100 Best Sewing Books of All Time

We've ranked the best sewing books using expert recommendations, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. At Shortform, we know books. Our book guides are the best in the world. Learn why.

1

Couture Sewing Techniques

Claire B. Shaeffer

5.0
The world of haute couture is a place where only a privileged few can ever hope to reside, right? Wrong. Fashion historian Claire B. Shaeffer opened the door to this exclusive realm in her authoritative guide to the techniques that define couture sewing. And now, the industry bible, Couture Sewing Techniques , has been revised and updated throughout -- with new photos and a chapter on specialty
The Sewing Book book cover2

The Sewing Book

Alison Smith

4.8
This is the only sewing book you'll ever need. Every tool and every technique you require for making your own home furnishings or clothing is closely and sharply photographed, carefully annotated, and clearly explained.

The Tools section begins with the basic toolkit, opening up into everything you could possibly need - every type of cutting tool and machine foot is shown. This section also include
3

The Colette Sewing Handbook: Inspired Styles and Classic Techniques for the New Seamstress

Sarai Mitnick

4.7

A great plan, a great pattern, a great fit, a great fabric, and a great finish: These are the five fundamentals for perfecting any sewing project. Sarai Mitnick, an independent pattern designer setting the high water mark in the industry, shares her knowledge of these fundamentals and offers five beautiful projects to go with them.

Powerful instruction: A former expert in user experience in the te

4

Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing: A Modern Guide to Couture-Style Sewing Using Basic Vintage Techniques

Gretchen Hirsch, Sun Young Park

4.7
Gretchen “Gertie” Hirsch is a passionate home seamstress, a sought-after sewing teacher, and the creator of one of the web’s most popular sewing blogs: Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing. The blog began as a way for readers to follow Hirsch’s progress as she stitched all 14 fashions from the iconic 1950s sewing book Vogue’s New Book for Better Sewing (a Julie & Julia–esque experiment for the mode
5

New Complete Guide to Sewing

Reader's Digest Association

4.7
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, essen
The Art of Manipulating Fabric book cover6

The Art of Manipulating Fabric

Colette Wolff

4.6
The possibilities for three-dimensional manipulation of fabric - gathering, pleating, tucking, shirring, and quilting woven materials - are seemingly endless. To describe them all would be to describe the entire history of sewing.


In "The Art of manipulating Fabric," Colette Wolff has set herself just this task, and she succeeds brilliantly. Working from the simplest possible form - a flat piece o

7

Singer: The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing

Nancy Langdon

4.6
Singer: The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing, 3rd Edition, the definitive guide to all things sewing, from garments or decor, now features updated photography and techniques.

Singer: The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing, 3rd Edition is the one reference every sewer will need. Its 312 hard working pages and 1,200 carefully shot photographs cover every aspect of fashion and décor sewing. With this compre
The Complete Photo Guide to Perfect Fitting book cover8

The Complete Photo Guide to Perfect Fitting

Sarah Veblen

4.6
The Complete Photo Guide to Perfect Fitting is the ultimate reference for fitting test garments and transferring accurate adjustments to patterns.

No matter what size or shape you are, wearing garments that fit perfectly makes you look and feel better. Rather than making commonly accepted changes to a commercial pattern, the method presented in this guide focuses on the way a test garment fits the
9

Vogue Sewing

Crystal (Editor) McDONALD

4.6
The bestselling guide to sewing gets a freshening up!

And it’s from Vogue®: the most respected name in needlework.



A trusted classic since 1975, Vogue® Sewing has remained a consistent bestseller and sewer’s favorite. Now it’s been fully revised and updated, with the latest information and all-new photographs and illustrations, introduction, and page layout. From choosing a machine to mastering cou
10

Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew

Amy Karol

4.5
11

Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide

Claire Shaeffer

4.5
"Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide" is your one-stop sewing resource, with answers to the most common sewing questions and details about the latest advancements in sewing. This new, thoroughly updated edition contains everything you need to know, and will surely be a reference you will review again and again. In addition to an extensive glossary with answers to the most common sewing questions
Patternmaking for Fashion Design book cover12

Patternmaking for Fashion Design

HELEN JOSEPH ARMSTRONG

4.5
Same Content as US Edition in Different Softcover Design
13

Complete Guide to Sewing

Reader's Digest

4.5
s/t: Step-By-Step Techniques for Making Clothes and Home Furnishings
The best-selling bible of sewing -- fully updated to meet the needs of today's market. The constant companion of the many people who are turning to home sewing as a creative -- and money-saving -- hobby.
14

Sew Everything Workshop

Diana Rupp

4.5
The Book A lively how to and why to sew tutorial that marries attitude and instruction while teaching everything you need to know:
How to find the right machine, and become one with it
Essential skills, from winding a bobbin to sewing a dart to customizing a pattern
Preparing a workspace
The Ten Fabric Commandments
Laying out and cutting patterns
With step-by-step instructions and full-color photographs
15

Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified

Cal Patch

4.5
If you’ve ever watched Project Runway and wished you were a contestant, or you’re simply ready to take your sewing to a new level, Design-It-Yourself Clothes teaches you the fundamentals of modern patternmaking so that you, too, can create your own inspired clothing.

