Weekend Review: Making Happy Things

 

Making Happy Things / Sue-Ching Lascelles 
Melbourne, AU: Hardie Grant, c2025.
208 p.

I found this book in my library's online collection and it is so cheery and colourful! Written by an Australian blogger and sewist, this one is definitely part of the modern trends among younger sewists. Lots of colour, patchwork, pattern, boxy fits and a DIY aesthetic. 

This book has some traceable templates for necklines, crotch curves, pockets etc. on the endpapers (sadly not downloadable in the ebook version, as far as I could see) But otherwise it is really based on measurements, lots of rectangles, and dependent on a loose fit. 

So fun, with patterns for a patchwork dress made of tea towels, a caftan of napkins, tops and pants from a scarf, tablecloth, pillowcases, cushion covers, or just regular fabric scraps -- and lots more! There are 13 garment projects and 8 for accessories and home dec. Each one is well described, with a measurement chart and suggested fabrics, along with step by step instructions. These are aimed at a more beginner sewist level (and the styles may appeal mainly to younger readers) but it is a really fun book to read through. So much colour! I loved that. 

There are a couple of quirky patterns, a stuffed prawn toy and a triangular stuffie in particular, that are really cute and I can see making those for kids. It's a fun, lighthearted book that is also encouraging and welcoming to newcomers to the sewing fold. 

It begins with sections on sewing basics, tools, tips, and even one on fabric - how to source and identify thrifted or second-hand fabrics (including a burn test), and how to look at colour and print and figure out how to combine them successfully into a patchwork garment. The author is also a textile artist so she has lots of colour theory to share. 

Reading through this was a shot of dopamine. I really enjoyed it and think that many others will as well. If you find a copy, I hope you'll enjoy the colour and whimsy to be found here.