Sewing Techniques and Patterns

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

From cushions to cradle blankets, from kids' clothes to a kimono, this wide-ranging reference by the author of last season's Embroidery offers all the techniques needed to hand- or machine-sew clothing and home accessories.The designs in this wonderfully practical guide showcase a diversity and richness of material, forms, textures, and colors, and teach a range of couture skills, from the simplest to near-professional level. Comprehensive, detailed sections deal with supplies and fabrics, stitching points and buttonholes, assembling basic seams, stitching in the round, smocking, adding linings, and putting in fasteners and zippers. There's advice on dealing with a variety of fabrics, and projects that work with mesh (a jersey shawl), velour (a jacket), braiding (a curtain loop), and more.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Booklist Review

Sewing is experiencing a new revival among the hip and crafty, and Bayard provides a nice introduction and reference for readers interested in learning. Concise but thorough, Bayard covers a wide range of topics needed to begin sewing for the first time. Supplies, fabrics, and stitches are covered in the first chapter, while a nice collection of reference materials is provided in the back on subjects like taking measurements and fabric care. In between is a large array of projects grouped by technique, so readers looking to learn a specific skill like seams, linings, or working with special fabrics will easily find a project suited for the task. Projects are challenging but not overly complicated in order to teach a solid foundation for readers to grow from. Abad's lush color photographs of the projects are framed to focus on the point of the project (e.g., working with velvet fabric, sewing mitered corners), not the object--another example of the focus of the book--developing skills. A nice book for beginners to get their feet wet and return to again and again when they want to challenge themselves with a new technique. --Jennifer Palmer Copyright 2007 Booklist