Customer Reviews

Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I sew almost every day. I never use patterns. I hate them. I mean, what's the point of putting all that time into making a garment if it's going to look like something you bought at the store?

That's why I design all my clothing and handbags, and this book is now one of my favorites. It doesn't come with built in patterns, but directions for how to measure yourself and make patterns or - better yet -mark the skirt dimensions right on the fabric. What's more, the designs are unique and versatile, and the author encourages personal creativity.
The day after I bought it I sewed the Country Charm skirt using some quilters cotton and another cotton fabric I'd hand-dyed a few days before. The directions were simple, accurate and within a couple of hours I was done. Thanks to the wonderful instructions, my fabric choices and an applique I ended up with unique, wearable work of art and a new style of skirt to sew for myself or others.

It's not often I'm impressed with a sewing book. This one gets my highest recommendation.

This is a terrific book - it's visually attractive, the binding makes it easy to use, the skirts are fashionable and adaptable, many (if not all) patterns show an alternative skirt in the same style, and the directions (and the reasoning behind them) are clearly explained.

But my one complaint is that very little is mentioned about fabric quantities - something one would need to make a completed garment, yes? There is a brief paragraph in the beginning that defines her use of the word "length" and gives a size small as an example, and from there on out there is one quantity given for each skirt. Since one of the reasons for this book is to make a skirt that fits a specific person, this doesn't strike me as enough information. Running out of fabric (and possibly not being able to buy more) would be tragic, and having enough fabric to make two skirts (and not being able to return it) would be frustrating. For this book to be perfect, more discussion would need to be given to such an important topic.

But in every other way I can think of, the book is terrific, fun, educational and effective.

I ordered this book from Amazon on a whim. I thought it sounded good so I took a chance and I'm glad I did. I am really happy with this book. I plan to work my way through the projects. This book would be great for a beginner. I am an intermediate seamstress but love the idea of not running out to buy a pattern everytime I need a new skirt. The author walks you through the steps of drafting your own pattern for your body measurements. Each skirt has a different technique and the projects grow in dificulty level, although none of them are very dificult. She has excellent instrucions and the pictures are inspiring. I believe there are 16 skirts in here but you could easily take the different ideas and come up with many more patterns. I would love to see more of these books, maybe one on tops and another on pants. The book is well worth the money especially if you think about the cost of patterns these days. Great job Francesca, I love it!

Due to the increasing prices of clothing and the lack of cute styles out there, I decided to take on the task of learning how to sew my own clothes. I've made a few simple baby quilts, but that's about it. I started by purchasing a Betsy Ross pattern and cute Amy Butler fabric. My first attempt at sewing a skirt was a disaster. Even though I cut out the pattern that fit the closet to my measurements it was HUGE! After all of the anticipation and the money I had spent on a pattern and fabric I wanted to CRY! I purchased this book on Amazon in a last ditch effort to live the dream, of crafting my own beautiful skirt, that would fit and not cost a fortune. This book is amazing!!! Just this weekend I whipped up the cutest little A-line skirt in about two hours and it's just darling! In fact, I'm wearing it right now. It fits me better than any skirt I own. I used a big funky pink and brown Amy Butler floral fabric and my skirt looks like it would have been purchased from a hip little boutique, but cost me about 15.00. The directions were simple, the pictures were incredibly helpful, and I imagine I'll be sewing up at least five more of these for my Spring/Summer wardrobe.

There is something wrong when one has to do the proofreading before following a pattern. Does anybody proofread before publishing, especially when math is so crucial to pattern writing. Much to my major disappointment, when I finally pull the book out to sew a skirt with much anticipation and expectation after buying a pretty piece of fabric at a very pretty price and proceed in following the directions to make a semi-circular wrap-skirt, and having cut accordingly, I discover that the math is completely off. N.B. Do not divide the final waistline measurement by 6. This is incorrect information. Yeah, I didn't end up with the skirt I had in mind... and I don't give praises for books that give the wrong information and can cause one much grief and an emptier wallet than initially planned.

Well maybe not but I can assure you that with an ounce of patience and a cupful of enthusiasm you will be whipping up custom made skirts in no time at all. You'll even be holding your hand out to your friends in a slow down gesture, take a number please... (I wrote a reveiw on Aussie Bid dot com for this book too)

Seriously this book is that good, and I've been sewing for nearly 20 years now! The book is a breath of fresh air. The picures and diagrams are lovely and easy to follow. Remember that this book was written in the USA so be prepared for coversion if you are a metric kind of person (thank goodness Australian tape measures come with metric and imperial on the one tape).

When you order this book go and get yourself some butchers paper, a ruler and some pens/ textas. You need to draft a a very basic flat pattern using your own measurement. This becomes your basis for creating marvellous skirts that will fit you. My first project was the straight skirt, I made this with a black fabric with a self-print. Even with the modifications I did (it has a lovely thigh split,the book guides you through this, with the addition of press stud tape for modesty)skirt- from drafting to wearing, took less then 1 1/2 hours.

The thing that made me fall the most in love with this book is that it has very clear and visual instructions on setting a zipper /fly (or what ever you call those things with teeth that hold your skirt together).

The book I bought from Amazon is hard covered with spiral binding. The spiral binding allows the book to lay flat when you are working from it )(without the pages flipping shut). you're also shown how to make skirts that are:
- Straight with variations including simple pleats, splits, long and short, etc
- a line with layers, wrapped etc
- irregular hem lines (think pixies skirts)- SO EASY!
- ruffled
- etc

Well worth the investment! I am off to order another copy for my Mother (she keeps stealing mine) and for a friends Birthday. I am skirt girl and I adore this book. Now if only they could make a book like this for beautiful, easy, tasteful blouses and tops.

When I started sewing, I did so seeking freedom, independence, and thrift. I hated having to buy an expensive patten that I would probably have to spend extra time altering. I just wanted to make some skirts. Then I discovered this book. It is exactly what I needed. It gives just enough information to get you started, but isn't so full of rules that you feel constrained. The author encourages you to experiment and try, and not be afraid of failing. This is the best sewing book I've read, and I've read a lot. I hope it is just the beginning of a series! Would love one on tops and pants! I don't know if that's possible, though.

I picked up this book at the local bookstore. I've been sewing for years but thought the ideas in this book were adorable. This is an excellent book for an older teen, experienced seamstress, or someone with an eye for fabric that would like to add a spark to her own wardrobe.

I too wish they'd included yardage and layout requirements for bias sewing.

A couple of things I learned the hard way:

1. At least for the first A-line or straight skirt with a zipper, put the zipper in the back. Yeah, it's an extra seam, but it makes taking in the sides and/or adding darts if necessary easier.

2. Give a lot more ease through the hips than the book calls for. Otherwise, especially if you're working with a thin fabric, it will bunch up when you sit down and stay that way when you stand up. You can always take it in later.

3. If the skirt is a straight or A-line skirt that hits at or above the knee, you are sewing with a lightweight fabric, and you are reasonably well-proportioned, you can probably get by with a straight hem and waistline. To keep the hem from "bunching," prepare the bottom following the instructions for sewing a straight line to a curve and then hem.

4. If possible, cut out the facings so that their bottom edges run along the selvage. Nobody sees them anyway, and it saves you from having to staystitch them.

5. You can "line" the skirt by making longer facings and sewing them to the front and back pieces first, before stitching the side seams.

I have never written a review, but just had to for this book! My husband gave it to me for my birthday and WOW! This is an outstanding book - I greatly appreciate the authors' excellent taste in style and fabric! I am very inspired to make some beautiful skirts! I hope to be sewing all winter in preparation for Spring Skirt Season!