Sewing 101: a beginner's guide to sewing

Sewing 101: a beginner's guide to sewing

by: Editors of Creative Publishing International

Topics include:

Book Description:

Book Description Sewing 101 is a modern-day primer on the basic skills and techniques of sewing. This book is geared toward the absolute novice and assumes you know little or nothing about the craft. Filled with lots of step-by-step photos, useful sewing tip sidebars, and a painstakingly detailed glossary, Sewing 101 teaches you how to sew successfully. You will learn terminology used regularly in sewing, as well as all the basic skills that are the building blocks of the art. From threading the machine to sewing a straight stitch, to more complicated procedures such as installing zippers and following patterns, everything is covered. Chapters include such topics as: the sewing machine and its accessories, sewing supplies and how to use them, how to shop for, prepare, measure and cut fabric, and more. Each new technique is taught via the creation of an actual project, such as a pillow, window treatment, t-shirt, or baby blanket, thereby allowing you to learn a new skill and create an item to wear, display or use in your home. Dust off that machine and begin sewing for fun and function! About the Author Developed by the editorial staff that created the best selling Singer(r) Sewing Reference Library.

You gotta start somewhere -- This is a solid book recommended by the Sewing Association and after getting this I can see why. There is an intro the machine and hand sewing and then the all important hemming lessons. From there you start with t-shirts! Yes we're off and running already with garments. I was not prepared for this thinking I would be doing pillows and potholders and other nonsense, but no let's get practical. Garments like t-shirts, wrap skirts, pull on pants/shorts head the list. They tell you how to read the pattern and then guide you thru making the actual garment giving you hints and tips to making an easy and wearable piece. After garments we go home dec and do the pillows, curtains and shades. There are enough projects in here to keep you busy for about 6 months at which point you should know the basics and know where to go from there on your own. Daunting, eh? Well I was impressed and got going immediately. I got really psyched and I think a project a fortnight is doable. They recommend making more than 1 garment of each type to solidify what you know so unless you're very industrious a project a week is a rough haul. This book is easy, approachable and most importantly, inspiring, so much so instead of using my old high school one I actually bought a brand new beginning machine (A Viking Huskystar 207). If you've been thinking about sewing buy this book and take the plunge. Until I got this book I never realised how much was based on the simple t-shirt (pj's, sweats, turtlenecks). Enjoy.

Before this book, I thought I'd never learn to sew -- Sure, your sewing machine retailer may offer lifetime lessons, but what about actual sewing projects? Was the last time you attempted sewing in middle school Home Ec? This book is the answer. It is very well-written with useful photos and highlights important information in a way that it becomes your working knowledge. It offers detailed instruction for window treatments including Roman shades, rodpocket, and grommet curtains, as well as a few clothing pieces. It also offers a section on reading sewing patterns, which can be intimidating to the novice. Other books I've seen have too much information, that it becomes confusing. This is perfect. If you have recently purchased your first machine OR want to do more with your sewing machine than let it collect dust but don't know where to begin, this is the book for you.

Reviews:

Learn to sew in a day... -- I ordered the Sewing 101 and Home Decor Sewing 101, and highly recommend both. I received a sewing machine for my birthday, had no idea how to use it, but really wanted to learn to sew. So, I ordered these two books, and let me tell you, they are wonderful! I read both books the day I received them, went and purchased fabric and notions the next day, and thanks to these books, was sewing in no time. These are great for the person who has never sewn or even seen a sewing machine up close before receiving one. I am so glad I purchased these. There are great practical home decor items in both books, which is exactly what I was wanting to learn how to make since the selection in stores is so poor. Now I can make my own custom items, and they will be much better quality than the overpriced, unattractive items I always find in the stores. If you know someone who wants to learn how to sew, but doesn't have the time to go to a store for lessons, or they don't have anyone to teach them, these would be the perfect gift!

