Customer Reviews

Sew Serendipity: Fresh and Pretty Designs to Make and Wear

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Even though my mother was a seamstress, I didn't learn how to sew until after I was married. We had a mortgage you couldn't jump over and my husband bought me a sewing machine and thought it "prudent" that I learn how to sew and stop spending so much money on clothing.

I booked myself into a private six week class and I was not impressed. The tutor was a dragon, I couldn't do anything right, the clothes never fitted and I gave up after about four weeks. Eventually I taught myself to sew, but I found it a difficult, tedious task to accomplish. I wasn't ever really satisfied with much of the clothing that I made for myself, though I did become pretty good at making clothing for my toddlers. And of course, my passion for patchwork and quilting came from the wonderful scraps left from dressmaking.

Krause Publications recently sent me a complimentary copy of Sew serendipity (Fresh + Pretty Designs to Make and Wear) by Kay Whitt. After reading this publication I wish I had access to a book such as this when I was taking my first learn-to-sew steps.

My first delight occurred on opening this book and seeing the extensive chapter on Custom Fitting. I realise that this is a very important part of dress making - without custom fitting, the garments aren't going to fit as well as you'd like. This chapter is comprehensive and written in user friendly language and covers important topics such as Steps to a Custom Fit, Taking Measurements, Making the Muslin and Adjusting the Fit. I really could have used this advice 30 or more years ago.

Kay Whitt then goes on to address the important tools of the trade. Not only how to use your sewing machine and sewing tools, but the accessories and indispensable notions that are available these days to give your creations a professional finish.

Sewing Techniques are then addressed. Kay not only offers great instructions for constructing the garments, but delivers some great advice for the best practice of the not so standard techniques that are very popular in fashion today, such as Pressing Intentional Creases, Double Top Stitching, Making Gathers and so forth.

The publication then includes various Skirt, Tunic & Dress and Jacket patterns (with full sized patterns sitting in a pretty pocket at the back of the book). But these patterns are very modern, and suitable for all skill levels.

I really like the way this book has been thought out. I particularly like the language that is used to describe complicated instructions. The graphics and photographs are fabulous and the overall feeling of the book is that the garments are accomplishable.

As most readers to my reviews know, I just love a book that is spirally bound, and this has been achieved spectacularly. The book sits flat, and is a good size for instant glimpsing at whilst sitting on the edge of your sewing table.

This book would make a great reference book in your library and a great gift to that young person starting out with dressmaking and developing a style of their own.

I pre-ordered this book and received it a few days ago --it's beautiful!

Oftentimes sewing books will feature only a few really nice projects but I love ALL the designs in this book and can't wait to get sewing.

Not just skirts, this book also features, tunics, dresses and jackets. The designs are chic, stylish, modest and totally wearable.

Full sized tissue patterns from XXS to XXL are included and the custom fitting and sewing techniques will be a welcome addition to the new or inexperienced sewer.

The directions are thorough with plenty of drawings along the way and the lay flat binding a big plus. The layout of the book is charming and fun.

I am very pleased with this purchase --it was an impulse buy that turned out to be a winner!

This book is fun, practical and creative. Patterns are included! My SIL, who does not sew, picked it up from my stack of books because of the cover and was amazed to see models of varying sizes on the inside pages ... shows that the patterns are adaptable and will look good on different figures. I like the suggestions to make the garment your own. I hope to use some of the design elements to inspire my 9yo daughter, but I would be equally comfortable wearing any of these styles, too. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and wanted more!

I received this book in the mail a few days ago courtesy of Krause Publications and was so charmed by the colorful, quirky skirt on the cover, that instead of adding it to the bottom of my pile of books to review, I decided to take a look at it right then. The first thing I liked about the book is that it is spiral bound with a hard cover which makes it so much easier to use as an instructional reference book. And, from there, the book only gets better.

First, a few words about the creative genius behind this book. Author Kay Whitt is a former elementary school teacher who after resigning from teaching, launched her own pattern company, Serendipity Studio. She is also a licensed designer for McCall Patterns under the label Kay Whitt Designs. Her patterns are fun, flirty, and stylish while remaining easy to construct and are flattering to different body shapes.

My husband thinks I am a bit of a book dork, but when I pick up a new book, I always like to scan the table of contents to see how well organized the topics are and what I have to look forward to. In this book, there are three introductory sections regarding fitting, sewing tools, and sewing techniques followed by the garment construction sections divided by garment type: skirts, tunics/dresses, and jackets. She has even included an index, which many craft books tend to lack.

The fitting section is comprehensive while still being clear and easy to understand for a beginning sewer. The author explains what body measurements are needed to ensure a good fit and how to take them properly. In her discussion of making a muslin, she includes helpful tips and over the next several pages, illustrates how to make fitting adjustments to the patterns. In the second and third sections, Kay discusses sewing tools and sewing techniques including step-by-step instructions for installing an invisible zipper, a process that many view as torturous.

The remaining sections of the book focus on construction of the different garment types, of which there are three, with six variations for each, for a total of 18 designs to mix and match. The chapters begin with general construction directions for that garment type before embarking on instructions for the individual projects. The projects themselves include materials and supplies lists and each project is accompanied by photos of the completed garment which I always find helpful as well as inspiring.

One feature that I really enjoyed was the inclusion of Kay's original design sketch of each garment and her inspiration and thoughts about the design. It was interesting to note that the final result often deviated from the original as it evolved. Also, at the end of each project section, there is a section entitled "make it your own" where the author included ideas for adding your own touches and embellishments. She utilizes color and pattern in creative ways to make garments that are chic and fun. She even includes instructions for making ruched trim and flower embellishments.

