quilt just-fo-me and I love it. I also love to make small pouches 🙂
Quilts for our couch have been mostly for me. Even though the whole family uses and enjoys them, the color choices are all mine 🙂 I do have plans to make a zip pouch for me soon using some jungle avenue 🙂
I like to sew clothes and handbags for me.
I like making totes for myself.
My selfish sewing is usually a quilt. It’s selfish because I end up keeping those in my very favorite prints, and I sure don’t need any more quilts!
Oh my selfish sew is that I want to make tons of quilts and keep them all to myself because I love them so much.
I don’t do much selfish sewing (or maybe it all is since I love it so much!). I do love to make table runners for my home so I can change them out as my mood changes. I have a few in store, but many more are in my head waiting to be made!
I don’t sew for myself but would love to make a bag to carry my library books in, too and from my preschool class.
Purses and tops… My next top will be the Wiksten Tova, just got to find the right fabric for it!
Pillows! But I want to try clothes next!
Ooh I like those projects. My favorite is to make a knit shirt in a day that I can actually wear out in public. Sheesh, I should make a couple more of these over the holiday weekend!
My favorite selfish sewing project is starting a quilt, be it a mini, a lap quilt, or a bed quilt, before I have finished the gift quilts I am always working on.
If I did sew something for me it would be a pillow with hand embroidery. Of the projects you covered from the book I’d love to try the casual dress that would truly be a guilty pleasure sewing project
colleen1990atyahoodotcom
My favorite selfish sewing projects are bags for me!
I always selfish sew! My fave right now is my Coco dress pattern from Tilly & the Buttons.
I really like making pillows! I’ve started learning a little about pouches and now I love these. I’m not doing too bad but I’m not up to bag level yet, but I will be! I have been loving all of your bags! Thanks for the giveaway!
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I love skirts.
I like to make myself knit tops and bags. Looks like a great book.
Right now I’m sewing a dress for myself. I recently started a quilting class given a friend
I love making bags for myself! ;D
My selfish sewing is making bags for myself!!
I would say bags! I love making them.
I’m hand sewing a journal cover and because it’s for me I’m using all my favourite threads to stitch it in a Kantha style which is very time consuming!
ooh thanks for the fun giveaway – I love making bags and lately I’ve started making pillows – I think I need another sofa !
I don’t have a favorite selfish sewing project. I mostly sew for my daughters.
My Selfish Sews usually include something w/ long sleeves &/or a hood!! I am ALWAYS cold & I just LOVE the look & feel of a hood!! Odd, yes, maybe?!!
My latest selfish sewing was a purse for me!
I will be sewing some maternity shirts for myself since im now pregnant! 🙂