Favorite Learn-to-Sew Books
March 31, 2008
I'm compiling a list of my favorite learn-to-sew books - both for beginners and those who've been sewing awhile. Fifteen years ago there weren't many beginning sewing books available; now there are dozens, and I know I haven't seen them all! Here are a few of my favorites; what are yours?
Targeted at beginners, but great for anyone looking for fun quick-to-make projects:
- Sew Easy by Linda Lee - plus her Sew Easy: Scarves and Sew Easy: Bags - simple but fun & fashionable projects, good instructions, plus a brief but comprehensive booklet of general sewing terms and techniques.
- Sew What! Skirts by Francesca Denhartog & Carole Ann Camp and Sew What! Fleece by Carol Jessop & Chaila Sekora. Great information on sewing terms, techniques, materials, notions, as well as drafting your own patterns.
- Amy Butler's In Stitches - a beautiful book with projects for every room in your home, plus extras to wear and carry. Patterns included.
- Sew Subversive by Melissa Rannels, Melissa Alvarado, and Hope Meng. Great garment recycling and restyling projects; lots of sewing information, including a section on getting to know your sewing machine.
Useful resources for anyone's sewing library; I've been referring to these books for years and years:
- Anything by Sandra Betzina, including Power Sewing Step by Step, Fabric Savvy, More Fabric Savvy, No Time to Sew (includes patterns), and Sandra Betzina Sews for Your Home.
- Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide - everything you ever wanted or needed to know about sewing different types of fabric, including detailed instructions for all of the recommended techniques.
- The Vogue Sewing Book - there have been several editions; the one I have is from 1975. Especially useful for traditional techniques such as tailoring.
- Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing - another book that has been reprinted several times; I have the 1980 version. Good basic sewing information.
- The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide by Naomi Baker, Gail Brown, and Cindy Kacynski - excellent trouble-shooting guide for any type of serger, with lots of great techniques.
Especially for BERNINA owners:
- Feetures Volumes 1-3 - instructions for hundreds of sewing techniques, grouped by presser foot (click here for an alphabetical listing by technique).
- Serger Technique Reference Book - instructions for dozens of serger techniques, arranged by stitch formation.
Don't forget your sewing machine manual - not only does it have instructions for using your sewing machine, it probably includes directions for several sewing techniques as well (check the index or look in the back of the book).
Posted by: Jo Leichte at 11:55am
7 Comments
Topic: DIY
Tags:
sew easy
,
linda lee
,
scarves
,
bags
,
sew what
,
skirts
,
fleece
,
denhartog
,
camp
,
butler
,
in stitches
,
sew subversive
,
rannels
,
alvarado
,
meng
,
betzina
,
power sewing
,
fabric savvy
,
shaeffer
,
ultimate serger answer guide
,
vogue
,
reader's digest
,
feetures
7 Comments
the Feeture books are for sergers only ??? This is what I see on the title of each of the 14 pages of the .pdf file.
Denise
I have a Feetures index saved that is dated 10-16-07, so I'm wondering if your updated version from 6-25-07 is really the latest?
Please clarify this for me.
Hi Denise - Feetures is for both sewing machines and sergers. The first volume covers presser feet #0 (Zigzag Foot) through #35 (Invisible Zipper); the second volume covers #37 (1/4" Patchwork) through #99 (Zigzag with Finger Guard) plus all of the coded feet for 9mm machines plus serger accessories; volume 3 covers all of the new accessories that weren't included in the first two books (items introduced since 2002). The note at the top of each page indicates that serger accessories are shown in italics to differentiate them from sewing machine accessories.
Hi Rita - I think there was another index that went out after 6/25/07, but I don't have a copy o fit; I don't there's anything different on it, as they both include all three volumes. I think the 10/16/07 file went out in a mailing, while the earlier one was posted on the website. Jo
I've got the feetures that came in installments and goes into a three ring binder. I love it! It answers questions for both sets of feet I have. I'm not sure what supplement would go with that version though.
Otherwise, I have to say I have almost all of the above books and you are correct, they are great!
Hi Annenet - You have one of the earliest versions of Feetures. It was originally a set of 13 sections - A through M - that were released consecutively. It was one of the first big projects I worked on for BERNINA, back about 12-13 years ago. They were consolidated into two spiral-bound volumes in the early 2000s, with a few new feet added (the new feet were available in section N at the same time Feetures was released in volumes 1 & 2). Volume 3 was added just a few years ago - since you already have the early sections, adding volume 3 (sections O & P) would give you the complete set. Jo
I have to second the Vogue Sewing recommendation! My book is totally trashed (in a good way!Grin) and has the best how-to for zipper installation I have ever seen.
BUT if you are a doll maker, you really have to have the Susana Oryan books, "Anatomy of the Doll" and "Designing The Doll"
Have fun, LI
Leave a Comment