Sewing Books

Great for beginners, but don't get this book if you are looking for even a little intermediate info. I was looking for a little more instruction as far as putting on a collar, etc., and it is just not in this book.

I just love this book. There are plenty of cute and stylish projects for beginners and intermediates alike. The learning to sew section is more helpful than most books of this type, with the author explaining things like material choices (and how cloth is made) and how to lay out pattern pieces. Fun to read too.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!! I am new to sewing & knew nothing about using a sewing machine (never used one). I bought a sewing machine about 3 weeks ago & followed the manuel. It never told me that I had to thread the top & use a bobbin to make the machine thread through the fabric. It took me forever to figure this out. I know it sounds stupid, but I had no idea. I asked many people and no one could really explain as to how these two threads worked to make a stitch but this book does page 27!! I wish I would have bought this book before I bought my machine. I got this book yesterday and have already read to CH 3. The book has great illustrations, gives detailed info on how things work, and is really funny! This is a must have book for any beginner sewer or someone wanting to refresh their memory. It comes with 10 paper patterns & other patterns you can follow from the book! I can't wait to try out a pattern this weekend! You won't be disappointed with this book! I picked this book from the reviews it got & I am sooo glad I did!

I recently decided I needed to know how to sew - I researched a sewing machine and then researched a good beginner's book. That research brought me to Diana Rupp's Sew Everything Workshop. With her book and the guidance of my aunt who sews, I have been able to complete a couple projects quite successfully. I am very excited to continue with the other projects in her book as they range from very easy to more complicated. As someone completely new to sewing, it still can be a little difficult trying to understand what some steps are telling me to do (that's where my aunt came in to the rescue) but for those of you who don't have a magic aunt at your call, I have found quite a few videos on YouTube that explain visually some sewing techniques and they have come in extremely handy...now if Diana's book came with a DVD then we would have all our learning tools in one handy place...

This is a thorough introduction for the complete beginner, with a hip feel and nice photography. This would be a great book for a teenager, or for someone who wants to start sewing Etsy-like craft items. People who already sew, but are largely self-taught, might also benefit from her overview of the basics, from the properties of different fabrics to the correct use of common tools. She also teaches good habits like caring for your machine and proper pattern cutting. The text is chatty (reminiscent of Stitch n' Bitch), and her instructions are clear, linear, and non-threatening. For example, I looked in three books to learn how to insert an invisible zipper, but her explanation was the winner.

She includes a dozen-odd patterns and leads you by the hand through each project. The projects are functional and done in cute fabrics and colors, such as hobo bags, a pencil skirt, and a scarf. That said, as a curvy 36 year old woman, I didn't want to actually make any of the garments. Since they're beginner styles, they're mostly boxy (the kimono wrap) or trendy (the juniors tank top); they don't include any curved darts for fitting difficult shapes. The oilcloth sewing machine cover was darling, but after glancing at the photo I was able to figure out how to make one on my own.

I ended up returning mine after reading the front part, because I just wasn't going to use the patterns and I've moved beyond the absolute basics. Still, I would definitely recommend it for the right audience!

BEST FOR: Teens and 20s, total beginners, craft sewing, project ideas, group sew-alongs.

Our quilting guild put on a program on vintage aprons. Members brought in their aprons and shared their memories. We used many of the quotes and sayings from the book, The Apron Book, giving credit of course. We included the tips for caring for vintage aprons--not unlike caring for vintage quilts!

The program was warmly received. So many members had happy memories about aprons. We also shared some contemporary aprons some of us had made more recently.

I decided I was going to make aprons for my female family and friends for Christmas and ordered this book hoping it would give me lots of different ideas. It is actually more of a history lesson on aprons but did have lots of pictures and patterns and instructions. There does not seem to be a glut of books on Aprons so this was a good choice. If you are the least bit creative you can go with some of their general ideas and expand on them. Makes a nice coffee table book too.

Love this book!
I am always recommending it to others who love Aprons and apron stories.
It even has a user friendly pattern in the back of the book.
A must have as well as a great gift to send to friends who are apronistas!

I love this book - it brings back great memories. Very interesting information, photos, patterns, a great book to add to one's library.

I had to make an apron in Home Ec class many (many) years ago. I didn't enjoy it at all. I didn't care for the fabric, didn't really get the hang of using a sewing machine, just felt it was a waste of time. Nobody in my family wore an apron, anyway, somehow they miraclously stayed clean during food prep.
Flash forward a few decades. I like to cook and bake and I did not inherit the miracle of not getting messy while I cooked. Most aprons you can buy in a store are servicable - but not exactly flashy or pretty. One of my supervisors whipped up aprons as Christmas presents one year. I was amazed because I knew she was a very busy woman. Slowly, I began to gather fabric to make aprons. And when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. That's how I feel about this book. I recommend it highly.

I love my Sew Fast Sew Easy book. It was so easy to follow and helped me out a lot. The illustrations are done really well and have a lot of detail. This book does a good job covering basics that you wouldn't normally think about like making sure the straight grain is parrallel to the selvage when cutting out and that your fabric doesn't move and how to measure that. It's great, the information in this book. Plus the sewing patterns that it comes with are basic beginner patterns. Great for learning with. One anoying thing though, Amazon has this book listed under a BARGIN PRICE but it's not a bargin price at $19. I had to search "Sew Fast Sew Easy" to get the new book from Amazon at $16. Really weird. I wish Amazon didn't offer books like that, it's really deceiving. Enjoy your book, happy sewing!

I learned to sew with this book and have had great sucess. I just bought the new book "Sew On" to progress my sewing and the patterns and projects are amazing! I have learned even more techniques with the new book and I still use my Sew Fast Sew Easy book for reference. I'm really happy with these books from Amazon.

The book is probably best for true novices. I was never much of a sewer and it has been 30 years since I've sewn anything more than a button or hem. I thought I'd need to review the basics, but this book was too basic for me. i was hoping that it would refresh the basics, but lead me a few steps beyond. I can see where it would be helpful for those who are just starting out, so I can't find much fault with the book itself. It was just not what I need.

I am completely new to sewing, so new that I had no idea how to cut out a pattern. I found a few videos on YouTube that explained how to pin the pattern to the fabric and then start cutting. Anyway, the good things about the book are that it's a very quick read because it's so small, and it does cover most of the basics like getting to know your sewing machine. However, I would recommend Sewing 101 in addition to or instead of this book, as it explains how to lay out the fabric and how to cut, etc. Sewing 101 and Home Decor Sewing 101 have better photos and illustrations of the different steps in making an item, i.e. a pillow or a shower curtain or whatever, and I appreciate the detailed step-by-step illustrations that these books provide.

This is a great learn how to sew book for first time sewers, very easy to understand.

I purchased this kit to be given as a gift to a child who is just starting sewing. It would also be good for a beginning adult, but if you have experience, you will still appreciate the enclosed patterns.

This is a great kit for beginners. I sewed my first patterns easily and plan to do more.

I LOVE the stich it kit... I got one for myself back when they first came out.
This one is a gift for my neice. She opeend it the other day & we started right away, she loved the kit. The book has great stich diagrhams & the patterns are fun & up to date.

I have never emboridered in my life. This book showed in a short sweet step by step work up of how to get started. It touched on the diffrent threads.

I also loved the patterns included!

LOVES IT!!!! BEST GIVE EVER!! I HAD A COMPLETED PROJECT IN 2 HOURS... GREAT CRAFT BOOK!!! WISH I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT YEARS AGO!!! ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES AND PROJECTS.

I think it's a very good reference book. I'm currently making a set of curtains with a pattern from this book and they're turning out wonderfully! I find no problem with the pictures at all!

Got this 4 months after I 1st learned to crochet. I love it--beautifully colored photos, very readable diagrams, plus the spiral binding & compact size make it a great "bring along" book I can just throw into a small bag with my yarn and hook. First I thought it might be too tedious to learn how to read the symbol diagrams for the patterns. THEN I discovered each right-hand page also has tiny quick-reference on its margin to remind me of the name of each symbol, so I didn't have to keep going back to the full symbol guide. I learned the Tunisian stitch in just minutes from reading this book! Soon I'll know how to read symbol diagrams, too!

As soon as you get this book, provided you have crochet hooks & yarn on hand...you will be able to make something using the simplest of stitches (chaining & single crochet) to more elaborate ones...no matter where you stand as a crocheter...the clear, straightforward diagrams & pictures will make you better before you know it. Worth getting & adding to your library.

I am new to crochet and have made a few baby blankets and a couple of sweaters. I picked this book up as a resource to enlarge my stitch knowledge after learning the basics in the Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker. I enjoy the variety of stitches in this spiral bound book ranging from Lace stitches to Squares. The best thing I like about the book is that it includes both Charted and written instructions so if you don't quite understand one the other set can usually help you out. I have made a sampler afghan out of the blocks section and am working on a custom wedding shawl for a coworker with the daisy lace pattern. Bottom line is that if you're new to crochet and know your single, double and treble crochet, this book is the logical next step. It is a good blend of easy to moderate stitches that pique your interest. If you are more advanced this book may seem a little basic and boring to you. But I would still suggest it as a refresher reference.

Where to start with this book? The book's spiral binding keeps the page open where you want it (a feature every craft book should have, IMO). There are positively oodles of different stitches and stitch patterns, which are grouped into like collections. Toward the beginning, there is an overview of every stitch pattern featured in the book, so that it is easy to spot something you like and find out what page it's on. Each stitch has a color picture of a sample swatch (which doesn't always show the greatest detail, but does a pretty good job), a chart showing how to do the stitch pattern (a must have for a visual person like me, to whom the written explanations are like deciphering ancient Aramaic by smell), and a written explanation.

There are no project patterns in this book, but with so many different stitch patterns, you'll probably end up with a dozen little project ideas of your own. I know I did.

I also love Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet.

I'm a new quilter and had been intimidated by the Log Cabin pattern. I took a class that taught this method at my local sewing machine center, and was able to complete a wall hanging (which at 68" x 68" is more like a throw) top in an 11 hour class including cutting and chattering time. I'm an Eleanor Burns fan for life now.

I am not an experienced quilter, but I have made several quilts. When I came across this book and thumbed through the pages, I was fascinated by her method. When I last made a king-sized quilt, it took me 3-4 years, mostly because I was discouraged by how long it was taking me to assemble it. I started with this pattern recently to make a king-sized quilt as a gift, and I am astounded with how fast I am progressing. With this method, you can work on it in short bursts if you want, but if you have an entire day, you can get a lot done! I highly recommend it! I look forward to using this method to make quick baby quilts in the future!

Great book with step by step instructions, this would be my pick for the first time quilter. It shows at least 100 different layouts for you log cabin blocks. It is wonderful.

No way one day!. But... in three days I made a 60x60 lap quilt over New Years. With an unfamiliar sewing machine on a dining room table. I think it could be done in two in my own studio.

What this did was give me confidence to go home and finish my QS Triple Irish Chain.

I recommend this book highly for beginner quilters. Sometimes you read instructions and wonder what the quilter was smoking. Not Ms. Burns.

If a guy like me can do it, anyone can.

t in san jose

If you are a quilter and you haven't made this quilt, what are you waiting for? You have to make this quilt pattern at least once in your life. If you are thinking about quilting and can sew a straight line, this is where you want to begin.

It's easy, simple, the results are beautiful. I've made many of these as gifts; I've given the book and fabric as the gift.

This book taught me to be a stripper over 20 years ago. (Read the book you'll understand "stripper".)

I thought I would always have to send my quilts out to be quilted, even though I had bought two quilting machines. This was expensive and not always satisfactory due to the results. So I finally broke down and bought this book. Now I do all of my own quilting, and because of the confidence gained by this book, have recently purchased a long arm. Harriet's ways are understandable, easy, and comprehensive. A real
"NEED TO HAVE" for any quilter!

I have this book and it is the bomb! I've used it for years and even bought the revision to it, it was so worth the money. If you only ever get one machine quilting book, this is the one to get.

Heiloom Machine quilting is just the best if you want to learn to quilt your own quilt top on your sewing machine. This book explains everthing so well and why you need to do certain things to get the job done. I just enjoy this book There are quilting patterns in this book to use and the step by step on how to do them.

harriet hargrave is a master, and continues to become even more amazing. if you are interested in machine quilting, get the next edition of this work--it includes her most recent tips, discoveries, etc.

From the outset, learning why some things are done this way rather than that, I wanted to gather and destroy the five quilts I've made because they don't even approach "good" quality (forget heirloom quality). Getting past that, there was really useful information that made completing the quilt I was currently working on much easier and showed why some of my earlier ones are in the shape they are (sigh - if only I knew then...). The information on batting was comprehensive and very helpful. I still prefer polyester for its economy and fluff, but am going to try cotton and now know what the differences are (besides price). I am not a total beginner but quilts are only one part of my sewing. I consider myself a "hacker" rather than a serious quilter. I have read other machine quilting books which were very good, but I would have to say this is the best, with the most practical information. Note: there are no patterns for quilts, though there are quilt photos throughout the book. There are quilting line patterns to copy, however, with directional arrows to guide your machine quilting.

This book is a must for any crazy quilter. I love the size and the fact that it can lie flat open when using. The drawings are large, clear and easy to follow. Even has directions for left handed. The color photos are wonderful "eye candy". This book sparked so many new ideas for me. It is a MUST HAVE.

This is a must have for every stitcher's library. An excellent stitch guide with wonderful diagrams.

Whether you are a new or experienced stitcher this book gives easy to follow instructions for a wide variety of stitches along with ideas to combine different stitches. I have referred to it many, many times on my current project: a crazy quilt. Money well spent!

The instructions were easy to follow and well illustrated. I am a novice at embriodery and this book was very helpful. It gave me ideas on how to proceed in my crazy quilt.

Bought the book as a gift. Recipient was very pleased with the book. It clearly describes the stitches and how to make them. Full of pictures that enable you to visualize the final result and the process of creating those stitches.

If you are seriously into re-enacting and you want to make clothes which not only look right but are historically correct too, this is the book you need. The book is very practical, with a lot of line drawings and some pictures of what the finished clothes should look like (but no pictures from works of art, those you will have to look up for yourself).
Some basic patterns are given on scale, so you need a rather thorough knowledge of pattern-drawing and sewing to make the garments. As far as I can tell (but I'm not a historian, nor a professional seamstress), these patterns are authentic.
You can find clothes for men, women and children, from 3 centuries, ranging from underwear to cloaks and kerchiefs.
Very interesting too, are the little pieces on sewing techniques and acessories.
A must-have for all dedicated re-enactors !

For anybody interested in accurately reproducing clothes of the medieval period, this book is an essential resource. The author does a wonderful job of outlining 1200-1500 century clothing for the modern reenactment enthusiast. And as an SCA resource it is one of the best!

This is a wonderfully prepared book for those just starting out in Medieval European costuming. It covers many of the basics and styles that were present throughout the region during this period and is a great starting place for novice and intermediate costumers to get the feel practice of simple styles.

PLEASE NOTE: This book is NOT out of print and you should not be paying any more than $45 for it. If you look around, you can find it as cheap as $25. Definitely worth adding to the library! Enjoy!

This book is a must-have. It shows how to make the patterns fit and work, and explains the garments well. I used this book to help me figure out the pattern for fitted hose, and Tudor Tailor to help fit the hose... and together I managed to get some nice hose! The braies pattern, like the rest of the explanations is easy to understand on first-read. I recommend it!

I bought this book after reading the description. The photos and information on how to recreate medieval clothing are very useful for seamstresses and beginner alike. Full-color photos of people in clothing made helps with the 3-D aspect of what it looks like. Use this book in conjunction with other references and you will not be disappointed.

