Sewing is the perfect hobby – it is relaxing, creative and extremely useful! But sewing machines can seem complicated. This book has everything you need to know to choose, use and look after your sewing machine with confidence. The first chapters will help you choose a machine, explaining which features to look out for. Once you’ve got your machine home, the step-by-step instructions will help you get to grips with everything. Learn how to set up your machine and its basic functions including: winding a bobbin, threading up and adjusting tension and stitch size. With plenty of information on basic dressmaking techniques, you will soon be tackling seams and hems, zips and buttonholes, gathers and pleats, binding and trimming. Feeling creative? Try out some decorative techniques – with machine embroidery, appliqué, patchwork and quilting. And if you get stuck, there is an invaluable trouble shooting section along with a jargon busting glossary. So whether you want to use your sewing machine to carry out simple repairs, customize and alter your vintage finds, create a whole new wardrobe from scratch, or make a stylish curtains and cushions for your home, be sure to have this manual by your side at all times!
All the techniques, clear step-by-step artworks, and patterns you need to make 24 wonderful skirts All the techniques, clear step-by-step artworks, and patterns you need to make 24 wonderful skirts INCLUDES THREE FULL SIZE PATTERN SHEETS FOR US DRESS SIZES 4 TO 22 Follow Wendy Ward’s tutorials to make a wide range of stylish skirts. From 8 basic shapes—circle, A-line, stretch pencil, wrap, bubble, tailored pencil, front-opening, and culottes—you will learn the skills to make variations that have pockets, color blocking, gathers, ruching, darts, and much more. All the basic techniques you will need are also explained, so you’ll feel confident with essentials like inserting zippers, attaching waistbands, gathering, pleats, making buttonholes, and adding linings. There are also handy hints and tips on how to take measurements and on choosing the right fabric. Skirts are the perfect first garment for beginner dressmakers, and there are some really simple designs here—the jersey pencil skirt is just two pieces of fabric with an elasticated waistband! So arm yourself with this book, some fabric, and Wendy’s sewing wisdom, and you’ll be on your way to updating your wardrobe with unique skirts that are a perfect fit.
Learn quilting basics from a YouTube sensation and practice your skills with 12 fun projects suitable for all skill levels. Her instructional videos have inspired thousands to start sewing. Now for the first time, sew-lebrity Laura Coia shares written patterns for the most loved video tutorials on her “Sew Very Easy” YouTube channel! Learn the basics of quilt making, from cutting and pressing to borders and finishing. Then practice your skills with a dozen beautiful projects—quilts you’ll come back to time and time again—all suitable for beginners and beyond.
Popular teacher, designer, and online radio host Pat Sloan teaches all you need to know to machine quilt successfully. In this third book of her beginner-friendly "Teach Me" series, Pat guides you step by step through walking-foot and free-motion quilting techniques. First-time quilters will be confidently quilting in no time, and experienced stitchers will discover the joy of finishing their quilts themselves. No-fear learning for quilting novices--Pat covers all the information you need to quilt from start to finish Pat guides you through simple and fun practice projects, including a strip-pieced table runner and an easy applique design Collect the entire skill-building library of Pat Sloan's popular "Teach Me" series of books
The ultimate coverstitch guide to help you master the coverstitch machine and create beautiful, professional-quality, garments. Fully illustrated step-by-step instruction on everything from hemming knits and sewing necklines to jeans making and sewing underwear. Includes chapters on accessories, needles, thread and troubleshooting.
Over 100,000 copies sold 'A tapestry of strong characters and accomplished writing' Herald Scotland It is 1911, and Jean is about to join the mass strike at the Singer factory. For her, nothing will be the same again. Decades later, in Edinburgh, Connie sews coded moments of her life into a notebook, as her mother did before her. More than a hundred years after his grandmother’s sewing machine was made, Fred discovers a treasure trove of documents. His family history is laid out before him in a patchwork of unfamiliar handwriting and colourful seams. He starts to unpick the secrets of four generations, one stitch at a time.
