5 comments about The Zapp Method of Couture Sewing: Tailor Garments Easily, Using Any Pattern.

1. This is a great book for the serious sewer. It has the best explanation of how to make a lined vest or lined sleeveless camisole that I have ever seen. And if you are interested in tailoring, you will really want to have this book. I always check books out of the library first. Then you know if it's a book you need to own. This one was a book I had to have in my library, and I've found it very useful.



2. This book really helped me with fit issues. I haven't sewn for years and the main reason I wanted to sew again was the horrible fit of "off the rack" clothing. Pants especially are difficult to fit from standard sewing patterns. This book contained a little more information than I may need, but the basics of altering the patterns were clear and easy to understand. Now that I know the principles, it's easy to make adjustments on things that aren't even mentioned in the book.



3. This book is great, as long as you are an experienced seamstress [sorry for the possible sexist misunderstanding]. Really great tips and hints for someone who has significant experience with sewing and/or tailoring



4. Step by step instructions and large color photos make this an easy guide to follow. The principles she teaches you could help you fit many patterns to yourself if you are an experienced sewer. However, all you really learn to fit are dress slacks, dress shirt, and a camisole/vest. No instructions are provided for dresses, skirts, or jackets. You do learn a neat techniques for making a pattern out of your favorite pair of pants.
   
   If a book on tailoring garments you already have is what you're looking for, a more comprehensive guide would serve better.



5. The feature that makes this book stand out is her chapter on designing western shirts. I have never seen this information anywhere else. She only spends a few pages on western shirts, but the focus is on the features that are unique to western wear: how to add piping to the yoke and cuffs and how to make it. Her chapters on shirts and jackets also include information and steps to follow for making riding and western wear. She does not cover riding pants or chaps, though. In the chapter on pants construction, the information about changing crotch depth is clear and easy to understand, and she shows in pictures how to fit crotch depth while seated. The section on correctly fusing a tailored jacket is fantastic! She covers fitted vests and lined camisoles. Her section on welt pockets, in the jacket chapter, has really, really good pictures. While the sections on fitting are good, she does not cover fitting alterations for atypical figures (such as a sway back.)

5 comments about Daddy's Ties.

1. I really liked the book. Not only did it give me good ideas, it also included patterns that I could use. All of the instructions are easy to understand. I am not a crafty person but wanted to make something for my kids from their dad's ties for christmas. This book has so many good idea's that I am having a hard time trying to figure out what one to do. I may just have to keep doing projects until I run out of ties.



2. A treasure trove for anyone who is looking for ideas to use those old ties hanging in the closet or hiding somewhere in a dresser drawer.
   
   Whether the ties are a memory of a persons lifetime, or tucked away in a box in the attic or just having too many; this 96 page book with its color illustrations, simplistic and step-by-step instruction is excellent and a must have for those seeking wonderful and illustrative patterns.
   
   Instructions on how to use the ties in this book has a myriad of ideas and is welcomed and definitely worth its weight in gold.
   
   Thank you Shirley Botsford for your insightful book.
   
   Carl



3. This is a well written craft book that gives plenty of ideas for using ties in crafts. My father recently passed away and he had many ties. Using this book I can make something for myself, my sister and brother using his ties as a remembrance.



4. This book is wonderful. I wish I had it when my dad passed away then I would have known to keep all of his ties. It has some wonderful quilt and craft ideas that are very stylish using men's ties.



5. Although the concept of the book, and the designs in it are good, the author got lazy and used a lot of abreviations that are not normal, and I found myself constantly referring to the front of the book to find out what the abreviation meant. A book with instructions on how to build a quilt should be eaiser to follow and not require you to thumb back and forth through the book.
   
   I am disappointed, as I love the quilts, just not the instructions. Why do authors have to get lazy?
   
   Beth G

5 comments about Plush You!: Lovable Misfit Toys to Sew and Stuff.

