Literary Sewing Circle: Snap Wrap Up!

 Today is already our final day of the Literary Sewing Circle focusing on Susin Nielsen's Snap!

I hope you've had the chance to read the book, and both the first and second inspiration posts, and are getting lots of ideas for a project of your own.

This is our final and roundup post. Share links to your projects here: as soon as you are done your project, just pop a link to your post into the comments and we will all be able to visit your blog/instagram etc. and explore your creation -- remember, it can be sewn, or knitted, crocheted, embroidered... any textile art that you practice. Or you can just tag me, @sewmelwyk on IG and use #LiterarySewingCircle as a hashtag.

We've discovered more about the author and this book in the author feature post. If that sparks any comments, please share those, too! 

Here are a few questions to ponder:

Is the unusual friendship between our three main characters believable to you? Were you convinced by them? 

What did you think of the many side characters? Did they add to the story - and did you have a favourite? 

There are a number of mother-daughter relationships in the book, all slightly different. Did they make you consider your own relationships? Was there one that you thought was relatable? Any cautionary tales?

What did you think of the ending? Did you find it satisfying to see justice served in many ways? 

Was there any moment that felt especially memorable for you? Anything that resonated strongly?

Please share your thoughts on the book, its themes, characters, or anything you noted about it -- either in the comments here or on your own blog with a link to your longer thoughts in the comments so we can find it. I love to talk about the experience of reading so feel free to comment no matter when you're reading this post; if you've read this I'd love to hear about it!

Also please share a link to your project in the comments -- if that doesn't work for you, please email me or tag me on IG so that I can see and share your project. Thanks so much for reading and sewing along! 

You have two more weeks, until May 8, to share your project, if you want to be included in the round up post & have a chance to win one of our prizes from our sponsors, Blackbird Fabrics & Beaton Linen. 

Literary Sewing Circle: Book Talk!

Today's the day for some beginning book talk! How are you doing with the book? Have you started it yet? Finished it? Finding it slower or easy to get through? Do you have any reactions you'd like to share? 

Here are a few questions to ponder today and for the next while -- whether you have begun reading, or you've only read blurbs & author interviews so far and still have something to say, join in! Although there might be a few spoilers in the questions and discussion below so if you haven't got too far yet you might want to come back to this post.

You can reply to these questions, or add your own impressions. If you want to hear other takes on a part of the book that you are curious about, leave your own questions in the comments, too. Here is my own review of this book from the first time I read it. 

We'll be having another book discussion on the last post of this round if you would like to add more thorough comments there, after we've all finished it. 

 

1. If you decided to pick up this book and read it for this round, why? Was it the description or just the challenge that caught you first?

2. Are you at all familiar with the setting of this book? If so, does this add anything to the read for you?

3. Is there a particular character that you've enjoyed so far? Any particular themes that stand out for you?

4. Do you find the reasons behind the characters' "snap" moments believable? Relatable? 

5. What do you think of the structure, having the storyline shift between the three main characters? Does it work for you? 

6.  Is there anything specific  in the book that has sparked an idea for a project yet? Are you mulling over any ideas?

Literary Sewing Circle Wrap-Up

Today is already our final day of the Literary Sewing Circle focusing on Diana Wynne Jones' Howl's Moving Castle!

I hope you've had the chance to read the book, and both the first and second inspiration posts, and are getting lots of ideas for a project of your own.

This is our final and roundup post. Share links to your projects here: as soon as you are done your project, just pop a link to your post into the comments and we will all be able to visit your blog/instagram etc. and explore your creation -- remember, it can be sewn, or knitted, crocheted, embroidered... any textile art that you practice. Or you can just tag me, @sewmelwyk on IG and use #LiterarySewingCircle as a hashtag.

We've discovered more about the author and this book in the author feature post. If that sparks any comments, please share those, too! 

Here are a few questions to ponder -- please add your thoughts to the comments! 

Did you like the fairy tale structure and subversion in this story? 

How did Sophie's sudden aging affect her personality, and what did you think of her character, especially as she finds her voice? 

Did you have a favourite character? Were there parts you related to more than others? 

Could you see the hidden bits of the story ahead of time, or did things surprise you - like Calcifer's story and the contract, or the actions of the Witch of the Waste? 

Did you like the inclusion of Wales as part of Howl's story? Do you think it added to the story or did it draw you out of the fairytale setting of Ingary? 

Howl is a tricky character. Did you believe everything he said (or that was said about him) or do you feel he was hiding his real character often?  Would you have been charmed by him if you were Sophie (or Lettie)? 

If you have watched the film, did you notice a lot of differences? If so, did you like one format over the other? Or did you find them both interesting in their own ways - and with their distinct takes on the story? 

Please share your thoughts on the book, its themes, characters, or anything you noted about it -- either in the comments here or on your own blog with a link to your longer thoughts in the comments so we can find it. I love to talk about the experience of reading so feel free to comment no matter when you're reading this post; if you've read this I'd love to hear about it!

Also please share a link to your project in the comments -- our linkup did not work last time, so we'll go with links in the comments -- if that doesn't work for you, please email me or tag me on IG so that I can see and share your project. Thanks so much for reading and sewing along! 

You have two more weeks, until Nov 21, to share your project, if you want to be included in the round up post. 

Literary Sewing Circle: Inspiration!

 

It's the first week of our Literary Sewing Circle featuring Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. Have you found a copy yet? Have you started reading? If so, how are you finding the opening chapters? 

Today's inspiration is going to look at some of the characters in this story; we'll find ideas based on their names. Here are a few suggestions of projects you could make based on these elements. 

We'll start with our main character, Sophie Hatter. There are so many choices with this name. 

You could start by considering the Sophie Dress by Ora Lin patterns - this one almost evokes the dress Sophie wears in the Ghibli movie as well! 

Or you may want to go more modern with this Sophie Dress from Tessuti

Or you might go a little more boho with the top or dress view of this Sophie pattern from Hubba Ding

We could also look to Sophie's sisters, Lettie and Martha, for project inspo. You could go a few directions with these ones. 

You might want to go minimal waste with the Lettie Skirt from Goldfinch Textiles

Or dress things up with the free Lettie Puffed Sleeve Dress by Tiana's Closet 

Or maybe you just want something to carry all your magical implements in, in which case you could consider tackling the Lettie Mini Bowler Bag by Kaya Papaya

Or Martha may be the one to inspire you; perhaps the Martha Dress by Tilly & The Buttons would suit

Or you could be looking for a different vibe and go with the Martha Dress by Dhurata Davies 

But you might also just want to go casual with an oversized button down top, like the Martha Shirt from Style Arc 

Perhaps it's Sophie's stepmother Fanny who inspires your project! You could try any of the multitude of Fanny Pack patterns shared in this Threads roundup of fanny pack patterns, including some free ones. 

Moving on the the Moving Castle, there are a few characters of interest in Howl's surroundings. You might find his apprentice Michael inspiring, with this Michael Traveller Bag  from UhOh Designs to pack full of things from Ingary

You could also try this simple banded collar shirt, the Michael by EF Patterns on Etsy 

If you want to throw a bit of a French accent onto that, you could also try out the free Michel beanie from I AM Patterns ;) 

Or Howl himself -- but aside from some cosplay patterns based on the movie, there's not much I can find for Howl! Not even under his multitude of names. 

Howl Cosplay from the Movie, by MarquiseCubey

Except for this knitted Howl, or neck warmer by SheepKnits (read the blog post for an explanation of the difference between the two, and why this is a Howl) 

Instead you might look into Howl's sister Megan! Try out the Megan Maxi Skirt from Liberty Fabrics 

Or just this quick Megan Dress/Pinafore from Melanie Patterns 

 

Sophie's pet dog/protector who shows up later in the book has many names, although he only really recalls Percival and Gaston. Those might spark an idea for you, with something like the Percival Laptop case by RLR Creations

Or the jersey Gaston Jacket by I AM Patterns

You could even try out this free mini plushie based on Calcifer! 

Maybe you'll go farther afield and look at a side character as the inspo for your project, there are quite a number of those. 

Mrs. Fairfax, who takes in Martha for training at the beginning of the book, might inspire this quilted Fairfax Jacket by Cashmerette, as found in the book Sewing the Curve (and worn on the cover)

The Wizard Suliman's original name might make you decide to make a version of this Sullivan Sweatshirt by Sewing & the City

Or Lily Angorian might be your starting point for this Lily Blouse by The SewClub Patterns

Or even this more casual look, the Lily Top by Experimental Space

It could be the elopement of Jane Farrier with the Count of Catterack that inspires you, as the result of one of Sophie's first unintended magical hats. You could make the Jane Shirt Dress by the Fabrics-Store.com

And maybe even top it off with a little pleated hat aka Jane's mushroom pleated magical topper. Try this tutorial by the Sempstress for one idea. 

