Teach Yourself Visually Sewing Review

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(More customer reviews)I credit this book with teaching me not only to sew, but in helping me recognize that I am a visual learner. Previous to finding this jewel I had read other sewing books, many highly recommended, and felt only frustration and confusion by the terminology (even in so-called "beginner" books.) For instance, I read the description/meaning of "selvedge" over and over, but it didn't actually click for me until I had this book. Here a simple glance at a photo told me everything I needed to know to identify WHAT the heck it was so I could get on with the actual sewing. No more wasting hours trying to decipher text on how to position fabric for a particular action, once again clear and large photos clarify the matter. I refer to this book constantly and I find it's well-organized, with a complete index.
If you find yourself stumped or frustrated by other "beginner" books, you may find that you comprehend and learn far faster from a tutorial with lots of photographs (step by step demonstrations) than endless paragraphs of text. I know it works for me and I have several wonderful completed projects now to show for it. I even added some "advanced" touches to my beginner projects thanks to this helpful guide. Kudos to Ms. Colgrove and the publisher for recognizing that visual learners need different tools.

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If you're tired of items that just fit so-so—sew, sew! This guide will have you expressing your personal in no time. You'll learn the basics of hand sewing and sewing with a machine and get detailed information about tools and fabrics. From there, you'll progress to sewing seams, darts, facings, zippers, fasteners, and more. You'll learn to use patterns and try your hand (and your sewing machine) on warm-up projects like a tote bag or a baby receiving blanket. Then it's on to more creative designs like a stylish messenger bag and fun, flanged pillow shams. If you learn by seeing and doing and want to create chic, unique accessories and home décor, this book is a perfect fit!

Concise two-page lessons show you all the steps to a skill and are ideal for quick review
Each skill or technique is defined and described
Detailed color photos demonstrate each step
Step-by-step instructions accompany each photo
Helpful tips provide additional guidance

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Sew with Confidence: A Beginner's Guide to Basic Sewing Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a very good book for beginner sewers. Its easy to
understand and gives good tips for todays' sewing fabrics and
machines. I thoughly enjoyed reading it. It has easy to
understand diagrams and pictures.

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Beginning or aspiring sewers will learn the skills they need and gain confidence in their work with this helpful guide! Sew With Confidence teaches basic sewing skills and then moves on to explain more complex techniques, encouraging readers to take their skills to the next level with more involved projects. The book includes information on materials and tools needed to get started, sewing and serger machines, organizing the sewing area, patterns, fabrics and more. The easy to follow instructions and step-by-step photos and illustrations will ensure success for novices, as well as inspire confidence. Anyone who wants to learn the basics of sewing will want this straightforward guide to the craft.

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Complete Photo Guide to Sewing - Revised + Expanded Edition: 1200 Full-Color How-To Photos Review

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(More customer reviews)If you purchase this book, be aware that is was published under another name, "Singer Sewing Step by Step" in the early 90's. I'm glad that I checked it out of the library before purchasing, because I already own the other book...yes, it has some decent photos, but I would be cautious in recommending this to a beginner, as I was when I purchased the older version. Construction techniques are not thoroughly explained, usually only one or two pages of photos are devoted to any one technique (collars, sleeves, etc.). Personally, I was very frustrated by this. One would be better off using this as a complement to another book, such as the Readers Digest guide to sewing or the Vogue sewing book, both of which are excellent resources but lacking in photo illustrations. The book is a bit dated, too, but if you can get past that, it is not too bad.

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The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing – Revised is the one reference every sewer needs. Its 352 pages and 1100 photographs cover every aspect of fashion and décor sewing. Sections include choosing the right tools and notions, using conventional machines and sergers, fashion sewing, tailoring, and home décor projects. Included are step-by-step instructions for basic projects like pillows, tablecloths, and window treatments. Sewers from beginners to the skilled will turn to this book again and again.