1. The pictures on the cover were deceptively cute, however this book has only a few, not-so-adorable softie patterns inside. If I were a pro at making plush toys I might be able to make some of the cute softies from pictures alone. The buyer must realize that this book is meant to be inspirational, but does not offer much knowledge on how to make the projects it displays on it's pages.



2. I like to be inspired by a book and this one has caught my imagination and given it some ideas. Even the most complicated of these toys can be figured out easily - if you want to copy them faithfully. But, why would you? The idea, it seems to me, is to give you a jumping off point for letting your own "inner plushy" come out to play. I am a bit bewildered by the negative reviews. I love this book and think it's easily the best out on the subject. Even if I wanted to copy one of the critters exactly, it would be simple to do so - even for a fairly inexperienced sewer. Part of the fun of this type of doll is that each one is completely different from the others. I didn't think the patterns included were particularly necessary, and have to agree they are for such simple dolls that you can just take some graph paper and figure them out yourself. But then, I didn't think any patterns would be necessary. To me these are fun dolls that allow each of us to be playful and creative on our own. It's like the crochet books of the 70s compared to the ones around now - they show you the possibilities and what happens if you do this or that - and let you fly on your own.



3. While the patterns in this book are not as easy to use as other books- the information in the book was great. I have spent hours perusing the different websites of doll makers listed in the book. I recieved this as a gift and do refer back to it often for ideas with my own crafting.



4. I got this book because I figured it would have patterns and instructions for the ridiculously cute plushies on the cover. Not so much. There are very few patterns and instructions, and I find the plushies that DO have instructions are the ones that would have been pretty easy to figure out sans pattern. I can understand not wanting to publish a pattern for an item you sell on your own website, but then why put it in a book at all? Very, very disappointing. I recommend "Cute Dolls" by Aranzi Aronzo or "Softies" by Therese Laskey if you want a useful book.



5. I think this is a fabulous book! I didn't buy it to copy the plushes or for patterns-I simply got it for inspiration. There are so many wonderful artists making awesome plushes-this book gives you a sneak peak into a handful of these artists and the cool plushes they make.
   
   Enjoy the book for what it is...

5 comments about ABCs of Serging: A Complete Guide To Serger Sewing Basics (Creative Machine Arts Series).

1. The book is great!! I didn't know anything about serging and my serger came with very few instructions. I feel like I can use my serger now with confidence. Wonderful teaching tool!! Better than taking a class.



2. Great book for both the novice and the experienced serger. The book has clear drawings and down to earth explanations on threading your serger, serging anything from cuffs, eleastic, shirring, french seams and lettuce edges. The book explains the importance on tension and little tricks for adjusting the same. You should not be without it if you are new to serging.



3. This was money well spent. A serger is so different from a standard sewing machine that a beginner needs more help than the serger manual provides. If you can't take classes, this guide will help.



4. In under 30 minutes, I learned how to properly thread my serger, adjust tension, and begin serging like a pro! I have so much more confidence in my abilities! I was so terrified of my machine that I ignored it for an entire year. This book has made me realize that I could have done so well from the very beginning had I owned this book then. The troubleshooting tips and helpful diagrams make it so easy to follow.
   
   I'm so excited to play with my machine now!



5. I have recently purchased 5 or 6 books on serging and this is my least favorite. I can't get past the hand written notes all over the pages pointing at drawings of different stitches and drawings of sergers being threaded. For someone who is new to serging like myself all this scribbling looks just like that, scribbling. I'm not going to comment on the content of the book, it may be informative, but if I don't find it interesting to look at guess what? I'm not going to open it to read what it says. Of the 5 or 6 books I own I want to highly recommend two for those of you out there wanting to learn how to serge. And maybe even enjoy doing it! You have to thread the machine to use it. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! Just thread it one at a time. In the order your manual tells you to. Use colors that are easy to tell apart at first. The best book to help you and keep you going in my opinion is "The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide, by Naomi Baker, Gail Brown, and Cindy Kacynski. You can read my review on it if you're interested. The second book which is over my beginners head, but still helpful and one I can grow into is, "Serger Secrets: High Fashion Techniques For Creating Great Looking Clothes".

