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500 Sewing Tips, Tricks, Techniques, and Hacks: Must-Have Manual for Easy and Accurate Sewing
500 Sewing Techniques, Tips, Tricks, and Hacks is like having all of the quick-hit tutorials and sewing hacks you saw on Instagram and TikTok in one all-encompassing reference book. From author Ashley Hough, co-host of the Craftsy quilting show, Let's Make a Quilt, this resourceful book features 500 technique "hacks" with easy-to-follow photo step-outs, quick tips, and trick snippets – answering just about any question any sewist may have. How can you get a clean edge on an inside angle? Can you add zippers to your lapped pockets? What's the key to a straight seam? It's all within these pages. You'll find tips and hacks for crisp pockets, zippers, bindings, edges, buttons, buttonholes, curves, corners, and more. It's the ideal way to cut through the learning curve and pick up the techniques that only experienced sewers know about - all available in one handy, "seamless" guide.
- GenresHow ToNonfiction
902 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 6, 2026
Appears to be a nice, concise overview of tools at first. The reader thinks, "oh, that's what that odd pin is!"
Yet it quickly becomes suspiciously like an AI-generated book, with inadequate editing. The images for a section often appear on a turned page after the copy, even where there would be plenty of space for both on the same page. "Hack!" blurbs are inserted in random places, with no connection to the blurb before or after. This disturbs the flow and almost belies the point. A section of "Easy Tips" would serve the audience much better.
The copy is switched for some entries, e.g. a sentence "These type of shears ...." finished the blurb on the Rotating Cutting Mat.
There are some neat ideas - sewing a 'maze' on paper, without thread, to get used to maneuvering and working with the machine. Except, again, the dust from the paper will fall into the tiny spaces and make a nightmare of cleaning. Fabric has texture to catch on brushes, where paper dust does not.
Some of the suggestions are outright dangerous:
Some of the explanations use terms or tools not defined. A 'hack' for "thin paper weights" comes after the blurb for "drafting paper". There is NO listing for 'thin paper weights': Are they weights for thin paper, or a paperweight that's small? More:
Bias tape makers are addressed without any explanation of bias tape or why one would need it. Ditto for fusible web. Experienced sewers will know the terms, but this book isn't designed for that level. Sewing machine feet are listed and named one-by-one; the pictures are no better than a catalog. In fact, it would be more helpful to go to a fabric store and ask for help than to use this resource to even identify the feet one might find in their machine.
One Tip! suggests a presser foot with a 4" seam marking. The feet are typically about 1" long and narrower than that - where does the 4" marking appear, again? (No picture, of course.)
These errors and omissions and questionable 'tips', placed alongside some useful information, make this a frustrating resource. What is reliable and what is just wrong or dangerous?
Maybe a future edition will utilize a professional editor or a book designer, if not both.
Yet it quickly becomes suspiciously like an AI-generated book, with inadequate editing. The images for a section often appear on a turned page after the copy, even where there would be plenty of space for both on the same page. "Hack!" blurbs are inserted in random places, with no connection to the blurb before or after. This disturbs the flow and almost belies the point. A section of "Easy Tips" would serve the audience much better.
The copy is switched for some entries, e.g. a sentence "These type of shears ...." finished the blurb on the Rotating Cutting Mat.
There are some neat ideas - sewing a 'maze' on paper, without thread, to get used to maneuvering and working with the machine. Except, again, the dust from the paper will fall into the tiny spaces and make a nightmare of cleaning. Fabric has texture to catch on brushes, where paper dust does not.
Some of the suggestions are outright dangerous:
Use a small, sticky backed hook on your machine to hang your scissors...This ignores the reality that you'll stab yourself reaching for something, adjusting fabric, or that the weight of the metal scissors combined with the machine vibration just might help that sharp point free itself at an inopportune moment, and stab someone in the leg or foot. A blade suspended unsecured over or at an active workplace is an invitation for injury.
Some of the explanations use terms or tools not defined. A 'hack' for "thin paper weights" comes after the blurb for "drafting paper". There is NO listing for 'thin paper weights': Are they weights for thin paper, or a paperweight that's small? More:
A seam measurement guide allows you to easily mark a desired seam allowance on the throat plate of your machine based on your needle position. To use, simply select the seam allowance measurement you want to use. Using the hand wheel of your machine, lower the needle into the hole next to that measurement. Lower the presser foot to hold the guide in place, then mark the seam allowance on the throat plate of your machine using a magnetic seam allowance guide, tape, or other marking method.The image shows the item, but not its described use. Most other tool descriptions do NOT include details about use, so an image would be the least a reader should expect.
