Sew Any Fabric: A Quick Reference to Fabrics from A to Z [Paperback]

Claire Shaeffer (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 24, 2003

Fabric Basics at Your Fingertips

Have you ever wished you could call an expert and ask for a five-minute explanation on the particulars of a fabric you are sewing? Claire Shaeffer provides this key information for 88 of today's most popular fabrics. In this handy, easy-to-follow reference, she guides you through all the basics while providing hints, tips, and suggestions base don her 20-plus years as a college instructor, pattern designers, and author.

In each concise chapter, Claire shares fabric facts, design ideas, workroom secrets, and her sewing checklist, as well as her sewability classification to advice you on the difficulty of sewing each fabric. Color photographs offer further ideas. The succeeding sections offer sewing techniques and advice on needles, threads, stabilizers, and interfacings. Claire's unique fabric/fiber dictionary cross-reference over 600 additional fabrics.

An invaluable reference for any one who sews, Sew Any Fabric provides practical, clear information for novices and inspiration for more experienced sewers who are looking for new ideas and techniques.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Claire Shaeffer is an internationally respected author, lecturer, college instructor, and columnist. She has written numerous articles that have appeared in popular sewing publications, such as Vogue Pattern Magazine, Craftrends, Sew Business, Sew News, and Woman's Day, and she is also author of Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide, published by Krause Publications in 1994. Claire is recognized for her achievements as the winner of several prestigious awards, including the 1997 Who's Who of American Women award. She resides in Palm Springs, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Krause Publications; First Edition first Printing edition (November 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873496434
• ISBN-13: 978-0873496438
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #775,576 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Claire Shaeffer is a respected author, lecturer, college instructor and columnist. She frequently contributes articles to sewing magazines, and has authored many books, including Sew Any Patch Pocket, Couture Sewing Techniques, Sew Any Fabric and The Complete Book of Sewing Shortcuts. Claire Shaeffer makes her home in Palm Springs, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-have for any sewing library, August 2, 2005

By 

Jacqueline Giraud "dreamer of dreams" (Denton, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sew Any Fabric: A Quick Reference to Fabrics from A to Z (Paperback)

Wish I'd had this when I was learning. Straightforward and thorough, it will prevent new and experienced sewers alike from less-than-stellar results and hours of frustration when sewing with unfamiliar fabrics. Not the most comprehensive with specialty fabrics, but covers the broadest range and the most common textiles you'll use.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good book - but not necessary for every collection, March 30, 2007

By 

David A. Brown - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sew Any Fabric: A Quick Reference to Fabrics from A to Z (Paperback)

I found this book to be good -and full of new information, but perhaps not at "MUST HAVE" if you're starting out, or on a budget and have to be very picky about what books your choosing.

The book covers most fabric types and how one should generally work with them, their strenths and weaknesses, and how to handle them from the start of cutting patterns, sewing, to matinance of the finished garmment due to material type.

Its sort of a mini-encyclopedia of fabric properties with warnings and tips and tricks. About a page dedicated to each class of material you could find in any really competent fabric store with color photos so can see what they're talking about.

I'm only working with 4-5 different types of materials now - so only 4 to 5 pages really helped me out. But as a reference for my bookcase for later - especially if i encorporate newer synthetic materials into designs - this book will be helpful to have.

This book is probably going to be like a tool that i don't use much - collects a lot of dust - but when i do need it i'll be really happy i have it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Up-to-date information, July 10, 2009

By 

Mary D. Krenke "jynxsmom" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sew Any Fabric: A Quick Reference to Fabrics from A to Z (Paperback)

I haven't sewn for a number of years and am not familiar with the newer fabrics such as stretch and knit. I know, some of you are thinking 'newer?', but being out of the loop for 25 years they are new to me. I have 2-3 other fabric info books that were highly touted but I found them lacking and mostly for high fashion fabrics. Needless to say, I don't plan on sewing high fashion garments.

Finally, this book gives me the information I need. Especially good for the beginning sewer.