Product Description

This volume provides the guidance you need to sew successfully, whatever your level of skill. Comprehensive step-by-step instructions cover everything from cutting out patterns to making sleeves and fitting zips, and are accompanied by thousands of colourful illustrations, diagrams, and photographs. This encyclopaedia of sewing includes detailed directions, practical advice, time-saving tips, essential techniques, and hundreds of creative touches to bring out the best in your needlework. There are 20 projects to help you put into practice what you have learned, with ideas for creating clothes and home accessories in classic styles, which can be easily adapted to changing trends.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27252 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

Customer Reviews

Now this is good!
I have bought a couple of other sewing books on Amazon, but neither compare to this one. The so-called Encyclopedia of sewing is barely a third the size of this book. This particular book is comprehensive, detailed and exactly what one expects and needs in order to be successful at a project. There are 20 projects each centred on a particular theme as is each chapter e.g. hems, buttons, collars or quilting and include items for men, women, children and the house. This is a REAL Encycolopedia. Get this book first and others to supplement.

An excellent reference book
Contrary to what other reviewers have said, I wouldn't recommend this book for total beginners - it assumes that you already know the basics of setting up and using a sewing machine, cutting out a pattern, pinning things together, etc. These things may sound obvious, but they certainly weren't to me at first! If you really are starting from scratch and would like a book that'll hold your hand with that sort of thing, this isn't the one for you yet. However, if you're already OK with the absolute basics (or aren't afraid to ask the internet!) and are looking to make the move from practising with cushion covers to making clothes, then this book is a must-have.

Although I can't imagine ever sitting down and reading the whole thing, I've found it absolutely invaluable for looking up particular techniques or bits of jargon when I'm dealing with less-than-clear patterns. The instructions and diagrams are clear and useful, and I particularly appreciate the alternative techniques that it suggests for certain fiddly or complicated bits. And it's not just good for sewing techniques - the book is full of other useful stuff, including a guide to different fabrics and what they are used for and a fantastic section on altering patterns to fit your shape.

All in all, this book thoroughly deserves five stars. Admittedly, the sewing patterns that it comes with aren't much cop and you'll probably never need to use some sections, but the quality of the instructions and the thoroughness of the descriptive sections can't be beat. It's a great investment, and you'll be referring to this book for years to come.

This book is brill!!!!!
Well I can't fault this book, it covers everything!! If you are a complete beginner it's great,if you have experience but want to know how to do something more complex it's brilliant. It covers everything, sewing by hand, with machine, patterns and their markings (what they mean etc), fastenings (all types), how to alter clothes, make curtains etc has little projects you can do as you make your way through the book. Is a great reference. Has brilliant pictures and is easy to understand. It's definately great value for money and it's hardback so will stand up to years of wear and tear - this book will be well used!!!