Bias tape makers are addressed without any explanation of bias tape or why one would need it. Ditto for fusible web. Experienced sewers will know the terms, but this book isn't designed for that level. Sewing machine feet are listed and named one-by-one; the pictures are no better than a catalog. In fact, it would be more helpful to go to a fabric store and ask for help than to use this resource to even identify the feet one might find in their machine.
One Tip! suggests a presser foot with a 4" seam marking. The feet are typically about 1" long and narrower than that - where does the 4" marking appear, again? (No picture, of course.)
These errors and omissions and questionable 'tips', placed alongside some useful information, make this a frustrating resource. What is reliable and what is just wrong or dangerous?
Maybe a future edition will utilize a professional editor or a book designer, if not both.
February 3, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.
I got SO excited when I saw this on NetGalley and requested it right away. But unfortunately it absolutely did not live up to my expectations. (P.S I am a self taught very novice seamstress so my technical knowledge is extremely limited but I have made quite a few basic things)
The biggest and unavoidable issue with this book is that the layout makes this book borderline unusable as a reference. It feels like a book that is stuck between two subgenres - between a full on step by step tutorial book, or a book of assorted tips and tricks. This is first shown by the lack of numbering of the 500 tips etc - given how hard this aspect is pushed in the blurb this was surprising to me and I feel if this had been numbered it would have forced the text into something much more valuable.
This guide does not have any flow from section to section, and it feels like the order of things is just straight up wrong. ‘Fabrics’ is at the end (beginning at page 237 of 282 despite the quote “fabric is still the foundation of every project”), ‘Patterns’ is halfway through the book, and shockingly there is no section on the sewing machine itself. The second section is ‘Techniques’, which is essentially a collection of tutorials on pockets, collars, and sleeves, amongst other things. Immediately after learning what the different types of dressmakers pins are used for, you’re thrown into a step by step how-to for a Safari Pocket. Then towards the end of the book we get a number of vital tutorials, such as How to Tie a Knot when Hand Sewing (page 204), How to Choose the Right Needle (page 214), and a ‘Thread’ section starting on page 224.
Not to belabour the point, but were I to follow this chronologically I would have made pockets, sleeves, and collars before learning about thread, patterns, or needles or fabric. As a novice this was super confusing for me to read.
Others have made note of specific paragraphs within sections etc so I won’t go into anything else but I do just have to say that a sewing book that does not define a seam allowance is actually wild to me. (Yes I did check and the only reference in the index is “seam allowance magnet, hack for, 39”)
There are a whole host of other small issues I could list but I think I’ve made my point with enough evidence. Ultimately this book, from both a layout and flow-of-content perspective, reads as one long text document that has been pasted directly into indesign or some other book layout program, without any consideration of the final reading experience. This is a huge shame as it seems the author has quite a few serious credentials under her belt. I’m sure her knowledge could be transformed into a great book to help sewists of all levels, but unfortunately due to the issues outlined above, this is not that book.
I got SO excited when I saw this on NetGalley and requested it right away. But unfortunately it absolutely did not live up to my expectations. (P.S I am a self taught very novice seamstress so my technical knowledge is extremely limited but I have made quite a few basic things)
The biggest and unavoidable issue with this book is that the layout makes this book borderline unusable as a reference. It feels like a book that is stuck between two subgenres - between a full on step by step tutorial book, or a book of assorted tips and tricks. This is first shown by the lack of numbering of the 500 tips etc - given how hard this aspect is pushed in the blurb this was surprising to me and I feel if this had been numbered it would have forced the text into something much more valuable.
This guide does not have any flow from section to section, and it feels like the order of things is just straight up wrong. ‘Fabrics’ is at the end (beginning at page 237 of 282 despite the quote “fabric is still the foundation of every project”), ‘Patterns’ is halfway through the book, and shockingly there is no section on the sewing machine itself. The second section is ‘Techniques’, which is essentially a collection of tutorials on pockets, collars, and sleeves, amongst other things. Immediately after learning what the different types of dressmakers pins are used for, you’re thrown into a step by step how-to for a Safari Pocket. Then towards the end of the book we get a number of vital tutorials, such as How to Tie a Knot when Hand Sewing (page 204), How to Choose the Right Needle (page 214), and a ‘Thread’ section starting on page 224.
Not to belabour the point, but were I to follow this chronologically I would have made pockets, sleeves, and collars before learning about thread, patterns, or needles or fabric. As a novice this was super confusing for me to read.
