Four lovely books
Sunday, August 31st, 2014
I love a good sewing book – they’re a great source of advice and inspiration. Rammed full of techniques and top tips, it always a good idea to have one or two on hand to offer a bit of help if you get stuck with something. Here are four I really like (a lot!)
The Great British Sewing Bee, Sew Your Own Wardrobe by Tessa Evelegh with a forward from Patrick Grant and May Martin. £12 from Amazon.
I love this book as it really brings the programme to life by tackling some of the patterns and techniques seen on the show with pictures of the contestants throughout too. The instructions are clear and most topics are covered. With the book you also get five full size pattern sheets – the pattern pieces are overlaid so you’ll need to trace off the ones you want to use. This is a great book for those just starting out in dressmaking.
The Collette Guide to Sewing Knits by Alyson Clair. £15 from Amazon
I bought this book about eight months ago when I first decided to make something out of a knit rather than woven fabric. Knits can by tricky if you don’t know the correct techniques to use but once mastered, sewing with knits is very satisfying and opens up a whole different option for your wardrobe. This little book takes you right from the basics (understanding and choosing the fabric, needles to use, useful tools etc) right through to the more advanced techniques such as using an overlocker and installing a stretch lace edge. Nothing is left to chance – if you’re new to knits, this book will tell you everything you need to know in an easy to understand way.
Sew Over It – Sew It, Wear It, Love It by Lisa Comfort. £12 from Amazon
I love giving old clothes a new lease of life by adding embellishments, changing the shape, adding or taking off sleeves etc. Sometimes I lack a bit of inspiration though and struggle to see what I can do to make something fab again. Enter this book. Dedicated to customising, adapting and updating vintage clothes, it highlights all sorts of techniques and ideas to do just that. It’s a lovely dip in and out of book with a vintage feel and is one of those that you learn something new from every time you look through it. It also includes how to make accessories to match or compliment your outfit.
101 Great Ways to Sew a Metre by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins. £11.50 from Amazon
This is a very useful addition to any sewers bookshelf. I often buy a metre of fabric not knowing what I’ll so with it. Or if it’s a particularly expensive piece of cloth I may only be able to justify buying a small amount. So this book is great for these occasions as it is crammed with projects that take under a metre of fabric to make. It includes clothes for women and children and accessories too. It includes all the patterns you need although some of the projects are made using measurements alone and don’t call for a pattern. Instructions are clear and many of the projects are ideal for those sewers still gaining experience and confidence.
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