Customer Reviews

Fine Machine Sewing 2 Ed: Easy Ways to Get the Look of Hand Finishing and Embellishing

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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I shied away from getting this book at first, i wasn't sure if it was for me, so many books are written with the husqvarna or elna in mind (i have a babylock) but i finally bought it, because it really is for any type of sewing machine (although it does use the hemstitches that are on the computerized machines) In a bout of insomnia i took this book out and started reading cover to cover, and i realized that i have been using the wrong presser foot!! No wonder my fabric has been puckering and getting crammed into the needle plate, i had been using my zig-zag satin foot when i should have been using my regular foot (ya there is a difference!) There are little things like that as well as techniques like corded buttonholes, scallops, pin tucks, hem stitching (point of paris, venitian, you'll even find out what to do with that daisy stitch) Sewing heirloom laces together is discussed, and there are beautiful blouses for you to try. As a tatter, i really liked the one with the column of tatted insertion.

Besides sewing techniques and stitches, this book discusses optional presser feet, and also how to choose a sewing machine, something very valuable if you are thinking of geting into heirloom sewing and are in the market to get a computerized machine. Bring it with you to a trusted dealer!

This is an incredible book. It is clearly written with profusely illustrated with excellent quality photos. It has greatly expanded my ideas about what is possible on a sewing machine. I read it from cover to cover even though I don't actually plan to use many of the techniques. However, I have already put the author's advice on blind hemming and narrow hemming into practice. I am also intrigued by the possibilities of hemstitching (stitching hems and hemstitching are totally different things). I love this book.

Carol Ahles has done a wonderful job of making the reader comfortable with the practical use of many of the decorative stitches on today's newer sewing machines. The color pictures are beautiful and inspirational. I especially liked the reference sections with machine settings to assist in achieving the perfect results every time. This book is easy to read and an absolute must for anyone contemplating a new sewing machine or trying to master the one they already own.

This book is actually just the book I have been looking for. There are many, many things the newer digital sewing machines can do - you see pictures of the finished items in all of the sewing magazines. The Elna Heirloom Edition I had and sold was capable of many of these lovely techniques, but I couldn't figure them out with the minimal instructions that came with the machine. Nobody tells you how to accomplish things like hemstitching and fagoting in any of the user guides or even the instructional videos. I was about to just give up on my Husqvarna Designer II when I got this book, and now it just sings! I just needed somebody to show me how and this book did it, did it well in an easy to understand, concise format. Highly recommended for the experienced and novice sewer.

This book is just awesome! I also am from Webster, NY, and also had an Elna Heirloom Edition sewing machine, which I sold, and now also have a Husqvarna Designer II. I could have written the exact same review as the first one!

This wonderful book shows you just how to accomplish all of the heirloom techniques that none of the manuals or videos that come with today's sewing machines show you how to do. It was just so frustrating! I could not understand how the entredeux stitch on the Designer II could ever resemble hand-made entredeux, but now I know! I agree, the ads in the magazines show you all of the samples of what the machines are capable, but nobody shows you how to do it! This book answered all of my questions, the pictures are clear and very helpful, and the book is extremely well written! A must have for everyone with a high tech sewing machine who wants to know how it really works!

The stitch charts at the end of this book for all of the current sewing machines is worth its weight in gold!

Since I did not have any idea of what heirloom sewing involved, I was looking for a book that would be easy to understand and yet include everything needed to make it fun as well as easy. I found this book an excellent resource for products used and techniques. It was easy to understand and gave resources for the products if you cannot find them in local stores. I would recommend this book to anyone who is starting heirloom sewing.

This book contains the most up-to-date information on the new machines that I have seen. The photos are clear, matching the text in accuracy, inspiration, and easy to follow directions. How did I use my Bernina 1530 to full advantage without this book? It has maximized my skills and increased my awareness of the machine's capabilities.

Fine Machine Sewing turned out to be a lovely book. I expected it to cover a wider range of fabrics and finishings, but it realy only covers linen and cotton. If that is what you are looking for, it is hand's down a great book for finishing lightweight clothing. It revealed the mysteries of twin needle stiching, and points out many ways to put realy nice finishes on delicate items. There are lots of close up photos to guide you along.

This is one of the few books that I actually learned something new. The pictures are fabulous. I have used the wing needle hemstitch techniques many times. A fabulous book for all levels.

What a great book! To me this is the bible of heirloom sewing and techniques. I am a green beginner and find this book explains everything I need to know about my machine and heirloom sewing to be me going on the right track.