Until now, the aspiring DIY fashionista has been hard-pressed to find self-teaching tools other than dry textbooks or books with outd
16

Fit for Real People: Sew Great Clothes Using ANY Pattern

Pati Palmer, Marta Alto

4.5
Presented in a new edition that adds updated pattern industry news and revised rules for selecting pattern size, this easy and practical fitting system requires no measuring, no drafting skills, no muslin mock-ups—and it works with all brands of tissue paper patterns. Real people of all ages are featured in photographs that explain the steps of cutting out pattern pieces, pinning them together, an
17

The Dressmaker's Handbook of Couture Sewing Techniques: Essential Step-by-Step Techniques for Professional Results

Lynda Maynard

4.5
Packed with professional techniques and tips, The Dressmaker’s Handbook of Couture Sewing Techniques takes the mystery out of the sewing and fi nishing techniques that many dressmakers assume are either extremely diffi cult or are only for professional fashion designers.

Fashion designer and expert sewist Lynda Maynard tackles each professional technique with clear instructions in simple step-by-st
18

Love at First Stitch: Demystifying Dressmaking

Tilly Walnes

4.5
Simple, elegant, and a little groovy, Love at First Stitch is all you need to start making the dresses of your dreams--with 7 complete full-size patterns.

Fancy making your own clothes but have no idea where to start? Tired of overwhelming sewing manuals and frumpy projects? Love at First Stitch offers a refreshing approach to dressmaking for modern makers, taking you from the basics of threading y
Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects book cover19

Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects

Amy Butler, Colin McGuire

4.5
Celebrated designer Amy Butler brings her fresh, modern style to the timeless craft of sewing. In this lavishly illustrated collection of patterns, she presents more than 25 charming projects ranging from cushy floor cushions to smart aprons to stylish handbags. Our innovative packaging makes for easy usepattern sheets are neatly tucked into a folder on the inside cover of this full-color, lay-fla
20

Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics

Francesca DenHartog

4.5
Blending expert advice with inspiring designs, Sew What! Skirts will delight both novice and veteran sewers alike. This spiral-bound book lays flat for easy reference and features full-color photographs of 16 sample skirts, with illustrated step-by-step instructions for completing each one. Encouraging you to experiment with bold patterns and unique fabrics, Francesca DenHartog and Carole Ann Camp
21

Weekend Sewing: More Than 40 Projects and Ideas for Inspired Stitching

Heather Ross, John Gruen

4.4
More than just a pair of days, a weekend is also a state of mind—a feeling of relaxation and freedom to immerse ourselves fully in a favorite activity. In Weekend Sewing, designer Heather Ross presents creative projects for clothing, accessories, and home items that can be made in a weekend or less. Some, like the Quick Garden Gloves and Ruby’s Bloomers, take a few hours; others, like the Weekend-
22

Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing: Patterns and How-To for 24 Fresh and Easy Projects

Lotta Jansdotter, Meiko Arquillos

4.4
Internationally celebrated designer Lotta Jansdotter collects 24 of her most popular sewing patterns into one irresistible collection. Our innovative packaging makes for easy usereusable pattern sheets are neatly tucked into a folder inside this full-color, lay-flat spiral bound book. Lotta has included patterns for handy tote bags, smart aprons, chic bed linens, and much more. Each project is pai
23

Shirtmaking

David Page Coffin

4.4
Why make a shirt? Because, with the skills you'll learn in Shirtmaking, you can create elegant, custom-fit garments for a woman or man that look like the best money can buy. Includes full-scale patterns for collars, cuffs, plackets, and pockets, and complete instructions for developing custom-fit shirt patterns.
24

How to Make Sewing Patterns

Donald H. McCunn, Robin Lew

4.4
25

Alabama Studio Sewing + Design: A Guide to Hand-Sewing an Alabama Chanin Wardrobe

Natalie Chanin, Sun Young Park

4.4
Alabama Studio Sewing + Design is an invaluable reference for any woman who has dreamed of creating her own gorgeous handmade wardrobe. In this follow-up to Alabama Stitch Book and Alabama Studio Style, author Natalie Chanin presents all of the stenciling, hand-stitching, and beading techniques her company uses to create the award-winning Alabama Chanin line of organic cotton clothing, plus more t
26

Pattern Magic

Tomoko Nakamichi

4.4
Pattern Magic is the cult pattern-making book from Japan. Taking inspiration from nature, from geometricshapes, and from the street, this book harnesses the sheer joy of making and sculpting clothes. The book takes a creative approach to pattern making, with step-by- step projects for fashion designers and dressmakers to enjoy. Each project is beautifully illustrated with clear diagrams and photog
27

How to Use, Adapt, and Design Sewing Patterns

Lee Hollahan

4.4
An accomplished fashion designer shows women who make their own garments how to improve on store-bought sewing patterns by adjusting the clothing item's length and other details to reflect personal taste and create a custom fit. The book's opening chapters present an illustrated guide to the tools, equipment, and fabrics needed for making garments, while also serving as a miniature textbook to tea
The Bag Making Bible: The Complete Creative Guide to Sewing Your Own Bags book cover28

The Bag Making Bible: The Complete Creative Guide to Sewing Your Own Bags

Lisa Lam, Amy Butler

4.4
The ultimate practical guide to sewing fabulous bags from expert Lisa Lam Detailed photographs illustrate every technique in this unique book, from choosing fabric to inserting fastenings.

