Radical Sewing: Pattern-Free, Sustainable Fashions for All Bodies

by Kate B. Weiss

Radical Sewing is a guide for learning how to make your own clothes. Kate introduces you to the basics and best practices of garment sewing for yourself at home, as well as advice and info on things you wouldn't even know to ask about sewing. Topics include hand sewing, picking out a sewing machine, adding pockets to anything, sewing a button so it stays on, altering your clothes to fit your unique body, and so much more! Regardless of your sewing experience, gender, or body type, this illustrated guide will empower you to make your wardrobe your own. With loads of encouragement to try things out, all you'll need to do is experiment and break the rules to create the clothes and outfits that you want to wear.

Genres: Sewing, Nonfiction, Crafts

160 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2021

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was fine, but I think its title promises too much. It's only 160 pages! It's much too cursory and short to actually guide a beginner sewist, and it doesn't go in-depth enough on anything to be that useful to a more experienced one either. I did find some sections interesting, particularly the critique of different sewing tools like a serger or a dress form that I've always wondered if I should buy.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great intro to sewing from a radical view point. I appreciated the critiques of the fashion industry in the book and the little historical facts too. Sewing is so mystified nowadays when really it something that people can learn to do at least a little of.

[Deborah Makarios · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful little book, but let down in a couple of areas: proofreading (misspellings, missing words...) and the title.
"Radical Sewing" apparently means "Sewing-It's Radical!" rather than any particularly radical form of sewing being addressed by this particular book. And despite the subtitle featuring "pattern-free", there's a lot in here about patterns - drafting a pattern for a circle skirt, creating a pattern off a garment, and using commercial patterns. (In all fairness to the author, it is quite possible that both the proofreading and the titling were in other hands.)
All in all, a good book, but not quite what it says on the tin.

[Jenny Giarratano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I needed to inspire me to start sewing clothing again. I love the sustainable outlook, great tips - after 50 years of sewing, I still learned some new things. But the book is still very accessible for beginners. Grab this book and a sewing friend, and you're all set. Thank you, Kate Weiss!!! Hugs!!!

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely more of a reference book than a guide and tutorial. Use this to get started and feel more comfortable with terminology and devices needed, then get another book to give you more concrete examples and tutorials. Consider this book the helpful relative who encourages you to sew, but leaves you to get the other books and patterns that interest you.

[Hoyadaisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small how-to book made me rethink so much about clothing and sewing and my own body in the world.

[Sandra F · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a little too confusing for raw beginners and a little too basic for anyone with experience. I thought it would talk about how to copy an existing garment or create garments without a pattern, but there’s only a short section on recreating your favorite t-shirt to do the former, and to create a circle skirt for the latter, and I was hoping for something more in depth. There also wasn’t as much information on how to make alterations as I would have liked. (I usually need to alter my clothes at the shoulders and there was no info on that at all.)

I did like that the author included information on sustainability and environmental impact of different types of fabric, but I feel like that info just skimmed the surface and I wanted more in depth knowledge to make decisions about what fabrics to use. I was really happy to see the author include information and language useful to different body types, for example, how to take your measurements if you are usually seated rather than standing, etc.


It’s a quick read and a nice overview for someone who maybe is a beginner and won’t actually try to make anything from the book itself.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took this book out of my library and found it so full of practical sewing advice that I bought a copy to keep. I have been sewing and mending clothes for 25+ years and still learned many things. I think this book would give both beginners and seasoned sewers valuable information. Favorite thing I learned is the best kind of sewing machine needles Microtex (Sharp). The section on altering a pattern for pants fitting was extremely well done. I also started have a "sharps bottle" (i.e., old pill bottle with child safety lid). Once it is filled with old pins and needles I can safely discard my sharps inside the closed pill bottle instead of dropping in the trash can. This book doesn't have photos (it does have delightful sketches and is well laid out). If you read this book cover to cover you will gain many years worth of solid advice that is difficult to learn in today's day and age. I found it so helpful I read it right away a second time. Highly recommend!

[Peachie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is like a hologram- it promises lots of things but there is no substance. It is so bespoke (eyeroll and sigh). ----And spoiler alert, the instructions given to make a pattern-free garment is to trace something you already own.

[Kikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

”Eh, was this it?” is how i felt when i realized i had finished the book and hit the glossary at the end of the book. It promises a lot, but delivers little.

My biggest gripes were that the name of the book did not really match with the contents, some information was not accurate and there was some odd buffing of certain brand (in text and drawings). It is an alright, albeit very short and superficial introduction to sewing with the usual list of supplies and how to sew a t-shirt. I would have loved to read more about what makes sewing radical, because this subject was discussed so little compared to other areas such as tools needed to sew.

When it comes to teaching how to sew, compared to some other sewing related books, this one had fairly little substance because the book was so short and tried to encompass so many aspects of sewing. I felt that there wasn’t really anything new to be learned from this book despite being a very beginner sewist. Pattern-free sewing is a big promise when the book shows you to copy a t-shirt and make a skirt by following instructions, but does not discuss pattern free sewing more than that.