1 comments about One-Piece Wearables: 25 Chic Garments and Accessories to Sew from Single Pattern Pieces (Domestic Arts for Crafty Girls).

1. Great book of chic and easy projects that actually look great! The idea of a one piece pattern reminds me of Elizabeth Zimmerman's style of one piece knitting - all you need to do is sew the seams together to finish the garment. These projects are quick and easy and work well alone or with embellishments. Bottomline, this book is a base for creating an entire wardrobe, down to a purse! The book is spiral bound with an inside front cover pocket containing the patterns. Its made very sturdy and should take a beating on your sewing room/space table ( I have a preference for books built to withstand a fall from the height of an average sewing table). One wish for the author, in your next book, it would be great to see real life finished garment images instead of illustrated ones. Other than that, I love this book!

4 comments about Make Your Own Dress Patterns.

1. Back when everyone sewed, Adele Margolis's books were best sellers and book club selections, prized for their excellent and easy-to-follow instructions on dress-making, tailoring, and creating your own patterns. As publishers phased out their craft divisions, her books went out of print, though they were still eagerly hunted down online and passed down from sewing mother to sewing daughter. Now--thank you Dover Publishers!--here is a re-issue of one of her timeless classics, with guidance that is just as fresh and useful as ever. If you sew, if you ever wanted to sew, if you just want to understand more about how clothes should be made, you MUST have this book by the Julia Child of sewing.



2. I bought this book thinking that it will show me how to draft patterns from scratch. Instead, what it really does is give instruction on how to fit a basic (shell/sloper) store bought pattern and how to work with it to create different looks. If you design your own cloth and would like to make working patterns for the designs, this book will be very helpful for you. If you want to learn pattern drafting, look elsewhere.



3. This book, "MAKE YOUR OWN DRESS PATTERNS", by Adele Margolis, is an essential for anyone who sews, or who even illustrates garments, (for fashion illustrators, too, benefit greatly from knowing how the clothing they draw is put together!) And this book shows HOW garments are put together, (via patterns), and how to make your own. Clearly. So clearly that even I could understand it! (This is no small feat, believe me, as most "how to" books go right over my head, (sigh!) I have what I call a "hard head" -- things are difficult to get into my understanding. But once I DO understand them, these pieces of knowledge are there, FOR KEEPS! And Ms. Margolis does a WONDERFUL job of teaching in this classic book! Illustrations and text work wonderfully together, and EXPLAIN all aspects of how clothing is put together, by planning, cutting and sewing it. Before the 14th century, people mainly draped their clothes....but ever afterwards, the techniques in this book -- and various variations of them, have been used! This book teaches HOW to turn 2-dimensional paper patterns into 3-dimensional clothing. And how to make those patterns, one's self!
   
   I've had an interest in costumes and clothing all my life. Beautiful clothes, (NOT torn jeans, by the way), betoken, in my mind, (and, I am sure, in those of many other creative, ambitious, and romantic people), the "good" life, free from care, and full of interesting people to see, interesting places to go, and interesting things to do, (and easy, non-time consuming, ways to get where one wants to go!) To me, torn jeans, (and "fashionable" overalls, T-shirts with angry messages on them, etc., ad nauseum!) whatever they may cost, and however "stylish" they may be, at the moment, betoken a kind of pre-packaged poverty look! But...show me even the simplest sundress, with a full-skirt, (or better, a fine suit or ballgown!)....and my imagination, and ambition, (and hopes for the futuree!) begin to soar! (The same can be said by looking at evening clothes for men, or a men's suit with a cravat instead of a tie... This sends a message to me, "my hero is out there somewhere....")
   
   Perhaps, (just perhaps), I come by this interest in clothes and how they are constructed, due to my own family history. My maternal grand-mother was a WHIZ with a needle! Though "imprisoned" in the Russian Pale, (where Jews had to live), she still got to leave it a lot -- as she was a seamstress to a Russian countess! (Just before my grandparents left for North America, the countess BEGGED her to stay in Russia. Luckily, she and my grandfather left!)
   
