Couture: The Art of Fine Sewing

by Roberta C. Carr

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.

Genres: Sewing, Crafts, Nonfiction, Fashion

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[The Itsy Bitsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a VERY long time to get through this book, but considering I think the main reason for that was how incredibly detailed it is, I don't think I'd consider that a failing. This book is definitely going in the list of the top five most useful sewing books I own.

It is a bit odd as it's all "Midwestern homemaker couture" and it's a bit... well lets say even if the construction is exquisite the taste is questionable. Also it's weirdly rah rah. That being said it has the widest scope of fine sewing techniques I've ever seen, the instructions are all very clear and as detailed as they need to be to allow for the level of precision called for by this type of sewing.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for techniques in sewing but styles outdated
Good resource

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthwhile addition to a reference library. Worth owning for me, if only for the detailed instructions on how to draft a tulip sleeve.

Chock full of useful tips for the more advanced sewist.

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, a pet peeve: "Haute Couture" is a protected term in the same way that "champagne" is. Roberta Carr has never worked in an atelier. Few if any of her "new couturiers" have ever worked in an atelier. Almost none of her examples are from an actual couture house. Despite her one-woman attempt to redefine the word "couture" throughout the book, this is not haute couture. This is sparkling good sewing.

Now, if you're looking for sparkling good sewing for clothing, and can borrow or get a copy of this book inexpensively, it's not a bad book for it. It has a lot of good tips for an advanced beginner or intermediate sewist who isn't afraid to take some extra time and care for markedly better results. I do have to warn that is has some of the damnedest omissions, though. There's nothing on zippers. I honestly don't know how someone writes a book like this without including hand-picked zippers. There's nothing on boning, which is commonly used for support in couture. She also seems to have forgotten the instructions for slip basting. Several times she references them on page 39, but page 39 is a deconstruction of a garment, and does not have those instructions.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A multitude of books are available on sewing basics and quilting. As primarily a garment seamstress, I'm usually far more interested in creating original, high-quality clothes that don't have that "homemade" look to them. This book has some great tips. Some are too time-consuming for me, but I still learned some useful things.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The look of the book is so I love the 1980's. The wild colors in your face part of the 80's. But when I have had people comment on how professional my sewing looks I know a lot of it came from this book and using the techniques in it.