Stop! Projects With Boys in Mind

Messenger Bag

All those sewers out there with boys in your life, who know how difficult it is to find things not pink and frilly, stand up and give Angela Yosten a hand. Then run out and buy her new book, Stop. Go. Quilt. Sew! She’s fashioned 12 projects that will help us add that personal, homemade touch to our boys’ lives without first adjusting every pastel color and deleting every ballet design. And she did it without throwing in one ball or buying out the fabric store’s stock of blue.

One Way Growth Chart

Angela’s theme is road signs, and because of its link to cars and trains, she succeeds in her desire to create a masculine appeal. We can decorate rooms and even man caves with merge arrows and speed limit signs. We can wrap our toddlers and teens in Route 66 T-shirts and cross guard towels. And we can still ooh and aahh about how cute it is while no one cringes because it’s cutesy.

Yes, it’s very appropriate for boys, but I know a girl or two who would adore a Roo Crossing hoodie and certainly would not mind sporting the DO NOT ENTER messenger bag. A favorite aunt (or one vying to be) will transfer that design to door signs and notebook covers and give it to a beloved but ornery niece or nephew.

No Parking duvet

The designs in Stop. Go. are clever. In addition to the expected Stop sign (designed as wall art), the One Way Growth Chart and the Nap Sack—a rollup sleeping bag-pillow combo—are winners. One of my favorite things isn’t just that the duvet cover (on the cover of the book) is a No Parking sign, but that the hours not to park on this cover are right there, too. No napping here; grab the Nap Sack, kid.
I can see each design in settings other than the ones presented; let your imaginations and creativity be sparked. However, one of the uniquely Angela touches that adds to the charming look of these designs is her strip piecing technique. She creates a fabric base by sewing together like-colored scraps or strips. It adds depth and interest to every inch of each piece. It’s a treat for the eye. If you haven’t the time, inclination, or admiration for this look, the amount of solid fabric needed to complete the projects is included in the instructions.
These projects are all done with reverse fusible appliqué—patterns included. And although putting together a messenger bag from scratch isn’t a beginner job, most of these projects are not intimidating. I’d say some crafty kids could easily do their own road-sign themed items. Hmmm. Summer project, anyone? Go!