Quilted Bags and Gifts, 36 Classic Quilting Projects to Make and Give by Akemi Shibata is a lovely collection of bags and other charming patchwork projects. Originally published in Japan, this lovely book has now been released in English. I love Japanese sewing books but it can be a challenge to work out how to construct items when you don’t read Japanese. Zakka Workshop have translated this lovely book so it can now be enjoyed by more readers.
The projects are beautifully photographed and styled. Each project includes comprehensive diagrams, cutting instructions, and construction steps to guide you through the process. Utilising a combination of techniques including patchwork, appliqué, and quilting, Akemi Shibata has designed a wonderful collection of projects. In her signature style she combines Japanese taupe fabrics with brighter patchwork cottons to great effect.
Quilted Bags and Gifts includes full sized templates which is a feature I appreciate. The front of the book includes some general tips and tricks to get you started. We really recommend this book to sewists and quilters who love the Japanese style, and enjoy making bags, pouches, totes, and other small gift items. Quilted Bags and Gifts is being released on June 14, but is already shipping from Amazon. Zakka Workshop will be stocking a range of handles and bag hardware (from July) so that you can create the bags in this gorgeous book.
I made the Floral Coaster from Quilted bags and Gifts using some of my favourite retro florals paired with polka dot linen. I added some hand quilting detail which gave it a vintage look – the perfect complement to my favourite tea cup. I think it turned out really cute. I can’t wait to make a set of these sweet Floral Coasters. The instructions were clear and the diagrams were helpful. It was so nice to make an item from a Japanese book and to be able to read the instructions. It was a fun, quick project to make.
Zakka Workshop are generously providing a copy of Quilted Bags and Gifts to one lucky reader. To enter, simply log into the rafflecopter giveaway box below with your email address or facebook account. Complete as many of the giveaway options as you wish – if you already follow A Spoonful of Sugar or Zakka Workshop on facebook/pinterest etc, just click the button below for an automatic entry. Giveaway is open World Wide until June 15, 2016 . The winner will be notified by email and announced here on this post. Good Luck!
Disclaimer: We were provided with a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are our own.
This looks like a beautiful book. Am thrilled that it is available in English. Hooray.
A gorgeous looking book…and your coaster is lovely too 🙂 x
I would love this book – beautiful projects.
I think the little pouches are darling!
A beautiful book thank you.
I do love to make gifts for family & friends. Always appreciated.
I think the little pouches are darling! I love to make things for my two daughters.
Book looks so neat! Thank You !
I like to make gifts for my friends and family of course. But mostly now I make things from my sweet grandbaby girl! I have so many things I want to make for her, and have already made quite a few. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I like to make gifts (like these quilted bags!) for my best friend – she’s a crafty lady, too & appreciates the work and love that goes into them. Thanks for the chance to win.
I sew for friends, family and mostly charity these days. How many quilts does one person need? So bags are a nice change of pace.
I make all my friends- especially those who love hand made pieces!
I like to make gifts for friends for birthdays and Christmas, my family don’t appreciate them as much though. x
This book looks lovely. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
For friends and family the most, but also for people who just are in need of a hug, a sign of love. Love the floral coaster! So sweet!
I make gifts for my family and co-workers. Looks like a beautiful book. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love making things for family and friends but only the ones that appreciate the work that goes into them. Some people don’t appreciate hand crafts . I mean especially like the lovely ones shown here. I know a few people who would love the floral coaster like you made.
Thanks for the competition.
Love to sew gifts for my sister, my kids, and my grandkids! This looks like a really gorgeous book to create with!
I love making gift first for my grand daughter., she is so appreciative of hand made gift.
Great book–beautiful projects to sew. Thank you for the chance to win!
love the book – cute projects
Love those hexie bags!
This is such a beautiful book! I like to make gifts for my parents and ten siblings. They all really love the things I make them 🙂
I love quilted gifts.
This book looks lovely. I always enjoy the Japanese patterns. It’s an extra bonus when they are translated.
I love making gifts fro friends – they are always so surprised and pleased when they get handmade presents !!!
I love making gifts for my granddaughters. This book looks fascinating.
What a lovely book!
I make gifts for my family and friends. It’s so much fun to surprise someone with a hand made quilty gift!
I have so much fun creating and making gifts for friends and family all year long. Your book looks fantastic!
So many pretty things to make. I’ll have to add this one to my xmas wish list.
I have 5 nieces and 2 sisters-in-law I make pretties for so I’m sure I could find a home for every project in the book.
Love the pattern, I recently made my very first bag and am thrilled with the results. Now of course I’m addicted and have yet another sewing passion (addiction) to feed. 😉
I love making gifts for most people (as long as I now they appreciate handmade things)
I make gifts for friends – well the ones who appreciate unique, handmade presents. I learnt the hard way that some people do not! Silly, silly people when there are such lovely things such as those in this book.
I love to make thing for my family and friends! This book is something I would love!
I love to make gifts for my mom. She always loves when i have something for her.
I love to make gifts for my sister, mother and sweet friends. For birthdays and Christmas.
Beautiful book i would❤️ To win
I sew for my family. Nice book .
I am new to sewing, so I confess: so far I’m just making “gifts” for myself. I’m hoping to be polished enough in my stitching to make gifts someday, but in the meantime I’m having fun practicing!
Thanks for a wonderful book review. The projects look fantastic. I like to make gifts for friends as “just because” gifts rather than for birthdays and holidays.
Making beautiful items for my girlie girl friends since I’m a mother of sons.