Sewing Basics: All You Need to Know about Machine and Hand Sewing

by Sandra Bardwell

"Sewing Basics "is the ultimate encyclopedia for sewing at home. This thorough guide covers everything from choosing fabrics to operating a sewing machine to hand sewing, fitting, fine-finishing, trouble-shooting, and more. Whether the sewer is trying to decipher the symbols on a printed pattern, line a pocket, work French seams, or fit a muslin, she'll find what she's looking for here, all precisely explained and illustrated with hundreds of step-by-step photos. Both for beginners learning how to hem and for more experienced sewers who need help mastering advanced techniques, "Sewing Basics "is an invaluable reference tool sewers will want to keep within easy reach for many years to come.

Genres: Sewing, Crafts, Reference, Nonfiction

278 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2011

Reviews

[Jo Bennie]

This is an excellent book to get those new to hand and machine sewing started and an invaluable reference guide for more experienced stitchers. It takes you through every aspect of using sewing machines, commercial patterns, techniques, tools, materials and hand sewing with clear text and good step by step illustrations. Bardwell's book encourages patience and good methodology everyone who sews can learn from.

[Renee]

This is the book I wish I had when I first began sewing. This would have saved me tons of headaches. It's kind of book that not only touches on every important basic technique but also helps you ask the questions you might haven't thought of until you had more experience. Love this book. A great refresher for advanced beginners too!

[Aja Marsh]

Really nice handbook for machine and handsewing with clear photos and lots of description.

[Ania Gaska]

This was a very helpful and pleasant to read book on sewing! It's given me the basics I need to start and it's fueled my enthusiasm for learning more.

[Andrea]

This is an excellently written, detailed book with clear, vivid images that helped me make super Christmas gifts last year! ...Finally using the machine I got for Christmas the previous year. o_O This book was perfect for brushing up on and gaining a stronger understanding of basic skills and also for learning slightly more advanced techniques that opened my sewing horizons. I really do feel more confident having this book on hand as a reference. Where I feel I need a bit more info than the book offers, it's still a great foundation for a web search. Very much recommend to new or slightly experienced sewers.

[Katie]

Good reference, focuses on sewing machine operation and making clothing.

[Jen Morrison]

I read it. However, that does not mean I will create anything that looks like it should. Lol.

[Kristen]

Excellent reference guide! I'm a little intimidated by some of it, but as I learn the techniques, this will come in very handy.

[Deanna]

I felt that a lot of the explanations about how to do things were hard to understand. Even the pictures and illustrations did not help much.