Expert tips, trade secrets and inspirational advice result in professional and beautiful results.

A capsule wardrobe of eight exclusive designs features easy-to-follow instructions and full-size patterns.

Whether y
29

The Dressmaker's Technique Bible: A Complete Guide to Fashion Sewing

Lorna Knight

4.3
A complete resource of techniques for designing and making clothes, whether you are following a pattern, adding embellishments, or designing garments from scratch.

This book is an essential dressmaking techniques guide. It includes an at-a-glance guide to basic garment shapes and styles, and cross-references the relevant techniques throughout the book, with advice on construction techniques, sugges
30

High Fashion Sewing Secrets from the World's Best Designers

Claire B. Shaeffer, Glee Barre

4.3
A Step-By-Step Guide to Sewing Stylish Seams, Buttonholes, Pockets, Collars, Hems, And More

Internationally known sewing expert Claire Schaeffer reveals the secrets of high-fashion legends such as Geoffrey Beene, Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Liz Claiborne, and Calvin Klein. Claire's illustrated, step-by-step instructions let you duplicate the design details made famous in
31

Gertie Sews Vintage Casual: A Modern Guide to Sportswear Styles of the 1940s and 1950s

Gretchen Hirsch

4.3
The mid-20th century was an amazing time for American women’s fashion! Following the war, women started looking to American designers rather than French couture houses for inspiration and to demand clothing they could move in, even play in. In this follow-up to Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing, Gretchen “Gertie” Hirsch celebrates the classic casual styles that icons like Katharine Hepburn, Audr
The Geometry of Hand-Sewing: A Romance in Stitches and Embroidery from Alabama Chanin and The School of Making book cover32

The Geometry of Hand-Sewing: A Romance in Stitches and Embroidery from Alabama Chanin and The School of Making

Natalie Chanin and Sun Young Park

4.3
As makers, we tend to learn different stitches over time without thinking much about how they relate to one another. But when Natalie Chanin and her Alabama Chanin and The School of Making teams began to look at needlework closely, they realized all stitches are based on geometric grid systems—and by using grids as guides, they could make learning stitches, even seemingly elaborate ones, as easy a
33

Sewing in a Straight Line: Quick and Crafty Projects You Can Make by Simply Sewing Straight

Brett Bara

4.3
Create an entire world of sophisticated projects using one simple skill.

Absolutely anyone can sew in a straight line. And with this one skill and some basic guidance, television host and crafty expert Brett Bara demonstrates how you can make custom home decor, stylish fashions, and one-of-a-kind gifts.

Sewing in a Straight Line is a step-by-step guide to creating 28 deceptively simple projects that
34

The Practical Guide to Patchwork: New Basics for the Modern Quiltmaker: 12 Quilt Projects

Elizabeth Hartman

4.3
Quilting Basics with Modern Flair .12 quilt projects for beginners, confident beginners, and intermediates .Explore different options for each project-make it with just two colors or scrappy, make it vintage or mod, make it soft or playful. .Alternate colorways included with each project show you how swapping out fabrics can change the look of the same block. .Learn how to cut, piece, applique, ma
35

The Sewing Machine Accessory Bible: Get the Most Out of Your Machine---From Using Basic Feet to Mastering Specialty Feet

Wendy Gardiner and Lorna Knight

4.3
Whether you are a beginner or have been sewing for years, this book is packed with all the information you need to get the most out of your sewing machine, simply by changing the feet.

• Everything you need to know about feet attachments, from basic feet such as the zigzag foot to specialty fabric and technique feet that will help you invent new design ideas for your sewing projects.

• Work effortle
36

Sewing For Dummies

Jan Saunders Maresh

4.3
Do you love to sew--or want to learn how? Then this book will have you in stitches in no time. There's nothing like the feeling of completing a project using beautiful fabrics and great timesaving tools and then sharing it with your family and friends. Plus, learning to sew will save you money too! Before long, you'll be stitching your own hems, repairing split seams, sewing on buttons, and much,
37

Alabama Stitch Book: Projects and Stories Celebrating Hand-Sewing, Quilting and Embroidery for Contemporary Sustainable Style

Natalie Chanin, Stacie Stukin, Robert Rausch

4.3
38

Mending Matters: Stitch, Patch, and Repair Your Favorite Denim & More

Katrina Rodabaugh

4.3
39

Sewing Happiness: A Year of Simple Projects for Living Well

Sanae Ishida

4.3
40

Sew What! Bags: 18 Pattern-Free Projects You Can Customize to Fit Your Needs

Lexie Barnes

4.3
From daypacks for hiking to everyday grocery totes, bags are an essential accessory for life on the go. In this inspiring guide, Lexie Barnes shows you how to create handmade bags that provide customized functionality while showcasing your own personal style. With step-by-step instructions for 18 pattern-free projects that include drawstring sacks, handbags, and messenger bags, Barnes encourages y
41