   My maternal grandmother sadly died when I was five -- but she still was able to make adorable little velvet-vest and plaid-skirt ensembles for my sister and me. My mom has often told me that my grandmother was able to take someone's measurements, and make a garment WITHOUT a pattern! (My grandmother was an intensely practical, down-to-earth person, with practicality and survival her main aims....but the truth is, the only other time I ever heard of anyone being able to do this was on "BEWITCHED"!) I wondered for years how this could be done.... Then, one lucky day, I found "MAKE YOUR OWN DRESS PATTERNS" in the public library!
   
   Ms. Margolis is a genuis! She is a teacher of the best and most genuine kind. Starting out by showing how a dart is made, (by cutting out a circle from a piece of paper, cutting it half-way through, to make a radius, and then folding it around so that a 3-dimensional dart is created from a two dimensional piece of paper!), Ms. Margolis shows absolutely how clothing is created. One no longer sees just a sleeve pattern....one can now picture how that pattern part, (and the cloth it is initially pinned to), can be "rolled" into a genuine sleeve! Advanced techniques...like "spreading" the pattern for more elaborate effects, (and for altering a store-bought pattern piece), are also touched upon here.
   
   Ms. Margolis wrote several books on sewing and tailoring -- but this, to me, is her best. Read and understand it, and you will have all the basics of understanding how garments are made. Even if you never sew, design, or illustrate, any clothing at all, it's nice to know these secrets -- much as a "balletomine", (a HUGE ballet fan), may never dance or choreograph -- but it sure is nice to know what the five positions are, (and how dancers don't get dizzy making all those turns! Hint: this is a technique called, "spotting"). For those who sew clothes at home or professionally, for those who want to professionally design clothes -- or just enjoy creating their own individualized designs at home, for themselves, friends, and/or family, for those who professionally illustrate other's designs, for those who just want to know how clothes are put together...this is THE perfect book. Perhaps I have so very great an intense interest in this due to interest in my own family history...but I think anyone who believes in the "good life", and the "American Dream", and who derives reinforcement of these ideas, looking at good clothing, and understanding how it can be made, will benefit. The American Dream lives...and this book, which can teach how to make beautiful clothing for all, certainly is one way to help keep this Dream alive! Dream...and then do! This book sure helps in doing both!
   
   "MAKE YOUR OWN DRESS PATTERNS", is a classic, and a ten-star book!



4. I have been sewing for 40 years and I still found this book so helpful. It gives cklear directions on how to create your own patterns, using your own measurements. I have only one other book remotely like this and it is in Japanese, metric and meant for teeny women. Make Your Own Dress Patterns works for any one, any size. If you have been wanting to do some designing on your own, make better alterations or better pattern corrections, you will find this book invaluable. It is easy to read and understand and easy to use!

No comments about Singer Upholstery Basics Plus: Complete Step-by-Step Photo Guide.

5 comments about Cutting Garden Quilts: Fabulous Fusible Flowers (That Patchwork Place).

1. On the dreariest February day you can imagine, I came across Melinda Bula's "Cutting-Garden Quilts" - and she reminded me that spring is just around the corner! Although I don't have a green thumb - and only dream of the gardens that inspire her quilts - she shows you how to create them out of fabric - with breathtaking results!
   
   Melinda wrote this book for two different audiences. For those of you who have an artistic eye and are perfectly comfortable designing your own garden, she leads you through the process that she uses to create these quilts. The instructions are written in such a conversational style that she has taken all of the intimidation out of the projects! I felt like I was sitting at her kitchen table as she talked me through the process.
   
   But, honestly, I really belong to a different audience! For those of us who need more support, she has included patterns for five projects that are created out of fabric - like Paint by Number sets. And, once you are comfortable with the techniques, you will have the confidence to design your own pieces.
   
   Melinda has included photographs of many of her pieces for inspiration and has shown her journey through the creative process. Each piece is dated so you can see how her techniques have evolved - and how quickly you can "grow" as an artist too.