Others have made note of specific paragraphs within sections etc so I won’t go into anything else but I do just have to say that a sewing book that does not define a seam allowance is actually wild to me. (Yes I did check and the only reference in the index is “seam allowance magnet, hack for, 39”)
There are a whole host of other small issues I could list but I think I’ve made my point with enough evidence. Ultimately this book, from both a layout and flow-of-content perspective, reads as one long text document that has been pasted directly into indesign or some other book layout program, without any consideration of the final reading experience. This is a huge shame as it seems the author has quite a few serious credentials under her belt. I’m sure her knowledge could be transformed into a great book to help sewists of all levels, but unfortunately due to the issues outlined above, this is not that book.
May 15, 2026
500 Sewing Tips, Tricks, Techniques, and Hacks: Must-Have Manual for Easy and Accurate Sewing by Ashley Hough is one of those books that feels like having an experienced sewist sitting beside you while you work through a project. Whether you are brand new to sewing or someone who has been sewing for years, there is genuinely something useful packed into these pages.
What I really appreciated about this book was just how well thought-out everything looked. The layout is fantastic and incredibly easy to navigate, making it perfect as both a learning tool and a reference guide you can quickly flick back to while in the middle of a project. The information is broken down in a very approachable way, so you never feel overwhelmed, even when covering techniques that may sometimes feel intimidating.
The visual presentation of this book is also one of its strongest features. The images paired with the tutorials and techniques are excellent and make a huge difference when learning sewing skills. Being able to visually follow along with Ashley Hough's explanations helps take a lot of the guesswork out of sewing, especially for beginners who may still be building confidence.
I also loved how practical this book is. From seams and curves to pockets, zippers, bindings, and finishing techniques, it really does feel like a collection of all those handy little sewing tricks that experienced sewists pick up over time. There are so many small tips throughout the book that can make sewing easier, cleaner, and far less frustrating.
What makes this book stand out is that it doesn't feel overly technical or inaccessible. Instead, it feels encouraging and genuinely useful. More experienced sewists will still find plenty of clever reminders and handy hacks, while beginners will likely reach for this book again and again as they continue learning.
Overall, this is an incredibly resourceful sewing companion that I can easily see becoming a staple on many craft room shelves. If you enjoy sewing, quilting, garment making, or simply love learning new techniques, this is definitely a book worth having on hand.
Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Chapel Publishing/Landauer Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What I really appreciated about this book was just how well thought-out everything looked. The layout is fantastic and incredibly easy to navigate, making it perfect as both a learning tool and a reference guide you can quickly flick back to while in the middle of a project. The information is broken down in a very approachable way, so you never feel overwhelmed, even when covering techniques that may sometimes feel intimidating.
The visual presentation of this book is also one of its strongest features. The images paired with the tutorials and techniques are excellent and make a huge difference when learning sewing skills. Being able to visually follow along with Ashley Hough's explanations helps take a lot of the guesswork out of sewing, especially for beginners who may still be building confidence.
I also loved how practical this book is. From seams and curves to pockets, zippers, bindings, and finishing techniques, it really does feel like a collection of all those handy little sewing tricks that experienced sewists pick up over time. There are so many small tips throughout the book that can make sewing easier, cleaner, and far less frustrating.
What makes this book stand out is that it doesn't feel overly technical or inaccessible. Instead, it feels encouraging and genuinely useful. More experienced sewists will still find plenty of clever reminders and handy hacks, while beginners will likely reach for this book again and again as they continue learning.
Overall, this is an incredibly resourceful sewing companion that I can easily see becoming a staple on many craft room shelves. If you enjoy sewing, quilting, garment making, or simply love learning new techniques, this is definitely a book worth having on hand.
Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Chapel Publishing/Landauer Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 20, 2026
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to review this e-book!
500 tips and tricks is a HUGE undertaking, so as someone who has sewn for over 20 years, I've read just about every sewing and quilting book out there, and have vast experience with self-taught and class-taught techniques - and the sheer amount covered in this book is remarkable!! This would be good for anyone who always has questions about sewing techniques "how do I make an invisible seam again?". The internet is always there, but I've gotten tired of looking up the same techniques again and again because I do use them but infrequently enough that I don't have them mastered. It's a tremendous resource!
There IS a picture for each step and great descriptions. The pictures are laid out a bit haphazardly for me, not very modern, and small which I do not like. There are "tips" and "trick" word bubbles on just about every page making the pages feel cluttered. Though they ARE helpful tips indeed.
I usually avoid craft books as ebooks, as they are difficult to navigate. On netgalley app, it's not easy to see if there will be sections divided by the chapters making it easy to navigate or not. The chapters themselves are divided in the table of contents has a large number of pages between, so if there is no easy way to navigate that will be an issue for e-readers.