The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook

Nora Abousteit, Alison Kelly, BurdaStyle

4.3
If you’ve ever made your own clothes, you know how empowering it can be. That awesome skirt in a fabric you adore. The blouse that fits perfectly. The one-of-a-kind dress you just knew would look cuter with a few extra details at the neck and hem. All made by you.
Creating fashionable, custom-fitted clothing is often much easier than you think, and in their first book, BurdaStyle—the largest comm
42

The Complete Serger Handbook

Chris James

4.2
“The most comprehensive reference on serging to date.”—Craft & Needlework Age

An expert teacher explains the serger, from start to finish! This comprehensive guide is for everyone, from the novice taking the machine out of the box to the experienced user looking for a refresher. It’s a reference, an instructional guide, and even an inspiration. With humor and years of experience, author Chris Jame
43

Seams to Me: 24 New Reasons to Love Sewing

Anna Maria Horner

4.2
44

The Sewing Bible: A Modern Manual of Practical and Decorative Sewing Techniques

Ruth Singer

4.2
A complete course on sewing—from threading a needle to couture hemmingFinally someone has created every sewer's ideal companion: a comprehensive book on every aspect of hand and machine sewing—from the most basic to the most advanced—with a modern aesthetic and 20 projects to boot. From simple tutorials to in-depth masterclasses, Ruth Singer packs in lesson after lesson on both practical and decor
45

Gertie's Ultimate Dress Book: A Modern Guide to Sewing Fabulous Vintage Styles

Gretchen Hirsch

4.2
Every vintage-obsessed sewist dreams of having a closet full of gorgeous dresses. The follow-up to the popular Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing and Gertie Sews Vintage Casual, Gertie’s Ultimate Dress Book is packed with all the information and patterns you could ever need to create a wardrobe filled with stunning vintage frocks. The book begins with all the essential techniques for dressmaking
46

Fast Fit: Easy Pattern Alterations for Every Figure

Sandra Betzina

4.2
Sandra Betzina's tried and true--and easy to do--techniques for creating clothes that fit and flatter your unique shape.
47

Alabama Studio Style: More Projects, Recipes & Stories Celebrating Sustainable Fashion & Living

Natalie Chanin, Robert Rausch

4.2
In Alabama Studio Style, Natalie Chanin, founder and creative director of the acclaimed fashion and lifestyle company Alabama Chanin, takes readers on a compelling journey of creativity, technique, and inspiration. Picking up where the celebrated Alabama Stitch Book left off, Alabama Studio Style is a craft and lifestyle book all in one.s celebrated camisole and tank dresses, the featured projects
48

Stitch by Stitch: Learning to Sew, One Project at a Time

Deborah Moebes

4.2
Learn to Love Sewing, Stitch by StitchSo, you love all that gorgeous designer fabric and you really want to make something with it. Or maybe you've taught yourself a little sewing know-how but have become frustrated. Whatever your background, "Stitch by Stitch" guides you through everything you need to know to start sewing and make it to the varsity level.

Inside "Stitch by Stitch," you'll learn es
49

More Fabric Savvy: A Quick Resource Guide to Selecting and Sewing Fabric

Sandra Betzina

4.2
America's best-selling quick guide to selecting and sewing fabrics is now completely revised and updated. More Fabric Savvy brings over 100 new tips, over 400 new color photos and drawings, the latest new fabrics, and entirely new and useful features, including a handy guide to stain removal. From Sandra Betzina, the dynamic host of HGTV's Sew Perfect, this easy-to-use reference belongs on every s
50

Power Sewing Step-By-Step

Sandra Betzina

4.2
Sandra Betzina not only demystifies the making of beautiful garments that fit ... she inspires a love of sewing itself. A contemporary classic, Power Sewing is clearly written with detailed photos; it guides the reader through every facet of garment construction with ease.
51

Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts: Basic Techniques for Sewing, Applique, Embroidery, Quilting, Dyeing, and Printing, plus 150 Inspired Projects from A to Z

Martha Stewart Living Magazine

4.2
Whether you just bought your first sewing machine or have been sewing for years, Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts will open your eyes to an irresistible range of ideas. A comprehensive visual reference, the book covers everything a home sewer craves: the basics of sewing by hand or machine, along with five other time-honored crafts techniques, and step-by-step instructions
52

Sew Many Dresses, Sew Little Time: The Ultimate Dressmaking Guide

Tanya Whelan

4.2
With her "choose-your-own-adventure" approach to sewing, Tanya Whelan offers an invaluable collection of patterns that empowers sewers to become designers. The trick is a set of patterns for 6 skirts and 8 bodices that line up perfectly at the waist, plus an additional 4 sleeve styles and 4 necklines. Tanya gives readers clear instructions and easy-to-follow step-by-step diagrams that allow them t
53

Sew Stow: 31 Fun Sewing Projects to Carry, Hold, and Organize Your Stuff, Your Home, and Yourself!