Or it might even be the King's young daughter Valeria, who takes a fancy to Sophie, who gives you your project idea. You could look at the Valeria Dress by Mirastern

or even add on one of these Valeria Detachable Collars by StitchMaiden to any of your projects

I hope that this post has started your ideas flowing! Have you got into the read yet? Are there any elements that are making you think? If you already know what you want to make, feel free to share in the comments! 

Literary Sewing Circle: A Project Roundup!

The deadline for sharing makes for this round of the Literary Sewing Circle (featuring All the Things We Leave Behind by Riel Nason) was last Friday, and so today I'm sharing a round-up of all the projects shared in various places online.

Over on PatternReview, there were a number of projects shared: 

DTSewingStories was inspired by the stream that Violet retreats to on her lunch hours, and the pebbles on the stream bed, with this great fabric and the Closet Core Kalle.

SewPerfect was inspired by a fabric in her stash that even had ghost deer on it and made a journal cover. She also wrote a haiku inspired by the book and transferred it to the project. Cool! 

VivianZ made the StyleArc Quinn Top, in natural tones of cotton to reflect the rural nature of the community in the book - and as a nod to the character Quinny, too! 

SewLSC decided to go with the Purple Barn as her inspo, making a New Look 6393 in a pale lilac. 

MsIngie made a pair of 70s vibe jeans from Simplicity 8701, reflecting something that Violet or Jill might have worn themselves. 

On Instagram we saw a couple also! 

Sarah (@sew.focused) decided on a Charlie Caftan in a nod to Violet's father Charles, and her own grandfather Charlie. And the fabric was purchased in Canada, the setting for the book :) 

Jan (@conlon.jan) was inspired by the cobalt glass and white shelves of the Rainbow Room to make this gloriously summery dress, a mash up of two patterns.

Laura (@laurasnowden5180) decided on the Lilac Mini Messenger Bag by Blue Calla as her project, referencing the lilac colour of the Purple Barn, and perhaps a little nod to the 70s in style as well! 

And of course my own! I was inspired first to make a Liesl& Co Terrace Dress in top length, using an upcycled tablecloth referencing both second-hand goods and the marigolds planted outside the Purple Barn.

And then I went ahead and made another, a blouse inspired by the Rainbow Room and all that coloured glass, using Simplicity 8964 from 1999. This was a fabric I've owned for ages and have been waiting to find the perfect project for. This was it!

If you made a project but didn't quite finish it by deadline, please share a link in the comments - we'd all love to see it! Hope you've all enjoyed this round of the Literary Sewing Circle. Keep your eye out for the next round sometime in Fall 2025. 

Literary Sewing Circle: Book Talk and Wrap Up!

 

Today is already our final day of the Literary Sewing Circle focusing on Riel Nason's All The Things We Leave Behind!

I hope you've had the chance to read the book, and both the first and second inspiration posts, and are getting lots of ideas for a project of your own.

This is our final and roundup post. Share links to your projects here: as soon as you are done your project, just pop a link to your post into the comments and we will all be able to visit your blog/instagram etc. and explore your creation -- remember, it can be sewn, or knitted, crocheted, embroidered... any textile art that you practice. Or you can just tag me, @sewmelwyk on IG and use #LiterarySewingCircle as a hashtag

We've discussed our reading in our first book talk post, and discovered more about the author and this book in the author interview post. You can add any additional thoughts now that you've finished the book and seen those posts too. 

Here are a few more questions to ponder -- and add any of your own to the comments too! 

How did you feel the sibling relationship was portrayed? Why do you think the author made the choice to have the parents absent for much of the story? Did you think any of the side characters were particularly important to your experience of this novel? How did the setting and the description of the landscapes affect your opinions of the book? Was there any moment that felt especially powerful or memorable for you? Anything that resonated strongly? 

Please share your thoughts on the book, its themes, characters, or anything you noted about it -- either in the comments here or on your own blog with a link to your longer thoughts in the comments so we can find it. I love to talk about the experience of reading so feel free to comment no matter when you're reading this post; if you've read this I'd love to hear about it!