Today I’m sharing my first sewing competition entry; I was asked to participate in Challenge Create: Fabric Swap Edition which was so much fun! Audrey and her daughters blog at Skirt Fixation and did a great job hosting the first edition of Challenge Create which focused on women sewing for themselves.
You can see more photos of the book and some of the chaos that I plowed through to sew it on the Skirt Fixation blog today. Voting is open over at Skirt Fixation – check them all out and chime in with your favorite (hopefully it’s mine 
)
For this round of competition, each blogger mailed 2 yards of fabric to a partner and sewed up whatever their heart desired. I was intimidated by the (beautiful!) big print of the Amy Butler fabric that Michelle from Handmade Martini sent me, but I settled on making another toddler toy. You can see the buckle toy and activity mat I’ve made for my toddler recently; his giant numbers book doubles as a floor pillow when it’s folded and snapped shut
I added a ribbon bookmark, just because!
I hand stitched around all the letters and shapes, which gives it some texture and color definition… but took well over 10 hours. Absurd. I’m not sure if I’m the slowest hand stitcher ever, or if that’s par for the course, but I might never embroider again.
We’ve been having the most awful weather and rain, so I’m a little embarrassed about my picture quality! But you can at least tell he is having fun.
A few outtakes, for giggles!
This is the schedule for the rest of the Challenge – there are weekly sew alongs and prizes to be won! I sent two yards of beautiful blue polka-dot sateen to Danica who blogs at The Sewing Sparrow so be sure to click over and see what she made with it, too.
Kate
Saturday 25th of February 2017
Thanks so much for sharing this project. I copied your great idea to make a first birthday present for a special little friend and when i gave it to him today he immediately started interacting with his big book. I love that the size adds a level of physicality so when they aren't reading and counting and looking at colours he can climb all over it, sit or lie on it to play with other toys and my friend can also use it as a nice floor cushion to sit on when she sits down to play with him. This is a picture of my efforts https://instagram.com/p/BQ7fkiKBRje/ I opted to make the covers from a set of ready made bright pillow cases and simply basted shut the ends so if his mum wants to pack it down later she can pick the seams and pull out the pillows.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Monday 27th of February 2017
Hey Kate! This is such a fun surprise - I was super duper proud of this project and it went over like a lead balloon on the Internet. I'm so tickled that someone (you!) found it and loved it enough to recreate it. Thank you for sharing!!
Barbara Boxwell
Friday 22nd of January 2016
As usual I love your book. But as I am challenged, do you have a pattern like you do with the dump truck? It looks so simple when I see what you do, but I guess I need a push. I know what your mean embroidery and hand stitching it is slow but looks so good when you finally finish
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Tuesday 26th of January 2016
You are too kind Barbara! I have not made a pattern for this, I might eventually but it is basically two rectangles :)
Pam @Threading My Way
Saturday 8th of November 2014
An awesome idea and so unique, Stephanie!!! Not that I do it much, but I find embroidery and hand stitching therapeutic - in small doses.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Monday 10th of November 2014
Thanks Pam! It's funny, I was so excited about this idea/project and it went over like a lead balloon in the competition. But I still love it ;) I think I've finally recovered and can say I might enjoy hand stitching again soon!
Embroiderymad
Sunday 6th of July 2014
Fabulous idea, thank you for sharing.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Sunday 6th of July 2014
Thanks so much!
Deby at So Sew Easy
Thursday 3rd of July 2014
That is a genius idea! Brings a whole new meaning to quiet book - you could fall asleep in it.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Friday 4th of July 2014
Deby, I hadn't even thought of that!! Ha, I love it :)