Betty Oppenheimer

4.2
Indulge your passion for sewing as you clear your life of clutter. Whatever your experience and wherever the mess, you can sew up a cloth sack or organizer to fit your needs. Gardening tools, groceries, shoes, toys, jewelry, and more will find new homes in these colorful and reusable handmade alternatives to mass-produced products. With Betty Oppenheimer’s easy-to-follow instructions for 31 fun an
54

Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby: 20 Easy Projects for Newborns to Toddlers

Lotta Jansdotter

4.2
Beloved designer Lotta Jansdotter shows how easy it is to make cheerful gifts for little cherubs. A new mother herself, she's created 24 projects that match her simple style with practicality, resulting in sweet, yet durable, essentials for any rumble-tumble baby. She includes baby hats, bibs, a diaper bag built for the back of a stroller, a ribbon-tag blankie perfect for teething, and many more p
55

Tailoring: The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket

Editors of CPi Editors of CPi

4.2
Tailoring is the complete photo guide to sewing jackets and coats.

Written by sewing professionals, this book teaches the trusted, proven methods for sewing tailored jackets with impeccable details and perfect fit. Written for the intermediate sewer who wants to move on to more challenging projects, this book ensures success with detailed, step-by-step instructions, more than 400 photos, in-depth
56

Sew Serendipity: Fresh and Pretty Designs to Make and Wear

Kay Whitt

4.2
57

Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt

Megan Nicolay

4.2
Make it yours. This inspirational guide with DIY attitude has everything you need to know about the world’s great T-shirt: how to cut it, sew it, deconstruct it, reconstruct it, and best of all, transform it. • Features more than 100 projects (plus 200 variations) for customized tees, tank tops, tube tops, T-skirts—even handbags, a patchwork blanket, iPod cozies, leg warmers, and more. • Not a DIY
58

The Party Dress Book: How to Sew the Best Dress in the Room

Mary Adams, Amy Sedaris

4.2
The best dress. In any room. On any occasion. That’s a promise.

Attention fashionistas, glamourattis, and twirling enthusiasts everywhere: The Party Dress Book is the book you’ve been waiting for. Get an inside look at the inspiration, work, and techniques of creative dressmaking of celebrated New York designer Mary Adams. A unique combination of striking and wearable, Mary’s gorgeous dresses are a
59

Sew Liberated: 20 Stylish Projects for the Modern Sewist

Meg Mcelwee

4.2
"Sew Liberated" is the first how-to book of its kind to resurrect the art of applique for today's generation of sewists looking to imbue their work with creative style. Readers will learn hand and machine applique techniques for use outside the traditional quilting context, plus how to create fabric collages. Applique, a technique in which pieces of fabric are sewn onto clothing, bags, quilts, and
60

Amy Butler's Style Stitches: 12 Easy Ways to 26 Wonderful Bags

Amy Butler

4.1
Celebrated designer Amy Butler's most coveted products are her handbag sewing patterns. In Style Stitches, Butler presents an array of new bag designs for her fans across the globe. The book offers 12 basic patterns with enough variations to achieve 26 unique looks. Ranging from chic clutches and delicate wristlets to pretty hobo bags and handy coin purses, with instructions for altering dimension
61

Patterns of Fashion 1 Englishwomen's Dresses & Their Construction C. 1660-1860

Janet Arnold

4.1
Dresses and their construction from 1660 to 1860.

Includes descriptions, line drawings and reproductions of historic magazines and books. The patterns for selected garments have been updated for the modern silhouette.
62

Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones

Amy Butler, Colin McGuire

4.1
63

Making Trousers for Men & Women: A Multimedia Sewing Workshop

David Page Coffin

4.1
Comfortable, flattering pants can be challenging to make - but they're wonderful to wear. In this book, David Coffin provides his inventive, sure-fire methods for getting it right.

With his characteristic precision and straight talk - and with the help of photographs, drawings, and exclusive access to a series of online video sequences - Coffin teaches the reader how to get great results, whether m
64

Sewing School ®: 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make

Andria Lisle, Amie Petronis Plumley

4.1
Kids can sew too! This inspiring guide includes 21 fun sewing projects for children ages 5 and up. With easy-to-follow illustrated instructions and cut-out patterns, young crafters will quickly be sewing up colorful pillows, potholders, dolls, blankets, and more. These kid-tested projects require only minimal supervision and most can be made using simple hand stitches, so no sewing machine is requ
65

Me and My Sewing Machine: A Beginner's Guide

Kate Haxell

4.1
This book has everything a beginner needs, plus it's an essential reference guide for even the most experienced sewers. Learn how to make different kinds of seams, hems, fasteners and bindings, as well as when and why to use each kind. Find your perfect signature style with fanciful finishing techniques like ruffles, pleats, ribbons and applique.
66

