Synopses & Reviews
Sewing is back! Young, crafty women are discovering the fun and creativity of working with fabric, needle, and thread to create simple, colorful skirts, suitable for showing off as wearable art.
Sew What! Skirts assumes no priorsewing experience (and no home ec. class or mother with sewing skills!), and doesn't get bogged down with overly complicated instructions or patterns.
Author Francesca DenHartog, a fabric fanatic and sewing instructor, has stripped skirts down to the basics: 15 styles, ranging from an A-line to a circle, wraparound, gored panel, tiered and hippie, layered, and more. All it takes to get started is basic body measurements (no need to go out and buy an expensive pattern), a machine, great fabric, fun embellishments, and a few sewing fundamentals.
With a creative can-do attitude, playful photographs, and super-simple step-by-step instructions, Sew What! Skirts will connect a whole new generation with the craft of making clothing that expresses your own unique look and personality. It's all about the fabric, as DenHartog demonstrates with the colorful array of patterns and motifs featured throughout.
Whimsical, colorful, and easy, the designs in this book are sure to unleash the creative spirit of every budding seamstress.
Review
"With its straightforward instructions and style, a great choice for the no-frills seamstress who wants a little flounce." Rose Annis, Bust Magazine, November 2006
Review
"If you're a teen or tween with an itch to stitch....check out Sew What! Skirts." - Washington Post
Synopsis
Blending expert advice with inspiring designs, Sew What Skirts will delight both novice and veteran sewers alike. This spiral-bound book lays flat for easy reference and features full-color photographs of 16 sample skirts, with illustrated step-by-step instructions for completing each one. Encouraging you to experiment with bold patterns and unique fabrics, Francesca DenHartog and Carole Ann Camp provide simple guidelines for translating body measurements into panel dimensions. Create a custom-tailored wardrobe that fits perfectly and showcases your unique and personal style."
Synopsis
What are the building blocks of a great wardrobe? For men - the shirt, and pants. For women - the blouse, skirt, dress, and pants. The Illustrated Guide to Sewing: Garment Construction will teach the home seamstress how to make them all, as well as learn how to design and sew garments that flatter their figure and reflect their personal style.
From learning how to take proper measurements and make a muslin, to fitting and making common adjustments, the basic order of construction for each garment, such as fitting the bodice before attaching sleeves, is covered. Detailed chapters on elements—sleeves, collars, waistbands, hems, and more—provide valuable insight on how each piece is created and joined to the whole.
Synopsis
Discover how fun it is to create these simple, colorful skirts. Sew What! Skirts assumes no prior sewing experience and doesnt slow you down with complicated instructions or patterns. The authors offer up 16 great styles, including A-line, circle, wraparound, gored panel, tiered, layered, and more. All it takes to get started is basic body measurements (no need to buy a pattern), a sewing machine, great fabric, fun embellishments, and a few simple techniques. The designs in Sew What! Skirts are sure to unleash the creative spirit of every budding sewist.
Synopsis
Don't Let Old-Fashions Patterns Hem You In!
You'll be amazed by what you can sew with no patterns at all. Fun fabrics that inspire you, a basic sewing machine, and an adventurous spirit are all you need to get started. Create a new wardrobe that reminds you just how much fun sewing can be!
About the Author
Peg Couch is an amateur seamstress and book acquisition editor at Fox Chapel Publishing. She served as the style editor for Tree Craft.
Fox Chapel Publishing crafts information for a hands-on world. With over 350 backlist titles, two magazines and over 35 new books each year - Fox Chapel specializes in educating and inspiring crafters working in a variety of mediums including sewing, woodworking and others.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Basics
*Machine sewing
*Hand sewing
*Pressing and ironing
*Cutting
*SBS: Hand stitches
Chapter 2: Patternmaking
*Pattern markings and symbols
*Taking measurements
*Adjusting patterns to fit
Chapter 3: Fabric
*Selecting fabrics for style and fit
Chapter 4: How to make classic garments
*Dress
*Shirt
*Blouse
*Woman's pants
*Men's pants
Chapter 5: How to construct garment elements
*Seams
*Darts
*Pleats
*Zippers
*Waistbands
*Sleeves and cuffs
*Collars
*Faces and hems
*Pockets
*Closures