Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing [Hardcover]

Reader's Digest (Editor)

Book Description

Release date: December 1, 1997

Sewing book

Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Reader's Digest; 8th edition (December 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895770261
• ISBN-13: 978-0895770264
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,884 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #87 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Needlecrafts & Textile Crafts > Sewing

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 88 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Must Have" for your sewing reference books! March 10, 2002

By Kim Monk

Format:Hardcover

This edition of the Complete Guide to Sewing has recently been updated. However, the newest version does not include any information on tailoring. I use the older version for teaching sewing and constume construction classes, tailoring and special topics classes. Pictures and sketches are clear and written directions are easy to follow. This version does not have much serger/overlock information but does cover many other seam finishes. Information on fit and pattern alterations is very clear. Beginners or advanced seamstresses will find this book a "must" for their reference collection!

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good for your home reference! June 15, 2009

By MalibooBarbie

Format:Hardcover

I have an older edition. I have used this book countless times to guide me in various sewing projects. I learned how to sew, just to tailor my clothes, and this book showed me how. It's not slick and hip with photos like the other sewing books have--but then, they don't help you get ahead in your skills. It's full of matter-of-fact information and detailed drawings (not cartoonis).

Don't knock a boring facade--it's the guts that count on this book. I wouldn't leave a burning house without it. But seriously, if you want to learn how to adjust a pattern so that it fits like some high-falutin' designer made it for you, get this book. For example, you'll be able to identify what's wrong with your mass-produced pants, and why they bag or bind in places, for example, and how to fix those issues on your homemade versions. This book will walk you through how to read a pattern envelope, why certain fabrics would be better for various projects, how to choose the right size (and then alter it for your best fit), and then there are tons of pages of how specifically to create any collar, a gathered seam, any kind pocket of pocket you can imagine and hem finishes, and lots of helpful information you never even thought to look for.

This will make those slick new books that are more eye-catching feel like wasted money. If you want to know what you're doing, this is THE book. You'll look at those flashy books that are the hot recommendations and say to yourself "I already know how to do all that!" You'll be able to write your own silly/fluff kind of sewing book after you absorb what is in this comprehensive tome.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A great standby reference even today! October 18, 2003

By BJD

Format:Hardcover

I have had this book for a long time. I constantly look into other books. For the sewing classes I teach, I keep coming back to this one because it has really good laid out information and photos. Especially basic stuff that does not change!
I rate it as 4 stars simply because there is a newer version out and there has been a small amount of information I could not find or thought could have been laid out better.
I am looking forward to getting the newest version but will always keep the 1976 version. It is like an old friend!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have, even for a MAN! December 13, 2011

By Masta' C

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm a guy and would rather work on my motorcycle than hem a pair of pants, but lately I've had to do some minor garment repairs and even help my girlfriend get some second-hand dance costumes she picked up "cheap" to fit her properly. Sounded simple until we had skirts and tops half torn apart with elastic showing and previously altered "issues" staring us in the face. A friend of mine is a professional seamstress and, seeing my frustration, recommended this book to me. She said it's a "must-buy" for anyone looking to sew, whether beginner or professional...and she's right! In fact, this is still her #1 go-to resource after 30+ years in the business! I just picked this book up from Amazon and, already, it has been an absolute life saver. No better resource for clearly detailed diagrams and "how-to" descriptions for nearly every type of stitch, seam and garment modification you could possibly use in your lifetime! Even coming from a man, this book is highly recommended!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Old-fashioned approach, amazing knowledge base August 16, 2012

By Irene Adler

Format:Hardcover

I decided to buy this edition instead of the newest one based on a blog post on Whipstitch Fabrics that said the newest edition cut out a lot of content. After reading through a couple random sections of the book, I can see why some content may have been removed. For example, in the chapter on tailoring, there's a section that walks you through how to handsew interfacing onto the undercollar. For most home sewers these days, that is probably not the most relevant advice, since now we have fusible interfacing. Of course, I can well imagine that the best results are still obtained with handsewing, and many serious sewers would get a lot out of those instructions, but the majority of hobbyists would probably not want to put that much effort into a collar. At any rate, this book definitely bears the hallmark of a different era. Whether that is good or bad completely depends on the needs of the reader. If you are a casual hobbyist that just wants to make some fun projects every now and then, I imagine you would be better served by the newer edition that would cover all the new time-saving shortcuts that have been developed since the 70s. But if you are a serious enthusiast or professional trying to learn all the different techniques to perfect your craft, then this book provides some really great insights that probably wouldn't be found in modern home sewing references.

In terms of instructional quality, I am very impressed with this book. All of the techniques are demonstrated in line-drawings next to the text, and very clearly convey the manipulations being done. If you prefer photographs, the newer edition may be more helpful to you; but for myself, the line-drawings are more than adequate. One aspect of teaching that this book does not cover is the theory.... It covers plenty of how-to's, but very few why's. This could be frustrating to someone seeking a more in-depth education on sewing, but makes it a very good streamlined manual.

The book is laid out very much like an encyclopedia, with techniques grouped by subject (e.g. seams, necklines, waistlines). This makes it not very conducive to just sitting down and reading through it, as it's a bit dry and does not offer any coherent workflow; but it makes it easy to look something up. It gives you all the different parts that are involved in making a garment, but does not really put it all together to teach you the process. I feel that this makes it a great reference and teaching tool, but a total beginner is not going to pick up this book and learn how to sew. If you are a beginning sewer, I would recommend you get a projects-based book to go along with this book, to give you a framework in which to apply the methods taught in this book. But because this book contains so much technical information laid out in an easy to find way, it will never lose its value as a warhorse, and will grow with the reader.

All in all, this book is a great tool for sewers, even though this edition isn't going to cover all the most up-to-date technologies. But like all tools, its usefulness depends on the situation. It's a great source for sewing techniques and the majority of information provided here is still highly relevant, despite the age of this edition; but it does not provide everything that anyone could possibly need. New sewers will want to supplement this book with another that provides more overall direction, instead of just self-contained how-to's, and sewers seeking a complete understanding of the craft will want to look for something that delves deeper into the rationale behind these techniques. It's probably also not a bad idea to supplement this book with a more modern reference that will cover the technological innovations since the 70s. Read more ›