Fabrics A-to-Z: The Essential Guide to Choosing and Using Fabric for Sewing

Dana Willard

4.1
Fabrics A to Z is the essential guide for sewists and fabric enthusiasts of all levels. This thorough resource explains the unique characteristics, strengths, and limitations of more than 100 fabrics in easy-to-understand terms, so any sewist can enter a fabric shop with confidence. From dotted swiss to silk charmeuse to faux fur, each entry includes a close-up photo of the fabric as well as an ov
67

Improv Sewing: A Freeform Approach to Creative Techniques; 101 Fast, Fun, and Fearless Projects: Dresses, Tunics, Scarves, Skirts, Accessories, Pillows, Curtains, and More

Nicole Blum, Debra Immergut

4.1
Add charm and personal style to your crafting. Nicole Blum and Debra Immergut offer 101 fun project ideas that will have you incorporating decorative touches and texturally interesting patterns into your sewing repertoire. Each project is designed to take less than a day, meaning that before you know it you’ll be whipping out dozens of dazzlingly high-style creations that showcase techniques like
68

Sewing Green: Projects and Ideas for Stitching with Organic, Repurposed, and Recycled Fabrics

Betz White, John Gruen

4.1
By its nature, do-it-yourself sewing is environmentally friendly. In "Sewing Green, " Betz White takes stitching to an even higher level of sustainability, presenting 25 projects made from "repurposed" thrift-store and back-of-the-closet finds and organic fabrics. White's whimsical yet practical designs include an apron constructed from men's dress shirts (and a wallet from the shirts' cuffs ), a
69

Oliver + S Little Things to Sew: 20 Classic Accessories and Toys for Children

Inc. Liesl and Company, Liesl Gibson, Dan Andreasen, Laurie Frankel

4.1
Home sewers love to dress the children in their lives in garments they have hand-crafted. No one understands this better than Liesl Gibson, who is both a mom and the founder of Oliver + S, a sewing pattern company known for its contemporary yet classically sensible kids’ designs, its precise, easy-to-follow instructions, and its charming paper doll–inspired packaging. In Oliver + S Little Things t
70

Make Yourself Comfortable: Sewing clothes from stretch knit fabrics

Tilly Walnes, Ellie Smith, Fannie Williams

4.1
Make Yourself Comfortable offers perfect proof that easy-to-wear clothes can be seriously stylish with a collection of outfits that combine the comfort of stretch fabrics with Tilly Walnes' signature look. Even experienced stitchers are often wary of working with stretch knit fabrics, but in this book Tilly demystifies the techniques needed and shows how to sew stretchy makes on a regular sewing m
71

Patterns of Fashion 2 Englishwomen's Dresses & Their Construction C. 1860-1940

Janet Arnold

4.1
Dresses and their construction from 1860 to 1940.

Includes line drawings, reproductions of historic magazines and books, descriptions of the fabrics used to make the chosen garments and, finally patterns to make the garments that have been updated to fit the modern silhouette.
72

Patterns of Fashion 3: The Cut and Construction of Clothes for Men and Women, C.1560-1620

Janet Arnold

4.1
Originally published: London: MacMillan, 1985.

Pictures, descriptions and patterns of men and women's clothing from--1560-1620. While you can make the clothing, using the patterns given, be prepared for it to take a while.
73

Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures

Amanda Blake Soule

4.1
For many of us, our home is the center of our life. It is the place where our families meet and mingle, where we share our meals and share our dreams. So much more than just a space to live, our homes offer us a place of comfort, nourishment, and love for us and for our children.

In Handmade Home, Amanda Blake Soule, author of The Creative Family and the blog SouleMama.com, offers simple sewing an
Make Your Own Dress Patterns book cover74

Make Your Own Dress Patterns

Adele P. Margolis

4.1
"Anyone who can work through the labyrinthian directions for sewing that accompany the commercial pattern can surely learn the comparatively simple and clear rules for pattern making," says nationally acclaimed sewing expert Adele Margolis. Her profusely illustrated primer allows you to create your own fashionable patterns and personalized commercial patterns. You'll learn how to design and execut
75

The Basics of Corset Building: A Handbook for Beginners

Linda Sparks

4.1
Think of a corset as a blank canvas.

Linda Sparks' The Basics of Corset Building: A Handbook for Beginners is a comprehensive guide to building your first corset, including:

Section One: Tools and Materials for Corset Building
Discusses the tools you'll need, plus types of steel, plastic, and textiles.

Section Two: Building a Corset
Everything you need to know about working with bones and busks, settin
76

Handsewn: The Essential Techniques for Tailoring and Embellishment

Margaret Rowan, Rowan Margaret

4.1
Take handsewing to the next level!

Sewists are developing increasing interest in heritage handsewing techniques that add beautiful or couturelike finishing touches to the final project. Small handfinished details can quickly become a testament to the style, creativity, and skill of the sewist.