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Make It Sew Sewing Machine Review

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(More customer reviews)The Make It Sew sewing machine is a miniature sized 2 speed with top and bottom thread stitching, uses bobbins. It can run on 4 AA batteries or electric, and has a hand on/off switch or foot pedal option. The foot pedal creates more variable speed control for turning, corners, or designs. It does a basic single stitch only. I bought this machine at a thrift store in its original box and with all the accessories included, as shown in the picture. I was able to get the machine running in a very short time and make some basic practice stitching with it, but the problem I believe is with the instruction manual which is written in poorly translated chinese and was not too helpful. I had a vintage book here called Readers Digest Complete Guide To Sewing which had the information in it to help me get the machine working, thankfully. So I will be using this small machine to learn on since I have minimal experience with actual sewing machines. I feel that it is a nice item and will enjoy using it. Thank you for reading my review :)

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Create beautiful crafts, home decorating items, and even scrapbook pages with this mini sewing machine. This machine features two speeds. The high speed is comparable to the speed of other mini machines, and the low speed is slower, which is ideal for approaching corners on small items and allows greater control when stitching through several layers. Make It Sew operates on 4-AA batteries (not included). Also included is an AC adapter, foot petal, needle, and bobbin. This machine uses conventional needles and Singer 15 bobbins. Make It Sew comes with a cute storage case; durable clear corrugated plastic with bright yellow front clasp and carrying handle.

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Me and My Sewing Machine Review

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(More customer reviews)I honestly can't say enough good things about this book. I was more than surprised at how well it was written and presented. I have been on the look out for a great, basic sewing guide to recommend to new sewers and I no longer need to search. This is the book! Everything is well written, in an easy to understand format. Kate tells you just what you need to know without a lot of extra fluff. Step-by-step photos for each technique are a true blessing. Even after sewing for 20+ years, this book will have a permanent home on my shelf.

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Accessible, good-looking and jargon-free, this book contains everything you need to know to sew well using your sewing machine and nothing more. There are no scary couture-type techniques that real sewers never use, no painstaking procedures that don't actually make your sewing easier, or help it look better, and no complicated methods of doing anything. Instead you will find easy-to-understand, practical and decorative techniques that make sewing simple, even if you have never used a machine before. There are lots of clever tips plus shortcuts that can make things faster and easier to do, with clear advice on when you can use these speedy methods and when it really is better to do something the traditional way. Everything is illustrated with clear step-by-step photography and finished samples, with variation samples where appropriate. As well as techniques, there are some easy projects you can make on your sewing machine and although they are simple, they don't skimp on style.

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Creative Publishing International-Sewing 101: A Beginners Guide To Sewing Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a solid book recommended by the Sewing Association & after getting this I can see why. There is an intro the machine and hand sewing and then the all important hemming lessons. From there you start with t-shirts! Yes we're off and running already with garments. I was not prepared for this thinking I would be doing pillows and potholders and other nonsense, but no let's get practical. Garments like t-shirts, wrap skirts, pull on pants/shorts head the list. They tell you how to read the pattern and then guide you thru making the actual garment giving you hints and tips to making an easy & wearable piece.
After garments we go home dec and do the pillows, curtains and shades. There are enough projects in here to keep you busy for about 6 months at which point you should know the basics & know where to go from there on your own. Daunting, eh? Well I was impressed and got going immediately. I got really psyched and I think a project a fortnight is doable. They recommend making more than 1 garment of each type to solidify what you know so unless you're very industrious a project a week is a rough haul. This book is easy, approachable and most importantly, inspiring, so much so instead of using my old high school one I actually bought a brand new beginning machine (A Viking Huskystar 207).
If you've been thinking about sewing buy this book and take the plunge. Until I got this book I never realised how much was based on the simple t-shirt (pj's, sweats, turtlenecks). Enjoy.

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-Covers the basic skills and techniques of sewing.

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Get the Most from Your Sewing Machine Review

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(More customer reviews)I found this book to be a quick study with fun, quirky projects. This is a great beginners books.
~XOXO~

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This book allows you to look at sewing machine features in a completely new light, where practical functions become creative goldmines. You will be delighted with a mix of feature spreads that burst with tips, ideas, tricks and inspirations, and creative projects that use the machine for sewing. The flexible ?dip-into? format makes for a highly accessible and inspirational book - funky page layout holds a wealth of must-know bite-size information.This is a ?go-to? book that will be referred to again and again for techniques and inspiration, even as your confidence and skills grow.

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