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).