Handsewn offers step-by-step instructions for a comprehensive collection of hand-finishing and embellishing
77

PatternReview.com 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips: Top-Rated Favorites from Sewing Fans and Master Teachers

Deepika Prakash, Sandra Betzina

4.1
This book contains the best hands-on insider sewing tips from the popular sewing website PatternReview.com, a community of more than 170,000 members. The entries are collected from the website’s enormous database of members’ shared comments and advice, rated by hits and reviews. Also included are five special how-to features by PatternReview.com's master teachers and pattern designers, who regular
78

Skirt-a-Day Sewing: Create 28 Skirts for a Unique Look Every Day

Nicole Smith

4.1
Design and sew your own fabulously stylish skirts. In this fun guide, Nicole Smith shows you how to draft a pattern for a custom fit and shape it into one of four basic silhouettes: wrap, straight, flared, and high-waisted. Each skirt can then be easily redesigned into seven distinct looks — one for each day of the week. Suitable for beginners and expert sewers alike, Skirt-a-Day Sewing will inspi
First Time Sewing: Step-by-Step Basics and Easy Projects book cover79

First Time Sewing: Step-by-Step Basics and Easy Projects

. Editors Of Creative Publishing…

4.1
Learning how to sew has never been simpler! Enjoy this beginner's guide that takes you by the hand like a personal instructor and teaches you how to sew using hand stiches as well as sewing machines. Filled with detailed descriptions of materials and tools, the easy step-by-step instructions for all the basic sewing techniques will have you creating projects like aprons, pillows, and even pants an
80

Wee Wonderfuls: 24 Dolls to Sew and Love

Hillary Lang

4.1
Super cute! Darling! How adorable is that?! Welcome to the world of Wee Wonderfuls. In this charming collection, acclaimed toymaker and popular blogger Hillary Lang presents a captivating gang of 24 huggable, lovable creatures to sew—from classics like Margot, a topsy-turvy doll, and the button-jointed teddy bear Bjorn Bjornson, to irresistible Evelyn, a wool felt inchworm decked out in mod glass
81

Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders

Patricia Hoskins, Rebecca Yaker

4.1
This One-Yard Wonders collection organizes projects by fabric type so that you can make the most of each cloth’s unique characteristics. Find the best uses for all your different fabrics as you learn to use stretchy jersey knits for a ruffle scarf, lightweight cotton voile for a girl’s sundress, and sturdy corduroy for a tote. Easy-to-follow illustrated instructions are provided for 101 projects,
82

Pants for Real People: Fit and Sew for Any Body

Pati Palmer, Marta Alto, Jeannette Schilling

4.1
Features step-by-step instructions on fitting and sewing pants for women of different body types using the twin techniques of tissue- and fabric-fitting. This book highlights important sewing choices, including choosing fabrics, selecting appropriate alteration tools, and finding styles that are most flattering.
83

Couture: The Art of Fine Sewing

Roberta C. Carr

4.1
Ideal for sewers with an interest in quality, style, and individuality, this book reveals techniques once only known to the seamstresses in the couture houses of Paris.
84

Denyse Schmidt Quilts: 30 Colorful Quilt and Patchwork Projects

Denyse Schmidt, Bethany Lyttle

4.1
In Denyse Schmidt Quilts, the ultimate resource for the home quilter, Schmidt reveals the secrets behind her most popular designs. Thirty projects range from the simple to the challenging, from patchwork slippers and aprons to tote bags and pillows to her beloved quilt patterns, offering something for every level of quilter. Schmidt reviews the fundamentals of quilting and provides easy-to-follow
85

The Sewtionary: An A to Z Guide to 101 Sewing Techniques + Definitions

Tasia St. Germaine

4.1
From "applique" to "zippers" and everything in between!

Tasia St. Germaine of Sewaholic shares 101 of the most essential sewing terms and techniques. Presented in an easy-to-use format, this alphabetical reference gives more than just definitions: photographed step-by-step tutorials will guide you through each technique, showing you in detail how to apply the technique to your own projects. No matt
86

Encyclopedia of Sewing Machine Techniques

Nancy Bednar, JoAnn Pugh-Gannon

4.1
If the sewing machine does it, then the technique is here! Anyone looking for advice on those indispensable basics will find a variety of ways to do bias binding, buttonholes, edge finishes, gathering, hem finishes, mitering corners, seam finishes, topstitching, and zippers. Or sewers can learn how to make any item eye-catching with an array of creative touches, including appliqué, crisscross chai
87

Professional Sewing Techniques for Designers

Sharon Czachor, Julie Cole

4.1
It is impossible to have good designs without having accurate patternmaking and quality construction skills. Professional Sewing Techniques for Designers is an up-to-date sewing guide that teaches fashion design students the skills they’ll need to execute their original designs in a professional environment. Each chapter covers a particular theme, such as collars, and reflects the order of assembl
Sew Me! Sewing Basics: Simple Techniques and Projects for First-Time Sewers book cover88

Sew Me! Sewing Basics: Simple Techniques and Projects for First-Time Sewers

Choly Knight

4.0
Sew Me! Sewing Basics is geared towards would-be sewers of all ages, who may never have touched a sewing machine or even threaded a needle before. It’s the perfect book for anyone who wants to get started in the craft, or just needs a quick refresher course in sewing. Choly Knight’s friendly and easy-to-follow directions will get readers sewing with confidence, making repairs, and creating new gar
89

Fabric Savvy: The Essential Guide of Every Sewer

Sandra Betzina

4.0
From arctic fleece to velveteen, Sandra Betzina walks the home sewer through the wonderful world of fabrics. Fabric Savvy features 85 different types of fabric and takes the guesswork out of choosing the proper threads, stitches, seam finishes, hems and closures.
90

Built by Wendy Dresses: The Sew U Guide to Making a Girl's Best Frock

Wendy Mullin, Eviana Hartman, Beci Orpin, Dana Vacarelli

4.0
Want a fast and easy way to look completely put together? Throw on a dress! Now, with the help of Wendy Mullin of BUILT BY WENDY, sew your own custom-fit creations—25 in all.

