Chic & Simple Sewing: Skirts, Dresses, Tops, and Jackets for the Modern Seamstress [Spiral-bound]

Christine Haynes (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 14, 2009

End Those What-To-Wear Woes!

No more spending more than you can afford on clothes! Chic & Simple Sewing shows you how to make modern, stylish, and fun clothes you’ll want to wear every day. Plus, you’re in control. You pick the fabrics, the cut, the size--all tailored just for you, not mass-manufactured on an assembly line. For about the price of two or three commercial sewing patterns, this book will give you full-size patterns to make the more than 20 garments, including a classic shift, A-line skirt, and figure-flattering wrap dress. What are you waiting for? Your new, one-of-a-kind wardrobe awaits!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

CHRISTINE HAYNES is a regular Renegade Craft Fair and Felt Club participant, and her designs can be found in boutiques from Los Angeles to London. Her work has been featured on The Today Show as well as in The New York Times, The New York Post, and The Los Angeles Times.
Visit her online at www.christinehaynes.com.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 128 pages
• Publisher: Potter Craft; Spi edition (April 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307451097
• ISBN-13: 978-0307451095
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 1.1 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #371,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Simple patterns, needs better instructs. for a 'beginners' book & more sizes April 19, 2009

By Jenny C.

Format:Spiral-bound

I bought this book mainly because I really wanted the pattern for the dress on the cover and also because I'm a beginning sewer. I was happy to find that I also liked at least half of the other patterns in the book but unfortunately they only provide patterns for up to size 12 (Bust: 37", Waist: 29", Hip: 39")and no instructions for adjusting the patterns for larger sizes.

The written instructions are mostly text with minimal illustrations/pictures, I expected more illustrations for a 'beginning' sewing book, especially since some of the written instructions (and some of the illustrations) were kind of vague and hard to follow. UPDATE: I just tried to make one of the jackets from the book and because the book doesn't give any illustrations for how the pieces should be cut out of the fabric, I wasted a half yard of fabric when I was forced to re-cut a sleeve out. I may have to lower my rating, that was a huge disappointment/frustration for a novice sewer.

All this said, I was able to complete a 'Baby Doll Shirt' in one night and with acceptable results given my basic sewing skills. I look forward to either learning how to adjust patterns so that I can make these patterns in my size, or losing enough weight so that I can use the patterns as printed.

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars beautiful designs, terrible instructions April 30, 2009

By jeninnyc

Format:Spiral-bound|Amazon Verified Purchase

i bought this book because I thought the designs might be nice, and in that regard it did not disappoint. You will probably pick up this book and want to make everything from it. Unfortunately, unless you have made lots of garments before, the instructions are fairly useless. The author tries to describe what to do without a diagram, and usually does not add enough detail. example: sew neckband around inner circle (what is the inner circle? and at what seam allowance?). she will have you sew pieces together without indicating how they should be pieced together or what seam allowance ahould be used.

How the publisher let this book be published without better technical editing is beyond me. I hope that the author puts out more detailed instructions for those of us who really want to make the designs but can't because the book is lacking useful instructions.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for intermediate "seamsters" May 9, 2009

By queenorbit

Format:Spiral-bound

I am a self taught seamstress and consider myself to be intermediate in skill. With that being said, I think this book would be most beneficial to the intermediate crowd. It is a hardcover/spiral bound book, all color with a pocket on the front cover that contains all the pattern pieces you will need. The garments included include dresses, skirts, coats, and tops. The first chapter includes basic instruction and supplies you will need if you are a beginner (which is great) and the following chapters contain the patterns. Each pattern is rated in difficulty from 1-5, includes the amount of fabric you will need (in both 45" & 60"), seam allowances, and the techniques necessary to finish garment. The directions for actual construction of the garment can be confusing and vague at times (and this is where experience will come in handy), but for the most part, the designs are simple and can be completed. Unlike most books of this kind, you are able cut the patterns to size (NO TRACING!). Unfortunately, the sizes run S-L or 2-12, so if you require more room on top or bottom, you will have to make adjustments. The designs are such that you will reuse each pattern piece, mix and match, depending on the garment you want to make, and gives you a platform to design your own style.