2. This book explains in detail a unique approach to garden quilts. The directions seem clear and easy to follow. The author has a great eye for fabric and colors. I am enjoying this book



3. This is the best book on fusible applique that I've seen. I'm actually inspired to try one of the projects because the author has broken down the process of choosing fabrics so well.
   
   Even if you never try one of the projects, the descriptions and pictures make this a really nice "coffee table" book. I think I'm going to have to purchase copies for my mother and sister.



4. This book is well written. The pictures are beautiful, and the directions understandable. The color key provided with each pattern helps you see the range of colors needed, and will help you with fabric selection when you are ready to design your own quilt from a photo of your garden. I'm looking forward to more books from Melinda in the future. Peggy Clark, Folsom, CA



5. This is a great addition to most boring fusible applique. The detailing she helps you create is astonishing. I have had the book for about 3 weeks and I am on my second one. The Corn Flower on the cover is amazingly simple once you actually get brave enough to start cutting the fabric. Then it became more like making paper dolls with layers of clothes being placed on the doll. You just keep adding layers of fabric until you feel like your done. Or do it the simple way and just trace her designs and start layering. I would suggest using the Steam a seam 2 as she recommends and not the light variety. Some of the pieces are small and the regular Steam a Seam 2 keeps everything in place much more securely. Hope you all have as much fun with this book as I have already.

5 comments about Points of View: Landscape Quilts to Stitch and Embellish (That Patchwork Place).

1. If you love making quilted landscapes or are interested in learning how to make them, this is a great book. You learn easy as well as a little more advanced ways to make them. You learn how to look at fabric and see possiblilites in it that you had never seen before. Follow the patterns and techniques to make your own piece of art and then check out the gallery in the back of the book. Amazing! I had made landscapes before getting this book, but I have learned so much more from it.
   Kay S.



2. Points of View is a wonderful book, rich in detail and information, and gorgeous photos of Valerie Hearder's quilts. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to do landscape quilting. Valerie's "viewfinder" idea for finding your correct section of fabric is great, the instructions are clear and easy to follow to make your version of each type of quilt.



3. In Points of View, Valerie outdoes her first book, Beyond the Horizon. She includes many more techniques and hints, along with gorgeous pictures of her work and that of others. It's a book to get lost in. Easy to translate the written word into real life works and be pleased with the results!



4. This is an excellent book for a beginner to practice landscape quilting.
   The simple techniques that you can try will encourage you to then design and make your own landscape quilt.



5. This book is great! Easy to understand instructions and inspiring ideas to boot! I've made several mini quilts using the concepts presented. It's one of my favorite books in my quilting collection!

5 comments about See and Sew: A Sewing Book for Children.

1. I just bought this book and love it. I am 30 and teaching myself to sew. This book includes easy to read and interpret illustrations and wording. It teaches sewing stitches by hand, embroidery, sewing on buttons, and sewing projects. The projects are cute, and it even shows how to make tassels and pom poms. This book is simple enough to teach anyone the basics of sewing. I highly recommend this book for any beginner!



2. This is the most charming, useful sewing book for children and adults alike! The vintage illustrations are worth the price alone and the projects are adorable and easy to do...I will treasure it and use it to teach my daughter how to sew!



3. I have so many books but this one is the best by far. From the explanations, to the projects, the lovely pictures and cute cover. I will recommend this book to anyone, this book will make a great gift to any young girl. I just love it!



4. Love this book. The feel of the paper and the illustrations are divine. This is one that lived up to the reviews I read and I am so happy to have it.
   Even though it is a children's book it is a treasure to me and looks great displayed in my sewing room.
   Evokes feeling of a bygone era and brings back a lot of wonderful old memories spent in the sewing room with my mum and granny.
   You will love it too!!



5. Our children's sewing instructor uses this book for her guide. This is a wonderful book. It covers all of the basic bases. When the student is done with this book they can sew most anything and many stitches. Thank you for such a good product!!