Dresses are as useful—and as crucial—to your wardrobe as your most beloved pair of jeans. You can throw one on in summer or winter, for a night out in heels or a day in beaten-up boots: It’s maximum style for minimum effort.

Th
91

Mend It Better: Creative Patching, Darning, and Stitching

Kristin M. Roach

4.0
Don’t hide that patch, make it a bold, beautiful embellishment! Repair holes with bright thread and a creative darning stitch; revive a stained shirt with fun embroidery! In Mend It Better, popular craft blogger Kristin M. Roach puts a new spin on mending by adapting traditional techniques for today’s crafty sewers. With detailed photography to show each step, she teaches a wide range of patching,
92

Couture Sewing: The Couture Cardigan Jacket: Sewing secrets from a Chanel colletor

Claire B. Shaeffer

4.0
If you want to make a jacket with the impeccable look of Chanel, this is the book to have.

The Couture Cardigan Jacket presents sewing methods Claire Shaeffer developed based on her knowledge of haute couture construction and meticulous research studying original Chanels in museum archives and her own collection. Via the DVD, Shaeffer instructs readers in essential techniques such as cutting and sh
93

Zakka Sewing: 25 Japanese Projects for the Household

Therese Laskey, Chika Mori, Yoko Inoue

4.0
Sunday Morning Quilts: 16 Modern Scrap Projects Sort, Store, and Use Every Last Bit of Your Treasured Fabrics book cover94

Sunday Morning Quilts: 16 Modern Scrap Projects Sort, Store, and Use Every Last Bit of Your Treasured Fabrics

Amanda Jean Nyberg, Cheryl Arkison

4.0
Are scrap piles wreaking havoc in your sewing space? Modern quilters Amanda and Cheryl share a passion for scraps. Their book features 16 bold and scrappy projects as well as expert hints and tips for adapting patterns to your own style, and effectively cutting, storing, and organizing your scraps.
95

Free-Motion Meandering: A Beginners Guide to Machine Quilting

Angela Walters

4.0
Around the Corner Crochet Borders: 150 Colorful, Creative Edging Designs with Charts and Instructions for Turning the Corner Perfectly Every Time book cover96

Around the Corner Crochet Borders: 150 Colorful, Creative Edging Designs with Charts and Instructions for Turning the Corner Perfectly Every Time

Edie Eckman

4.0
A crochet border is the perfect finishing touch on the edges of any fiber project, but creating one often means shaping the edging around an unforgiving 90-degree angle. It’s no easy task, but Edie Eckman guides you through it with style and poise. This collection includes 150 vibrant crochet frames to suit every fiber need, with color photographs by John Polak that showcase the beautiful details
97

Sew Retro: 25 Vintage-Inspired Projects for the Modern Girl & A Stylish History of the Sewing Revolution

Judi Ketteler

4.0
Sewing never goes out of style, and today it is more popular than ever! Sew Retro offers twenty-five stylish, vintage-inspired sewing projects—beautiful bags, essential skirts, unique pillows, and more—that are a pleasure to sew, thanks to easy instructions, helpful diagrams, and a pocket of ten full-size patterns.

This fun, inspirational book also uncovers sewing’s colorful history, from the intro
Embroidery book cover98

Embroidery

DK

4.0
Embroidery is the ultimate stitch dictionary and the ideal guide to embroidery, whatever your level of expertise. The perfect reference guide to needlework, Embroidery is a comprehensive guide to inspire and inform sewers of all levels. Find advice on which thread, needles, or fabrics work with which techniques, and take a look at an incredible 200 stitches — with levels of difficulty, step-by-ste
99

Doodle Stitching: Fresh Fun Embroidery for Beginners

Aimee Ray

4.0
Asian-inspired lampshades embellished with flying fish. Canvas sneakers decorated with pink and white swirls. A pretty pillow adorned with a sleeping bunny, sweetly curled up. All it takes to create these appealing projects—or add charming embroidered touches in no time at all—are a few simple stitches, some easy techniques, and the nearly 30 projects in this book. Begin by learning several styles
100

Pattern Fitting with Confidence

Nancy Zieman

4.0
Nancy Zieman's pattern fitting approach is easy - no cutting, slashing, tucking or pinching--just logical and easy pivot-and-slide techniques, providing a painless method to follow that results in a garment that is comfortable and attractive. Once you learn Nancy's techniques for fitting, you will find it easy to make every garment you sew fit your size and shape. Multiple fitting charts are inclu