Despite the shortcomings of the book, I look forward to read more from the writer because their ideas regarding sewing are fascinating. I just wish this book hadn’t attempted to encompass so many subjects in such a short format.

[Julia Nashif · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book didn't quite know what it wanted to be. There's an odd mix of too much information and too little. For example, it literally defines what a sewing needle is: "The needle is a hard, long, pointy object with a hole at one end that carries thread through material" (p. 22). Everyone knows that! Even non-sewers! Come on, it's just filler now. On the other hand, you could write entire books about some sections like on patterning, fabric choices, machines, etc., and they were just touched on here because it's only 160 pages long.
The author also comes off as incredibly pretentious, which is weird for a book that is about sewing for everyone. Just off-putting at points. The idea of the book is really good, but the tone missed the mark. Oh, and so did the typos.
Waaay too many typos.
Would I recommend this book to someone? Yes, if they were pretentious about their hobbies, then this would be perfect for them. But would I recommend it to someone who is just learning how to sew? Probably not. More illustrations would be useful if you actually wanted to make something from this book, but you probably won't so it's fine.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book isn't really for beginners when it throws in what I assume is a references to something I don't actually know? It could have used some more editing or readers before publishing, but I won't hold that against the author. Maybe i'm just more fiction brained and needed more context in spots.

Certain pieces were very helpful however! How to use a Pattern was a great intro. And I picked up lots of little things I never knew such as how to knot thread in the correct spot (at the end cut nearest the spool), why people use beeswax in sewing, and what a thimble actually does. This was overall a great intermediate book for someone like me who has been sewing since I was a kid but kind of blindly. I'm a visual learner so many of these terms still went over my head, but I appreciate the book.
I also really appreciate the list of resources and suppliers at the end of the book.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading "Radical Sewing," but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. The subtitle and cover illustrations lead me to think I would find instructions and tips for making garments without a pattern. However, the book is more an encouragement to learn to sew, with tips about how to measure yourself and how to copy favorite items already in your closet (well, how to copy a t-shirt, anyway). Also includes information about selecting fabric, notions, and sewing machines. As I said, and enjoyable read, just not what I expected, given the cover and subtitle.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got all wound up and bought a bunch of books from bookshop.org during prime days and am so glad I bought this one!

The content is very groovy and useful. I really liked the part about how you can measure your own body and where it makes sense to measure waist and hips if you’re plus size.

It is very inspiring for DIY and body acceptance and also explains why it’s important: sustainability, under consumption, etc.

Plus, it comes from an intriguing book publisher with roots in two great cities, Cleveland and Portland !

[hima · Rating 3 out of 5]

love the idea of this book but i think the title over promises. while it’s a great introduction into the tools and techniques of machine and hand sewing i think it tries to cover too many topics in such a small book. but as a beginner sewist i did find the tools and deep dive on fabric types so helpful

[Heather R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wish for shirts that fit my arms and pants that fit my thighs is reaching a tipping point. Books like this one make the idea of taking on a new skill …exciting? Approachable? I’m grateful for the neutrality of gender and the casual expertise. She reads like a friend you can learn from.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine and there were definitely useful things for me. But I was expecting a guide to make clothes without patterns, and there just isn’t much there. And I don’t know if that’s because there isn’t more to know or the book just didn’t go in depth about anything.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good primer but not particularly helpful for an experienced sewist. There were a few gems in here, but I kept getting distracted by the MANY typos and grammatical errors. :/

[Edwina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing radical about it. Mostly, I'm doing it already. The adjustments to trousers was probably solid advice. And I never really thought about a seamripper getting dull. Who knew?

[Paula Laird]

Helpful!

[Tracy Towley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too complex for a true beginner but not detailed enough for an advanced sewer. The format and writing style were good.

[Wendy Lu · Rating 3 out of 5]

found the section on alterations very helpful :)

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this little book. Well designed chapters cover everything from creating a space to sew gathering tools and altering patterns.

[Clover Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s okay. It’s a cute little book, but I could have found all the information in this book online very easily

[Mat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably not for beginners, but if you know sewing basics I think this has a lot of usual info.

[Maria McGrath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing groundbreaking, but a nice addition to the store of knowledge around crafting one's own wardrobe.

[Morgan Bloodsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up recently on a trip; it's a great little sewing reference book for beginners. This has a casual approach and gives a lot of good introductory information, however I agree that it is not a comprehensive how-to. I am a confident intermediate-level seamstress, having worked professionally and as a hobbyist. Even with my experience, I still found many things in this book to be nice for quick reference, particularly a section that explains how different kinds of drag lines on ill-fitting pants show what alteration needs to be done. I also appreciate the sections about fabric types, the discussion of sustainability, and the area talking about sewing tools. This book reads much more informal than many other sewing books I own, but I will probably lend this out to friends of mine who are just beginning their sewing journey.