My daughter has finally expressed interest in learning to sew. She is studying in Paris next year and wants a more grownup, sophisticated wardrobe. I would like to buy her a good beginning book with pictures. I have Sandra Betzina’s books and the whole Taunton list, but not a good beginners book. I have been sewing for years, but I don’t have time to make her a whole wardrobe! Also, it would be wonderful for her to learn to sew. I am not a great teacher so a well illustraded book would lower any stress. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Nancy
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Replies
The New Sewing Essentials Book is one I require my Beginner Sewing members to get--a great reference book. I have to order them for my ladies but some places have them as one of the ladies had the book that her mom had sent her.
The Vogue Sewing book. It is a classic, easy to understand, and has it all.
I've seen some of the fashion schools teach out of the Readers Digest Complete Guide to Sewing.
Thanks, I will take a look at it. She needs a book with good illustrations.
Nancy
The Vogue Sewing Book (the classic) is coming out with a revised edition on June 29, 2006. You can pre-order it on http://www.amazon.com. - I recall it was selling for under $20.
The sewing book that I've been poring over day and night to try to absorb the content is Simplicity's Revised Edition Simply the Best Sewing Book, 2001. It contains reasonably good directions for both the electric sewing machine on up to the complicated sergers. Currently, I myself am looking for a book with all of the sewing terms identified, with pictures/diagrams, including all of these newfangled fabrics. Growing up, I was exposed to cotton. I have a bunch of cotton fabrics in my possession, but they were meant for quilting and I am not a quilter--too teeny tiny and too monotonous for me right now. I also have no clue which of the newer fabrics you have to dry clean, which you can get away with hand washing, washing with your other clothes in a zipped sweater bag, on perm press in zipped sweater bag, machine cold. Anybody got a good idea of a book with all THAT in there?
Sandra Betzina's Fabric Savvy is a must have. A full page for every fabric along with suggested needle size, interfacing, whether it needs preshrinking etc, etc, etc...
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The Sewing for Dummies of that popular series is surprisingly thorough and easy to understand; leafing through it, I found a lot of useful tips along with very clear, well ilustrated explanations. The tone of the Dummies series is especially helpful for sewing; by using a little humor, they seem to demystify skills that seem intimidating to newbies and make sewing seem like just another useful skill that is possible to master and enjoy.
Threads Magazine is an excellent source from Taunton Press for all levels and may inspire her.
I have too many books. My favorite is Secrets for Successful Sewing by Barbara Weiland. (Techniques for Mastering Your Sewing Machine and Serger.) There are large pictures and excellent instructions. All the basics and lots of fun extras. Available in paperback from most stores/Rodale Press.
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