I have to point out that one of my absolute favorite qualities about this book is that she uses models of all sizes and shapes so you can really see how well the garment styles flatter different types of bodies. When I look at pattern books, I am often frustrated because the models tend to be tall and slender so it is hard to envision how a garment will look on my body. I am sure that I am not alone in this.

For ease of use, the patterns are printed full size on tissue in seven sizes (bust: 32-44; waist: 24-36; and hips: 34-46) and are stored in a handy pocket bound into the back of the book. The pocket is made of sturdy card stock and allows room for expansion of the pattern when it is refolded. No more torn pattern envelope!

The designs in this book are suitable for those with beginning through advanced sewing skills and are sure to inspire your creativity and personal style.

When this book arrived, I glanced through it quickly since I was packing for a trip to visit my mother, and took it along with me. My mother taught me how to use her sewing machine when I was very young and I have been sewing ever since, except for a 15 year period after my first baby was born. She a very well organized quilting stash that she gave me free access to, and together we picked fabrics and designed a skirt and two dresses. We both had so much fun working on these garments.

I was a bit concerned that ruffly peasant style was not MY style, since I am old enough to have worn them the first time around I was worried that I was trying to wear stuff that was not "old" enough for me. But I receive complements whenever I wear my new stuff, and I used ruffles in moderation. Also, there are not just ruffly peasant style things in here, and peasant style might not be the correct term anyhow. The jacket is just fabulous, the skirts are easy and so variable. Every design in the book is so easy to vary and make your own, and I believe they are all flattering on any body. If you're in doubt, make a muslin first, which you should do anyhow.

This book is good for both those who have not done any garment construction sewing and those who have. Kay's instructions are easy to follow and nothing is difficult to do. There is something for everyone to learn, and even if you know it all already, it's fun to sew garments using fabrics you love and - like the title says - fresh designs!

There are some techniques like "intentional creases" that I had not done before, and I had never used a ruffler attachment. Was it ever fun! I was familiar with making a muslin first and did that with my first dress from the book, it is SO helpful and instructional as to how the designer's pattern fits YOU and how to tweak it to be perfect. I couldn't believe how nice fitting and comfortable my first dress was, I wore it all day long and love how it looks on me.

There are pictures of the garments being worn by models who run the range of sizes given - from small to XL so you can see how they look on everyone. There are basic construction pages then instructions specific to each particular variation. Color photographs and line drawings, I think everything is easy to understand and follow. The patterns are tissue and in a sturdy envelope in back. The spiral binding lies flat. I loved using this book and the patterns and designs.

I liked these designs so much that I bought some of Kay's other patterns and have been sewing for the past two months. It's like an infection I can't get rid of, but that's OK with me! Kay has plenty of other designs on her website, including hand bags. I'm thinking that I now need bags made to match my new outfits.....

This book is for everyone who likes to make their own clothing, and everyone who wants to make their clothing but doesn't know how. Kay Whitt starts the book with how to fit the pattern to your measurement. Then each section has general instructions for the item and then a few different styles. Kay tells you how she envisioned the pattern to look. Then you see an actual person wearing the item. Her models are of all sizes, which I just loved. The clothing is for every day life and for the office. Kay Whitt has the full size patterns right in this book. With Kay Whitts book you get skirts, tunics/dresses, and coat patterns as well as a great how to book. Great value at this price.Sew Serendipity: Fresh and Pretty Designs to Make and Wear

I really like this book, it is very visually pleasing and inspiring, and I love that it includes full size patterns, but my only qualm with it is that the many projects within are really just variations on a few major themes. Don't get me wrong, each variation is cute and I do like the different possibilities for each style, but I wish there was more diversity among the projects. For example, the skirt on the cover is one of several variations on a basic skirt design which is explained in detail, and each variation differs from it only slightly, such as use of multiple fabrics, location of pockets, and use of ruffle trim. In fact just about every variation involves ruffle trim, which can be tedious and very time consuming if you don't own or purchase a special ruffle foot attachment for your sewing machine, so if you really love the look of the ruffles used throughout the book, plan on spending extra on the ruffle foot (or plan on spending a lot of time pinning and folding...). Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of the projects in the book and plan on making a few of them, but if you're really looking for a variety of garments to fill out your wardrobe, this might not be the book for you.

From a sewers point of view I really appreciate the very detailed step for step instructions, written and in pictures. I am an intermediate sewer and after having just finished a dress from a pattern, which had hardly any instructions, and the little there where, were very confusing. I really do appreciate detailed help in word and picture in this book. The projects are fresh, cute and modest and have a certain chic that I know from my european girl friends.

I really , really liked that some of the models had a fuller figure which I find very helpful to imagine what a pattern looks like on a real person like me who is a size 14 and not a professional model with a size 2.I mean everything looks great on a small size, but not every pattern flatters a size 14 or up, so I was very pleased to see that the fuller models just looked fab in the shown dresses, skirts and jackets.

For my personal taste there were too many ruffles but I guess they will be easy to omit. I see these kinds of books and patterns anyway more as creative inspiration.

I love the styles, the ease, the advice, the creativity -- I have made 2 different skirts so far, and am ready to tackle the linen and silk jacket. This book has been inspiring, easy-to-use, and the clothes have fit great, and look like they come from a fancy boutique.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!

I just finished tracing and cutting out the pattern pieces for dresses, tunics and skirts for my daughter. The layout is wonderful and I appreciate that the pieces translate from one garment to the next. This makes it so much easier to build a wardrobe on a budget and limited time. I'll write more once I get things sewn.