Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Take handsewing to the next level!
Sewists are developing increasing interest in heritage handsewing techniques that add beautiful or couturelike finishing touches to the final project. Small handfinished details can quickly become a testament to the style, creativity, and skill of the sewist.
Handsewn offers step-by-step instructions for a comprehensive collection of hand-finishing and embellishing techniques, including hems, edges, buttonholes, cuffs, tacking layers and linings, attaching or inserting fabric and trims, embroidery, quilting, applique, and cutwork, among others.
In addition to the stitch technique directory, a section at the beginning covers supplies, tips and tricks, and how to troubleshoot mistakes. The book also includes illustrations and templates of sample decorative motifs with advice for using, transferring, and combining motifs, as well as creating one's own.
Handsewn is an encyclopedic reference guide to all the hand-finishing techniques that elevate a good sewing project into something outstanding.
About the Author
Margaret Rowan studied textile design at Camberwell School of Art and has been in love with textiles all her life. Starting a successful furnishing business, she also taught textile classes in the mid 1990s. She now teaches knitting and sewing workshops for Rowan Yarns and Libertys and has her own Rowantree Workshop where she teaches textile crafts.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 / stitching essentialsTools and Equipment--
Measuring, marking tools, cutting tools, pins, needles, ironing and pressing, tools for transferring designs
Threads
Cotton, polyester, silk, linen, metallic, nylon, stranded embroidery silks, tapestry wool, knitting yarn, rug yarn
Fabrics
Choosing the correct fabrics, preparation of your fabric, ironing and pressing, caring for your textiles, canvas, cotton, linen, silk, man-made, knitted
Beads, buttons, and other additions
Interfacings
Finding the best backing fabrics, stiffeners, using soluble fabric, bonding and fusible cloths.
Finishing tips and tricks
Cleaning, pressing, blocking (for embroideries)
Troubleshooting
When it all goes wrong...how to fix it
Chapter 2 / stitch directory
Basting
Back stitch
Slip stitch
Tailors tacks
Serge stitch
Ladder stitch
Buttonhole loops
Overcasting
Gathering
Gauging
Prick stitch
Herringbone stitch
Bar tacks
Whipping
Diagonal basting
Pad stitching
Mattress stitch
Over sewing
Darning
Fishbone stitch
Swiss darning
Grafting
Blanket stitch
Stab stitch
French tacks
Slip basting
Locking-in-stitch
Chain bar tack
Drawn threadwork
Smocking
Appliqué stitches
Cutwork
Embroidery
Italian Quilting
Trapunto
Saddle stitching
Smocking stitches
Punch stitches
Pin stitches
Shell gathering
Beading
Sequins
Shisha mirrors
Eyelet holes
Long and short stitch
Sheaf stitch
Split stitch
Feather Stitch
Knotted stitches
Looped stitches
Arrow heads
Crows foot
Buttonhole stitch
Running stitch
Fly stitch
Chain stitches
Daisy stitch
Seed stitch
Stem stitch
Couching
Insertion stitches
Satin stitches
Whipped running and back stitches
Cross stitch
Tent stitches
Crewel work
Beadwork
Samplers
Florentine stitch
Basket stitch
Braid stitch
Chapter three / directory of motifs
Designing your own motifs and where to find inspiration
How to combine different motifs
Methods of transferring motifs to fabric
Choosing a stitch or a technique
Motif categories
Alphabets
Celebrations: Babies, birthdays, Christmas, Easter, marriage
Children: Toys, space, fairy grotto, circus
Fauna : Farm animals, pets, birds, and insects, the seashore and fish
Flora: Flowers and leaves, trees and landscape
Food and drink: Teatime treats, fruit and vegetables
Geometric: From around the world
Vintage: Designs particular to different periods