Now Touring: Project Teen Handmade Gifts Your Teen Will Actually Love by Melissa Mortenson

A book can only go well when the author, Melissa Mortenson starts out like this:

“Case in point: A few years ago I decided, like crazy person, to make a quilt for each of my kids for Christmas. I’ve got three of them—kids, that is. Not being the best manager of time when it comes to large projects, I left more work for the last minute than I should have. I almost decided to just ditch the project, but I finished it.

My oldest daughter was sixteen at the time. I feared she might think it was the dumbest gift she received. But I will never forget the look on her face when she unwrapped the quilt. I don’t think she was expecting it. There was love in that quilt, and she could tell. I had taken the time when designing the quilt to really
think about her. What did she like? What were her favorite colors? I thought about her hobbies, the TV shows she liked, and the clothes she wore. I used all of these as clues when designing that quilt. Later that day I caught a glimpse of her curled up on the couch, wrapped in her new quilt. It was in that moment that I knew: Even though she was growing up, it was still important that I put effort into making things for her.”
Project Teen, page 4

Project Teen is a fresh, mod, fun way to sew for the tweens/teens in our life – kids, grands, nieces & nephews. The projects meet the ever changing needs of kids, from travel blankets and tablet covers to simple bags to store everything in. Nuthin’ better, Q-bies, than wrapping them all up in stitched love and doin’ it well.

Throughout her book, Melissa offers timeless suggestions for choosing fabrics, including sources of inspiration and current fabric designers or houses such as Tula Pink, Riley Blake, Birch, Amy Butler and more that have a vibe and feel our teens might enjoy.

Some of our faves? Keep scrolling.

Pocket-ful Quilt

Study Pillow

The Pocket-ful Quilt and the Study  Pillow are two projects with a variety of uses. Melissa mentions that when washing the Pocket-ful Quilt (and Study Pillow), make sure there’s nothing in the pockets. The voice of experience speaks.

Please Hang up Your Towel

Got kids who head off to the pool regularly or are on the swim team?  Or do you really just want to know which kid left their towel on the floor? Personalized Towels. And since we’re talking towels let’s not forget the Swim Bag.

Swim Bag

Quatrefoil Quilt

Just had to include the Quatrefoil Quilt. It has a sweet reminder to DREAM .

Read more about Project Teen during the rest of the blog tour: 10/13 Caroline – SewCanShe
10/13 Natalia – Piece N Quilt
10/14 Generation Q Magazine
10/14 Kari
10/15 Amy – Diary of a Quilter
10/15 Anna – Noodle Head
10/16 Bev – Flamingo Toes
10/17 Elizabeth – Simple Simon & Co
10/17 Autumn – It’s Always Autumn

Oh, and Melissa has a gift for all of us! Check out the gift tag in the picture to the left. Now click here: To/From Gift Tag to save and print the gift tag. Here’;s a suggestion: Use pretty paper or card stock and a bit of sticky back vinyl and voila!  And here’s one more treat: Each blogger on Melissa’s tour has a different gift tag. Collect them all!

Quilt. Sew. Live. Breathe.