Kids Craft Books - A Few Suggestions to Give and Receive

One of my favorite gifts to give and to receive are books. Ya sure the Kindle might be all the rage, but nothing beats looking through a book. I love craft books, I collect them new and old. Lot's of people ask me what some of my faves are so I thought I would start making a few lists. To kick things off here are a few of my favorite baby books. These are not books that tell you how to raise a baby these are books that tell you how to craft for one. Whether you knit, sew or in my case collect there is something for everyone on this list.


Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones: 20 Keepsake Sewing Projects for Baby and Mom - Amy Butler

I have briefly mentioned Amy Butler's Little Stitches once before in a post about Kiddos and Kimonos, but here is a more thorough review. It goes without saying that pretty much everything Amy Butler touches is good, that goes for baby sewing books too. The projects are a little more advanced than my own personal skill set, but cute enough to give me something to aspire for. There is the usual mix of toys, clothing and nursery decor. I am especially fond of the bib that looks like a pig and the two very cute hat options. The best thing about most of the new sewing books from Chronicle is that they also come with the patterns!


Natural Nursery Knits: 20 Handknit Projects for the New Baby - Erika Knight

I've said it before, and I will say it again - I can't knit. I can do a lot of other crafty things, knitting is just not one of them. However, just because I can't knit today does not mean that will be the case this time next year. As a matter of fact it is on my list of New Years Resolutions. I have books like Natural Nursery Knits to thank for that item on the crafty skills to-learn list. The pictures in this lush book are almost fit for a coffee table. Pastels and beige are usually not my bag, but for some reason the nature inspired projects in this book speak to me. I want to knit a Spotty Giraffe toy for Tallulah or a Rabbit Rattle for baby number 2 (no I'm not pregnant). As a mom that is trying to do everything as naturally as possible (ya I'm one of those nuts that makes my own organic baby food and then composts the scraps for the organic vegetable garden) the idea of a book using only sustainable fibers for baby appeals to me.


Sew Darn Cute: 30 Sweet & Simple Projects to Sew and Embellish - Jenny Ryan

If you are looking for a fun sewing book that is not all baby, baby all the time baby; might I suggest Sew Darn Cute. Most of the projects are for adults, but there is a whole section with kids projects. Read my full review right here.


Simple Sewing for Baby: 24 Easy Projects for Newborns to Toddlers - Lotta Jansdotter

You can read a much more detailed review of Simple Sewing for Baby here. The gist of my review is that the projects do indeed looks simple (I mean that in a good way since I don't really sew much), the projects are kitschy and cute and the patterns are included with the book.


New Knits on the Block: A Guide to Knitting What Kids Really Want - Vickie Howell

Sure I am biased about New Knits on the Block not just because Vickie Howell is one of my dear friends, but also because a few of the projects were photographed in my house. Back in 2005 when the book came out the projects were not that applicable to me, but here in 2009 with a baby about to have her first Christmas the adorable projects are enough to make me want to learn to knit.


Flea Market Baby: The ABC's of Decorating, Collecting & Gift Giving - Barri Leiner

You had me at flea market. This is not really a craft book though there is plenty of pictorial inspiration like the various ways to use vintage wrapping paper, the memo board framed in baby blocks and some of the cutest party hats I have ever seen. The book reminds me of the "junk books": Big City Junk, Garden Junk, American Junk and Kitchen Junk by Mary Randolph Carter. If there was a Baby Junk book in the series this would be it. Long before I was knocked up I was smitten on all things vintage baby and this book makes me very very happy.

I am always looking for new additions to my baby craft library. What are some of your faves? I have also started picking up craft books for kids. Needless to say it will be awhile before Tallulah can use them, but at the very first indication that she wants to craft I need to be in the ready position.