Follow Wendy Ward’s tutorials to make a collection of comfortable and stylish garments. Follow Wendy Ward’s tutorials to make a collection of comfortable and stylish garments. Wendy’s style is functional but beautiful basics, and you will learn the skills to make garments out of knitted fabrics that drape beautifully and are a joy to wear. There are t-shirts, wide-leg trousers, lounge trousers, tank tops, cardigans, skirts, and dresses made in versatile fabrics that can be dressed up or down. Both beginners and more experienced dressmakers often avoid using knitted fabrics, but Wendy will show you how to successfully sew them with just a regular sewing machine. You will learn essential skills with the help of a comprehensive techniques section that includes a guide to different types of knitted fabrics and their uses (including jersey, sweatshirt fabric, boiled wool, and many more), how to prepare them for making clothes, setting up your sewing machine, which needles you need, sewing seams and hems, and using elastic. There are also full-size patterns for every garment included at the back of the book, so you will have all the information you need to start making your own perfect wardrobe!
A Sewing Course in a Book If you have just decided that you want to learn how to sew, this book has been designed for you. Learning to sew can be simultaneously frustrating and rewarding, so you want a book that will start slowly, build your confidence and help you avoid common problems. Designed as a thorough sewing course, How To Start Sewing will walk you through the entire sewing process, from your first hand sewing stitches to your first complete garment. You don't even need to have a sewing machine to start learning. Just like having a sewing teacher in your own home or studio, let us show you how to choose and use your first sewing machine, troubleshoot your way through common sewing issues and build your sewing confidence. Go easy on your budget by buying new equipment and materials only as you need it, then put your new supplies and skills to use in hands-on exercises. Don't let the large size of this book intimidate you; everything is explained in straightforward language with practical examples. No prior experience required. The Perfect Reference Book For the more experienced sewer, How To Start Sewing is designed as the perfect reference book. Forget trawling multiple books and videos to decipher sewing instructions, sometimes you just want a book on your studio shelf that you know you can trust. Use our Table of Contents and Index to get right to the technique that you need. We have focused on the most versatile techniques and explained them step by step with detailed drawings. Use our troubleshooting guides to master your sewing machine, improve your stitch quality and solve recurring construction issues to raise your sewing skills to the next level. Practical Sewing Exercises with Patterns to Match It can be frustrating trying to learn how to sew a detail when your pattern doesn't match the instructions. To solve this common problem we have included a whole library of small sewing patterns. Trace off the patterns, cut them out in fabric and follow the step-by-step exercises to sew seams, darts, pockets, zippers, vents, and plackets. This process will help you to create a reference folder full of your favourite techniques. Next time you forget how to sew the lining for an invisible zipper, or how to adjust the tension on your overlocker, you will have your reference sample there to remind you. And next time you want to swap or modify a detail on a sewing pattern, you will have the pattern library to use as a handy reference. Professional Techniques for Superior Results Whether you are studying fashion design, have your own label or sew for yourself at home, we know that you want to master techniques that are of a professional standard. We have specially selected the details that are the most versatile in womenswear and menswear collections so that you can mix and match them endlessly across your own garment patterns. Or apply the details in this book to your favourite commercial sewing pattern. We will only teach you the details and methods that are used to create high-end ready-to-wear garments. With practice, you will be able to consistently create garments of a superior quality. Designed for Different Types of Sewers If you are a perfectionist, this book will suit your pragmatic desire to know everything about the how and why of sewing and will help you build your skills and knowledge in a specific order. Learn to analyse garments and diagnose construction problems like a professional and fine-tune your techniques. Or if you prefer to make mistakes first, and then ask questions later then we are here for you too. Just use our troubleshooting guides to tell you why you keep breaking needles and tangling your thread so you can quickly solve your issues and plough through your first projects. The sooner you start making mistakes, the sooner we can help you fix them.
A complete course in machine-sewing for children aged 7–11 Sewing is a skill that has so many benefits for children and can give them real pride in their achievements. Angela Pressley has been teaching children to sew for over 13 years, and knows how to encourage and inspire them to learn, starting with the basics and building up a portfolio of skills. And to keep them interested, she has designed 30 makes that will help them cement the knowledge they've gained, from sewing simple seams to patchwork, curves and corners, hems, linings, and so much more. The book starts with an introduction to the sewing machine and some of the basic skills and equipment needed to sew. Then there are four chapters, each beginning with a techniques section, followed by projects that put into practice the skills just learned. Every project includes clear artworks plus a difficulty rating, from "easy peasy" to "you're on your way", "you've got this", and "you're a star". As children progress through the levels they will learn how to make their own toys, bags, accessories, and clothes, and will be encouraged to put their own creative ideas into their sewing.