500 tips and tricks is a HUGE undertaking, so as someone who has sewn for over 20 years, I've read just about every sewing and quilting book out there, and have vast experience with self-taught and class-taught techniques - and the sheer amount covered in this book is remarkable!! This would be good for anyone who always has questions about sewing techniques "how do I make an invisible seam again?". The internet is always there, but I've gotten tired of looking up the same techniques again and again because I do use them but infrequently enough that I don't have them mastered. It's a tremendous resource!
There IS a picture for each step and great descriptions. The pictures are laid out a bit haphazardly for me, not very modern, and small which I do not like. There are "tips" and "trick" word bubbles on just about every page making the pages feel cluttered. Though they ARE helpful tips indeed.
I usually avoid craft books as ebooks, as they are difficult to navigate. On netgalley app, it's not easy to see if there will be sections divided by the chapters making it easy to navigate or not. The chapters themselves are divided in the table of contents has a large number of pages between, so if there is no easy way to navigate that will be an issue for e-readers.
April 28, 2026
Wonderfully detailed book that covers pretty much everything you could possibly need to sew. This goes through all the tools, equipment, notions, fabrics, threads, then moves into seams, darts, collars, cuffs, binding, hems, and it really seems to cover it all. There are several pictures for the instructions, they are detailed, the materials are contrasting so you can easily see what's happening, and this is easy to follow along with. I'm slightly over brand new at this, but I do quilt. I know some of the things contained, but some were news to me. I had no idea what all those marks on the sewing feet were for, or that there is a method to which direction button holes should line up. I got this as an advanced copy, but I will be buying my own to go with my instruction manuals. Great for any sewing enthusiast in your life, contains a wealth of information in one place.
I received an advanced reader copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received an advanced reader copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 29, 2025
Ashley Hough, of the National Sewing Circle has produced a step-by-step guide to common sewing issues. Though I've been sewing for many years, this book provided numerous ideas and tips I hadn't known about. There were also some tools detailed of which I was unaware, though my grandmother, a professional seamstress, probably knew it all.
The well-captioned, closeup pictures and easy-to-read text make this book an invaluable guide for all, from the novice to experienced sewist. The directions were clear and concise and the hints could be adapted for many types of sewing projects. The book is organized in a logical manner, with more advanced methods following more easily mastered concepts.
Recommended for not only the beginner but the more advanced seamstress.
Note: I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.
The well-captioned, closeup pictures and easy-to-read text make this book an invaluable guide for all, from the novice to experienced sewist. The directions were clear and concise and the hints could be adapted for many types of sewing projects. The book is organized in a logical manner, with more advanced methods following more easily mastered concepts.
Recommended for not only the beginner but the more advanced seamstress.
Note: I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.
February 18, 2026
I received this book courtesy of Netgalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: You are wanting to start sewing. You even have your first sewing machine. Maybe you have caught a few Youtube tutorials. But where to you go from there? This book might not walk you through putting together a pattern, but it does offer tips, tricks and more to help make sure that your path as a sewist goes as smooth as possible. Does it work? Let's find out.
Likes: We get tutorials for different pockets, collars, and zipper styles--complete with pictures.
Mrs. Hough shows us how to square corners, pick needles or thread, and even gives us a glossary of different fabric styles.
Conclusion: This is an excellent resource book. If you do any amount of sewing, or want to get started sewing, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
Overview: You are wanting to start sewing. You even have your first sewing machine. Maybe you have caught a few Youtube tutorials. But where to you go from there? This book might not walk you through putting together a pattern, but it does offer tips, tricks and more to help make sure that your path as a sewist goes as smooth as possible. Does it work? Let's find out.
Likes: We get tutorials for different pockets, collars, and zipper styles--complete with pictures.
Mrs. Hough shows us how to square corners, pick needles or thread, and even gives us a glossary of different fabric styles.
Conclusion: This is an excellent resource book. If you do any amount of sewing, or want to get started sewing, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
December 23, 2025
The perfect sewing reference which covers everything from pressing tools, machine feet, pockets, decorative Canadian smocking techniques, interfacing and stabilizers, etc. I loved all the tips, descriptions and how to’s.
Very impressed with how the layout smoothly flows from beginning to end and also allows you to quickly go back and look something up. I would recommend this sewing guide for both beginners and more advanced.
Thank you Ashley Hough and Fox Chapel Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley
Very impressed with how the layout smoothly flows from beginning to end and also allows you to quickly go back and look something up. I would recommend this sewing guide for both beginners and more advanced.
Thank you Ashley Hough and Fox Chapel Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley
December 25, 2025
This is a tremendous encyclopedia about all things sewing. I particularly liked the numerous tips and hacks highlighted throughout. A great guide, particularly for a beginner.
March 19, 2026
4.5 stars. This is a fabulous resource for almost all sewing scenarios! Only wish some pictures showed more angles. Will be purchasing this for myself!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews