Customer Reviews

Sewing For Dummies

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Knowing nothing at all about sewing, when I first set out to master the craft I went straight to the big-name references (Singer books and the like) only to find either huge guides overloaded with incomprehensible technical information and impractical advice, or beautifully illustrated books with little or no instructions. I was about to give up the teach-yourself-idea and enroll in some very expensive classes when I chanced upon this book. Amazingly by the time it took me to finish studying it (less than a month) I had not only learned to sew, but had also completed several Halloween costumes that earned the praise and admiration of friends and family.
Written in the friendly Dummies style, illustrated with over 200 pictures, drawings, step-by-step diagrams, humorous icon guides and even hilarious cartoons, this book covers all the fundamentals of sewing from general information for beginners to tips and tricks for experienced sewers.
Through simple, yet detailed, fully cross-referenced, clearly written explanations in plain English, and using proper, well-defined terminology, this reference contains all the basics. It includes assembling a sewing kit; selecting fabrics and threads; understanding and using patterns; working with hems, sleeves, pockets, collars, and closures; sewing for the home; and making repairs and alterations. It also offers some projects to test your acquired knowledge and progress, an appendix listing wonderful sewing resources in the US and on the Web, and a very thorough index for quick check-ups and specific consultations.
Although the author could have been a bit more generous with the step-by-step diagrams, which are barely enough to get you through the instructions, and the projects could have been a bit more attractive, even if that meant sacrificing some of their simplicity, this fun to read, informative guide is still in my mind the best how-to reference available on the fundamentals of sewing, especially for those with no prior experience. The excellent instruction and practical tools and advice presented in this volume are well worth the price.
Also recommended: The Complete Book of Sewing: A Practical Step-By-Step Guide to Every Technique by Chris Jefferys.
--Reviewed by M. E. Volmar

I received this book along with another, Simplicity's Simply the Best Sewing Book. As I began to work on my first project, I found myself turning more and more often to the Simplicity book. My pattern called for several techniques that were not described in Sewing for Dummies at all. For instance, the section on darts only covers one kind of dart. My pattern included a curved dart, but I didn't even realize it until I consulted the Simplicity book. Also, I needed to "ease the hem." Sewing for Dummies does not describe what "ease" means, nore does it say how to do it or what the ease-stitch is.

I'm glad I had the other book to compare it too, or I may have never realized how much information is missing from this one.

If you are a true beginner, this book lacks sufficient pictures and diagrams. Written instructions are pretty good. This book runs the gamut from home decor, craft projects, and any type of clothing you'd ever want to wear.

This book is just okay really. I knew absolutely nothing about sewing when I got this book. I wanted to start sewing clothing to sell, so I thought this would be a good place to start. It's not something you can sit down and just read at all. There's ALOT of information just sort of thrown together. It seems less like a how-to book and more like someone who knows alot about the subject just babbling at you. Honestly, I'd suggest 101 Essential Tips Basic Sewing. It gives you good basic advice in a quick simple manner. It's alot easier to follow. You dont have to skip from this section to this section to see what they're talking about, AND it's ALOT cheaper.

If you have no prior experience with sewing, I do not recommend this book. There are no step by step photos or even illustrations for that matter, so reading through and trying to visualize what its talking about will most likely frustrate you to no end like it did with me at first. After trying to read this book a few times, I put it away to collect dust and chalked it up as a waste of money. I recently bought The Complete Book of Sewing by Chris Jefferys and remembered I had the Sewing For Dummies book so I dug it out with the intent to return it to the bookstore where I bought it. After looking through it a bit I (reluctantly) changed my mind about taking it back.

After reading through the Complete Book of Sewing and also having successfully sewn a few things here and there, the For Dummies book makes a lot more sense now. There is some information in there that makes for good shortcuts and sometimes expounds upon certain topics the Complete Book of Sewing only went into at the most basic level. So the bottom line is: only after getting the Complete Book of Sewing and the Reader's Digest New Complete Guide to Sewing do I recommend the Sewing for Dummies book, but by then you may not need it anyway.

I usually LOVE the dummies series and find it very useful for new subjects I want to just dive into. This book is useful, but not as a first reference for someone who has never done more than the occasional needle-and-thread wobbly patching most of us did in College.

The good:
1. Very thorough subject coverage - everything from clothing to arts & crafts, to home decor (in fact, I think if they broke this up into two books - one for clothing only, and one for the rest, they would have done themselves a big favor).
2. The step descriptions are broken down into mini-steps very well (I think).

The bad:
1. hardly any illustrations at all. Where there are illustrations, they are very basic, mostly restricted to the type of stitch described rather than an illustration of the step-by-step process.
2. the level of terminology-knowledge assumed by the book is insanely high for beginners.
3. There is insufficient internal cross referencing - the writers seem to assume you will read the book from cover to cover in the right order, and that you will remember everything you learned from one chapter to the next.
4. The section on "Quick fixes and alterations" which is boasted about in the book description is far from comprehensive, and the steps described are skimpy - largely without internal references to where within the book these steps are described.

This will be a great 2nd book, I think. But until I reach that level I'll have to find something else.

I used this book to help me when I decided to sew my daughter's first Halloween costume. My husband and I decided that we wanted her to be an armadillo, but there are no patterns, so I had to get a pattern that was close, and change it to my specifications. I could not have done it without this book. The book taught me all about bias, nap, threading a sewing a machine, and has tips to make the process easier. I wish I could post a picture here to show you how cute the costume ended up. My mother-in-law, a lifelong sewer, couldn't believe that my first project turned out so beautifully. It was all thanks to this book!

If you can't take a class, educate yourself in the basics with this excellent beginner's guide. I've read lots of sewing guides, but this is the most user-friendly. From selecting patterns and how to read them, picking fabric, sewing machines and basic construction skills, this book has it all. Highly recommend!

This is a great way to learn sewing from the bottom up. It is well written with much in the way of helpful advice and tips for the beginning sewer. I have managed to make several items and I just started sewing with a machine given to me, oh yes, I am 62 years old and a man.

I've been teaching myself to sew the last few months and in that time I've checked out all the books my library has to offer on the subject. Since I really like all the other "for Dummies" books that I have read I decided to buy this one sight-unseen to keep around the house as my reference. It's not a bad book but there are better books out there for those of us who are new to sewing or need a refresher in basics. If the book were organized differently I think I might like it more. Compared to other books of this type the information is not as well organized or easy to find. The illustrations are nice but again I've seen others that work better for me. I wouldn't say not to buy this book, but check it out first and make sure it's teaching (or refreshing what you already know) in a way that is useful to you. This book was not useful to me.