I’m pleased to announce that our first book, “Oliver + S Little Things to Sew” will be published by STC Craft - Melanie Falick Books in March, 2011. I loved writing this book, and I know you’re going to enjoy reading and sewing from it.

Featuring 20 full-length sewing projects, the book brings the style and attention to detail you’ve come to expect from Oliver + S to the world of accessories and toys for children. My goal when writing it was to create a book filled with projects that you’ll want to make again and again.

Not only are the projects unique and fun, but the book is also beautifully produced (something that you’ve come to expect from all Stewart Tabori and Chang titles). It’s a hardcover book with a removable dust jacket featuring paper doll illustrations of many of the book’s projects. Bound inside the book are two cardstock paper dolls that can be removed. You can cut the items from the dust jacket and use them to dress the dolls, just like you can do with our apparel patterns. Also included are two large removable sheets that include the pattern pieces for each project.

This book has been a long time in the making, and I’m very proud of the result. While writing the book, I had the pleasure of working with the same great team that produces our sewing patterns. Dan Andreasen illustrated the projects, and Brooke Reynolds designed the book. The book also includes wonderful photos by Laurie Frankel of a delightful group of children modeling the finished projects.

The book begins shipping next February, but it is already available for pre-order from all major online booksellers. Once it is released, we’ll also make autographed copies available on the Oliver + S site.

We’ll be showing some glimpses of the book over the next few months, so start checking existing projects off your sewing list because I think you’ll want to make several projects from the book once it arrives. You’re going to have fun with it! I promise.

Several people have asked about the books we presented during last Saturday’s Crafternoon at the New York Public Library. Jessica Pigza, our wonderful sewing librarian who organized the event, has posted a summary with catalog links to many of the books on her blog. I hope you’ll have a chance to look at some of these materials–we enjoyed seeing the books and images that inspire each other and each managed to learn something new in the process.

This is a cover from the July 1928 issue of Amateur Golfer magazine. Who knew golfing could be so inspirational!