Little Girls, Big Style

January 31, 2011
Reading Abreu's book is like sitting down with a patient, and exceedingly competent, friend for an afternoon of sewing. Abreu, who created the popular blog Confessions of a Craft Addict, is nothing if not helpful, providing tiny inset tips such as "If you cut along the Tiered Pants line, you can make a quick pair of shorts instead of pants or capris," and creating the feeling that anything is possible. She provides a quick review for the unsteady reader in "Techniques A to Z," with good, clear photos helping make her points. And she's always encouraging and forgiving. In "Handmade vs. homemade" she reminds a frustrated seamstress, "There is no shame in ‘unsewing' your work." For the non-natural fashionista among us, she suggests pattern pairings, like a "Barely Basic Top" with the "Twirly Girly Skirt." Yes, the names the author gives her outfits crank the cute to 11 but, after all, this is a book for girls who are proud to fly their feminine flag, sometimes with the help of their mothers. And while the names often cross the line from cute into cloying, the photos put everything in perspective. This parade of adorables will have readers saying, "Who cares about the dress, I want the kid!" Photos.