Complete Photo Guide to Sewing (Singer Sewing Reference Library)
All books in the category Comprehensive
by: Editors of Creative Publishing international, Singer
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Book Description:
Book Description Since 1984 CPi has sold over 12 million Singer Sewing Reference Library ( books-an average of 1 million per year. The newest addition to this impressive series, The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing, is an indispensible reference tool and the cornerstone of this successful library. The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing will take the guesswork out of garment construction and sewing projects for the home. This valuable sewing tool is packed with step-by-step photos and filled with essential sewing information every home sewer should have-sewing for the home, sewing for kids and valuable information on basic sewing essentials. This colorful, pictorial guide includes step-by-step instructions for sewing basics like making perfect seams, putting in zippers and cutting fabrics, as well as ideas for home decorating projects, like making curtains, tablecloths and pillow shams. Highlights: Provides a complete sewing reference and acts as a cornerstone for the Singer Sewing Library. A thematically organized, at-a-glance guide. Practical, photographic resource with over 1000 clearly detailed photos. Uses generic terms applicable to any brand of sewing machine. Includes guidelines, charts, measurements, and cutting directions. Features a section on home decorating. Appeals to beginners and experts alike-ideal for anyone who sews. From the Inside Flap The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing is your most valuable tool for a lifetime of sewing success. Keep it handy by your sewing machine for instant answers to your sewing questions. You'll find the information you need for every step of clothing construction, from easy fitting to fine tailoring details. Sew stylish home accents for every room with the confidence of a pro. Beginner and expert alike benefit from this complete guide. From cover to cover, it is filled with the quality and expertise you recognize and trust from the editors of the Singer ( Sewing Reference Library (. Concise step-by-step directions and full-color photography show you the clear picture for every project and sewing technique. From the Back Cover Step-by-step sewing reference photographed in full detail. Whether you're a novice or a pro, this comprehensive sewing guide will be the one source you turn to over and over. You'll find answers to all your sewing questions for both clothing construction and home decorating. Professional advice for choosing patterns, fabrics, notions, and sewing equipment. Foolproof techniques for successful sewing, using both serger and conventional machine. Home decorating projects, including window treatments, pillows, bedding, and table decor.
Editorial Reviews -- Amazon.com Sewing garments and home-decor items does not have to be mutually exclusive; there are certain skills and fields of knowledge peculiar to each, and there are some areas of overlap. Remarkably, this extremely comprehensive, heavily illustrated volume manages to do justice to both apparel and decor techniques, from the rudiments of the sewing machine and other essential equipment to an exploration of fabric types, from taking proper measurements (of people as well as of windows and tables) to learning all the basics as well as more advanced skills for many kinds of sewing: women's wear, including tailoring; activewear, including swimsuits; babies' and children's clothes; window treatments, pillows, bed coverings, and table linens. The section on making custom alterations to store-bought patterns is especially helpful for garment sewers perpetually frustrated in trying to achieve a perfect fit. Novices will find this a very useful reference in understanding the often-cryptic instructions of commercial patterns; experienced sewers should have this guide on hand to help them achieve thoroughly professional results. --Amy Handy
I Love It -- This book was too cool. I am one of those people that work by picture. Read the instruction's later. And does this book have picture's. They are in color and magnified. It touches on almost all aspect's of sewing. The section I needed most was constructing a tailored notched collar. Thank You Singer! It was in this book. To go with this book I also bought The Vogue Sewing book. They work great together. Buy them both. This an older Singer Sewing book renamed..... -- If you purchase this book, be aware that is was published under another name, "Singer Sewing Step by Step" in the early 90's. I'm glad that I checked it out of the library before purchasing, because I already own the other book...yes, it has some decent photos, but I would be cautious in recommending this to a beginner, as I was when I purchased the older version. Construction techniques are not thoroughly explained, usually only one or two pages of photos are devoted to any one technique (collars, sleeves, etc.). Personally, I was very frustrated by this. One would be better off using this as a complement to another book, such as the Readers Digest guide to sewing or the Vogue sewing book, both of which are excellent resources but lacking in photo illustrations. The book is a bit dated, too, but if you can get past that, it is not too bad.
Reviews:
Not for Beginners -- I bought this book with the idea that I could actually learn to sew by reading it. Not so. The book is a fine reference book with great pictures, but it is not for those of us whose greatest sewing accomplishments to date is figuring out how to turn the sewing machine on. Best for the Money -- I am a sewing teacher for adults. This is the book I recommend to my students as an adjunct to the class. The photos are excellent and nearly everything is included. Several of the reviews said you can't learn to sew from the book. Learning to sew or expanding your knowledge of sewing demands guidance from an instructor or other experienced person plus good printed references, too. To me, this is the best all around basic book in print today. It can always be supplemented with specialty texts and fliers available at fabric shops. Of course, if you already own the Singer specialty books this one will be a repeat and not as good for your needs. This book is not complete -- It is a compilation of excerpts from the other titles in the Singer Sewing Reference Library. Since I have those books, this book just repeated (exact same text and pictures) information that I already have, only, as I said, not as complete, because they're just excerpts. I highly recommend the individual books in the Singer Series, which are much more informative, but I can't recommend this rehash. Also, I feel that the description should mention somewhere that the book is excerpted from other books, because then I would have known not to buy it. Worth owning, but could be better -- I'm a beginning sewer (*very* beginning) and I purchased this book to help me with all the things patterns don't explain. Some sections have been extremely helpful (zippers, hems) and some are disappointing (sleeves, collars.) In general, the big problem is that a technique that needs 5-10 pictures (including the finished product!) has only 2-3 photos of critical steps. Those are useful, but I often find myself struggling to imagine what they're trying to accomplish. I'm not aware of a better illustrated guide, so I'm still glad I purchased this book. As far as I can tell sewing is a lot like writing code -- you just have to screw it up by yourself in order to learn much. Maybe if I ever master one of the trickier things in the book, I'll videotape it and put the video on the web. ;-)
A beautiful book -- I've been a beginner sewer for many years. That is, I didn't know how to build on my basic skills to make more complex projects. Now that I've read this book, I look forward to trying new techniques and expand on my skills base. The book can be used as a reference, or read all at once for solutions to problems you didn't even know you had. I highly recommend it for people who have had a few lessons, but are looking for more information that you just don't get on commercial pattern instructions. Outstanding -- Very clear, beautiful photos make every step easy to understand. Instructions are complete and every step is illustrated. This is a great reference book for the basics and beyond. I pull this book out and use it instead of pattern instructions for setting in sleeves, creating buttonholes, and making waistbands. There's a nice section at the back for home dec projects, though the focus for most of the book is on clothing. A great buy.