Great book for a beginner -- I bought this book and had good success making the diaper tote bag, which I gave as a gift to a friend who had a new baby. The insturctions are very clear and easy to follow. I gave my copy of the book to my daughter who is just getting into sewing, so now I need to purchase another copy for myself. The bottom line is that it's a terrific book, esp. for a beginner. More like sewing 201 -- If you are a very beginner, this is not the book to get you started. I got very frustrated after reading this book and was ready to quit until I bought the book "Sew Fast, Sew Easy." It leads you step by step, which this book does not. I may use it as I learn more... A must-have book for the intimidated beginner sewer like me!, December 3, 2004 Reviewer: Ann (Lowell, MA) - See all my reviews For years I wanted to learn how to sew but was intimidated by the mechanics of the sewing machine and sewing terminology, reading those darned patterns, fearing zippers, buttonholes, etc. This book explains it all in easy to understand language and plenty of clear pictures to show exactly what is being described. Not a lot of time is spent with the theory of it all; you'll get down to sewing right away on simple projects and then build upon the skills you've learned. Within a matter of days I went from knowing nothing to building confidence steadily. The beginner projects are really good, practical ones that include both clothing and home decor items. I am primarily interested in home decor sewing for my own home, and the projects contained in this book are all I personally could ever want: for example, even though this is a beginner book, some of the drapes you can make have that expensive custom look!! I really liked the fact that the book is spiral bound and lies flat so you can easily have it open to refer to while working. I just wish I had known about this book a long time ago--I could have been making curtains for my kids' rooms as their interests changed through the years!! If you want to take the plunge into sewing but you're very intimidated by sewing the way I was, do yourself a huge favor--get this book!!

Simple Sewing Easy as 1-2-3 -- I purchased this for my sister, when she received a new Janome machine from her father-in-law for Christmas this past year. She had absent-mindedly said within his hearing that she'd like to learn to sew someday---and he obliged, by purchasing the machine as a gift. Wasn't that nice? That machine can do absolutely anything. Unfortunately, she couldn't even thread a hand sewing needle! She had no idea how to wind a bobbin (or what a bobbin was) or thread a machine, so I gave her this book along with Simplicity's Simply the Best Sewing Book (the newest edition--I wouldn't give up my older copy that I've had since 1991!). Both together got her sewing in less than a weekend. I am more experienced as a sewer and crafter, so for me, the book isn't as helpful. But for her, it was the best gift she's ever gotten--besides that new sewing machine. Best Sewing Book Yet -- If you're new to sewing or just want a refresher, pick up this book! I know how to thread a machine and sew a straight line but that's about it. This book covers so much more. There are even examples of up to date patterns that would be easy to sew such as a wrap around skirt, throw pillows and scrub pants. You will learn terminology used regularly in sewing, as well as all the basic skills that are the building blocks of the art. From threading the machine to sewing a straight stitch, to more complicated procedures such as installing zippers and following patterns, everything is covered. Each new technique is taught via the creation of an actual project. Great book for beginners... -- This book is great for beginners. It's not meant for folks with a lot of sewing experience - although it does have helpful suggestions that could probably save time even for those who do have skills already. It explains basic vocabulary re: fabrics, stitches, and sewing tools. It also has a section on patterns. Then each chapter is like a recipe, walking you through a simple project start to finish (i.e., a vest, jacket, skirts and other simple clothes, several types of pillows (flange, knife-edged, zippered, bow-tied), placemats and napkins, tablecloths, a baby blanket and diaper bag, curtains, and more). I had no experience other than a home ec class 25 yrs ago and using this book, I've made at least 10 of the projects, and am feeling more confident with each one. I highly recommend this book - I have 3 or 4 others supposedly for beginners, and keep going back to this one - it's the easiest to follow and I always end up with good results.

Skimpy on machine use -- This book give a lot of guidelines, but is not specific in such areas as which needles are which, how the machine is used (such as for sewing a straight seam) and such items as various thread types. I was disappointed with the lack of such detail for a absolute novice. Still, the book does cover ways to produce a better result, and gives a number of good precautions (such as not sewing over pins). There are less experienced people and there are beginners -- Some beginners, I guess, were born understanding that you sew on a sewing machine with two sources of thread, not just one. They know about bobbins and thread tension and fabrics. They even know what ribbing is. I guess I am an underprivileged beginner. I needed a book like this so that I could understand my sewing machine's user manual and Simplicity's "Simply the Best Sewing Book". Too basic for even a beginner -- If you're trying to sew fashionable clothes, even basic clothes, this isn't the book for you. There's no instructions on sewing with zippers or buttons - two major fundamentals. Waste of money. I do like the spiral binding, though

A Big Help! -- I particularly loved this book for the color photographs which accompanied the step-by-step instructions. I also appreciated the projects in the book. They were a nice change from the '60s,'70s, and '80s rejects one usually sees in these things. As a novice at the sewing machine (as in, "How do you thread this thing?!!"), I feel better prepared to face my sewing monster-er, machine.