I just started my own business making swim suits. I had bought a Juki Overlock machine to sew them with. It's a pretty complicated machine and I've been sewing for a while so I thought that I could just figure it out but I failed. It came with a manual but I needed something more. I looked for a book to help me out and chose this one. I'm glad I did. It has been a great book and company to come across. The patterns that came with the book were great to learn on and I downloaded an underwear pattern from their website. Any level sewer can benefit greatly from the info in this book. I was highly impressed with how well the patterns matched up and turned out, especially with using knits.

I ordered this book with the Sew Fast Sew Easy book. The techniques and projects in this book are much more advanced. The Ottoman project is really cool but it's a commitment. The tee shirt and pant on the other hand are preatty simple and come out great. I love these patterns. It also has great attention to detail in the illustrations. The instructions were easy follow and it had info about putting in neckbands that was really helpful. I couldn't distribute the neckband correctly and there is a tip about how to chalk it. I'm super happy with these books and highly recommend. Enjoy!

I bought this book because I wanted to develop my sewing skills further and the reviews for this book were great. When I received this book I was surprised at how well it was written and how detailed the descriptions and instructions are. The "Box Cushion" project is a little more demanding and is the perfect challenge for me. I have other sewing books that are dull and a little hard to understand. This "Sew On" book was exactly what I was looking for. I just ordered their other book "Rip It", I'm sure it will be just as great. I am very happy with my order.

Rip It!: How to Deconstruct and Reconstruct the Clothes of Your Dreams

Sew Fast Sew Easy Sew On by Elissa K. Meyrich is an all-out, hip manual to the art of sewing and serging. Made by the founder and president of SewFastSewEasy, a company renowned for helping everyday hipsters become competent seamsters, it is a thorough and appealing handbook for novices to the art of garment creation.

The first thing you notice when you open up the book is that it just looks good. The illustrations, even for highly technical things like threading an overlock machine, are compelling to look at. The subtle use of colors and the intriguing lines are quite frankly, cool. It is a strange experience finding yourself admiring an illustration of a seam ripper, but definitely not an unpleasant one, nor an uncommon one, when reading this book.

As for content, Sew Fast Sew Easy Sew On thoroughly covers the basics of the sewing process, from choosing tools and fabrics, to understanding patterns, to instructions on how to use a sewing machine and serger, to tips on simple sewing techniques like sewing on buttons and how to make a hem. It also includes very handy charts and a glossary. Most importantly though, it contains step by step instructions and included patterns for five projects, such as a simple T-shirt and an iPod holder. I personally, am a big fan of the "hipster drawstring pants," and although it would not be flattering on me, I do appreciate the look of a "scarf halter wrap-around dress" on members of the fairer sex.

The instructions for these projects, and in the book as a whole, are very thorough, and it is very clear that Elissa K. Meyrich is a veteran teacher. Her hours teaching classes at Parsons School of Design and at her company in New York City show through. One of her instructions for threading a sewing machine tells you to turn the handwheel slowly "TOWARDS" you, and just hints at the many, many novices who must have turned the wheel the wrong way.

Her instructions are generally very good, but in a few instances can be a little difficult to understand. For example, early in the book she mentions the right side of fabric, without ever defining it. After a reading a little farther you can figure out it is the side of the fabric that is going to be on the outside of the garment, but in the meantime it can be confusing for a beginner. Such problems are minor though, and do not seriously hamper the book. For those who really want to make something neat, this book will help you do it.

Sew Easy Sew Fast Sew On is a thorough, useful, and stylish book for those intent on learning the art of of clothes creation, and is available at www.sewfastseweasy.com. Also, check out the lessons on the website for some of the best DIY clothing training in New York City and on the web.

Sew Fast Sew Easy: All You Need to Know When You Start to Sew
Rip It!: How to Deconstruct and Reconstruct the Clothes of Your Dreams

This book compliments the first Sew Fast Sew Easy book. I had bought that book to learn to sew and had great success with it. I knew this book would have some great tips and projects but I underestimated it. The projects and patterns that are included were perfectly challenging for me. I learned more techniques with the box cushion. I hadn't ever sewn with heavy fabric let alone turn a corner. Learning about overlock machines and what there used for was an eye opener and I'm now on the hunt for one. I have a new passion and am proud of my progress with sewing. I acredit it to these books.