In Stitches Jennie Caminada

IN STITCHES

by Jennie Caminada

Jennie Caminada runs Cheekyhandmades from her lovely garden studio in a leafy corner of Walthamstow, where she teaches sewing classes and creates beautiful bespoke quilts, clothing and more. We’d been planning a book with her for some time, and the project finally got the go-ahead thanks to Jennie’s enterprising idea to employ crowdfunding, effectively selling copies of her book in advance. The response was enthusiastic, with Jennie’s target being reached and exceeded in under a month, allowing her to opt for more pages and a sturdier binding.

Jennie had already established the price point she wanted and had a clear idea of the scope of the book’s content. It was our job to meet the criteria for the available budget: the format we selected had to be easy to handle and post, yet be usable as a step-by-step guide. We opted for an 80-page A5 book on a sturdy, textural wood-free stock, with a matching but slightly heavier cover board.

With our format established, we moved on to the editing of Jennie’s manuscript and preparations for a photoshoot, which took place at the cheekyhandmades studio. Jennie and our Creative Director Simon worked closely to ensure the pictures were clear and informative while expressing the distinctive cheekyhandmades style. Through a process of careful selection, judicious editing and creative thinking, they managed to ensure this relatively compact book is absolutely packed with useful information and techniques for novice needleworkers.