Easy Guide To Sewing Tops & T-Shirts (Sewing Companion Library) [Paperback]

Marcy Tilton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998

The right top can move with ease from city chic to understated casual. This book shares advice on fitting and patternwork that helps create well-fitting, attractive tops. From making the basic T-shirt, to working with bias-cut fabrics, it's all included here. Addresses fitting problems and customizing a pattern as well.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561582395
• ISBN-13: 978-1561582396
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #772,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

115 of 117 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent -- very thorough and easy to understand., November 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Easy Guide To Sewing Tops & T-Shirts (Sewing Companion Library) (Paperback)

You wouldn't think there would be enough to say about t-shirts to fill a whole book, would you? Well, there is! This is another terrific book from the people at Threads. If you want to make really beautiful, professional, classy tops and t-shirts this is the book for you. Marcy Tilton has taken her many years of sewing and teaching experience and distilled it into a guide that helps with fitting, tweaking the pattern, choosing fabrics, new ways with facings and neck bindings, etc. There's a good beginner section on painting and stencilling your tops too. I bought this book after hearing Marcy lecture at a sewing convention on the topic "The $200 T-Shirt" and have found it to be very useful in my sewing. There are some small tables on measurements and interfacings that are great for photocopying and putting on your bulletin board in your sewing room. I would highly recommend this book if you're looking for a way to spruce up that Casual Friday wardrobe.

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very valuable sewing reference book, February 8, 2005

By 

silversurf (Planet of Paint) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Easy Guide To Sewing Tops & T-Shirts (Sewing Companion Library) (Paperback)

This is a very helpful handbook for home sewers who want to learn appropriate techniques for creating quality women's tops. There are many good illustrations, and the text is clearly written. As a skilled seamstress who has sewed for many years, I can tell you that the methods in this book are really good, and as the title indicates they are also quite easy. If you are learning to sew and have trouble understanding the guide sheets that come with commercial patterns, this books will teach you sound sewing techniques that will get you off to a good start.

Although much of the content of this book may already be familiar to advanced sewers, you may still learn something new or find things that you knew but had forgotten. I browse through this book frequently when planning a new sewing project. It is nice to have so much pertinent information in one handy little paperback.

If you are looking for a sewing book that deals with very fitted or tailored garments, this is not the book you want. It does not cover making collars, or the methods used in making menswear type shirts. The author's introduction specifies that she is only dealing with t-shirts made from knit fabrics, or with unstructured pullover tops in woven fabrics. The emphasis of the book is on fashion sewing. The examples in the book are dressy tops, rather than casual t-shirts or unisex activewear. The author shows how to take very basic designs and add value and quality by using designer methods. She also gives good advice about appropriate fabric choices.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book helps me do a better job of constructing my tee shirts, December 13, 2006

By 

Anna Maria Galdieri (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Easy Guide To Sewing Tops & T-Shirts (Sewing Companion Library) (Paperback)

I am short, full busted, round and no longer have a perky body. I bought the book because I make a lot of tee shirts and have problems fitting. Marcy does a thorough job of teaching us how to construct and alter our garments. Often the front of my shirt rides up because of my bust size. Marcy shares the tip of cutting across the front of the pattern at the bust point and adding an inch to accomodate the full bust. This extra space gets eased into the side seam at the bust point and my tee shirts no longer ride up in the front. She also gives detailed explanations and pictures on how to alter all parts of the pattern. This is now a book I refer to often when starting to work with a new pattern. Thank you, Marcy for sharing your sewing knowledge with us.