Sewing Secrets from the Fashion Industry: Proven Methods to Help You Sew Like the Pros (Rodale Sewing Book) [Paperback]

Susan Huxley (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999 | Series: Rodale Sewing Book

Sewing secrets from the fashion industry

Look over the shoulders of sewing experts as they show you how to cut and sew the professional way. From sample rooms to production sewing factories, the authors gleaned the best and the fastest garment-sewing techniques and treatments.

Sew fast. Sew smart. Make clothes that look better than ready-to-wear. Hundreds of step-by-step photographs and easy-to-understand directions help you:

* Master bound button holes
* Imitate professional seam finishes on your machine
* Create an innovative button placket
* Eliminate ease stitching and basting
* Sew a lined vest in three hours without any hand stitching
* Choose a pocket and waistband that's right for you
* Use industry techniques to interface like the pros
* Make clothing that fits perfectly no matter what your size

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Hundreds of clear photos, excellent step-by-step instructions, dozens of trade secrets from industry experts, and an A-to-Z approach make this one of the outstanding guides on the subject. Besides wonderful coverage of equipment choices and construction techniques, there is terrific information on altering commercial patterns to customize every detail for individual figure specifics, making a muslin, working with various fabric and interfacing types, and layout and cutting. This is an essential addition to any novice's sewing library; the more-experienced garment maker will also find it a very useful reference. --Amy Handy

From Library Journal

While fewer people sew today, those who do are often more serious about it. This book is targeted at true enthusiasts who want to learn the timesaving and quality-enhancing techniques employed by professionals. Together the book's five contributors have worked for more than a century in the garment industry as designers, pattern makers, instructors, and quality-control specialists. With more than 800 photos, Sewing Secrets gives the reader an over-the-shoulder look at apparel construction, emphasizing details that can distinguish a run-of-the-mill garment from a fashion statement. An extensive "tips & techniques" section is arranged alphabetically from awls to zippers, while sidebars of inside information make for interesting browsing. Highly recommended for all sewing collections.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875969801
• ISBN-13: 978-0875969800
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #721,369 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great text for sewing students, July 22, 2003

By 

Ruth Ann (Pensacola, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sewing Secrets from the Fashion Industry: Proven Methods to Help You Sew Like the Pros (Rodale Sewing Book) (Paperback)

I am a sewing teacher at a college, and I discovered this book in the library as I was looking for texts to improve my skills and knowledge. I got so excited about the book that I read it from cover to cover. I am going to propose that we include this book as one of our textbooks for my Advanced Clothing Construction class to help them learn better sewing techniques and improve their skills. I like all the helpful hints throughout the book, as well as the alphabetical organization. I also like the pictures that show exactly how to measure yourself, and I think the book explains techniques pretty well. The only thing that I think needs improvement is that it is hard to see what they are illustrating in many of the photographs. The reason is because they used bright colored fabrics that look identical on the right and wrong sides, and the thread blends in so well that it is difficult to see. However, if you can follow directions, you can still understand how to do the techniques because their step-by-step directions are pretty good. I want to get one of these books for myself.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Time-Saving, Quality Enhancing Techniques, January 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sewing Secrets from the Fashion Industry: Proven Methods to Help You Sew Like the Pros (Rodale Sewing Book) (Hardcover)

As one of those odd ducks who spends the extra time to have custom clothes that fit me properly, I have found that this book is a fantastic aid to creating better-quality clothing in less time than traditional home-sewing techniques would require. Not only does this book give good descriptions of the techniques, but it is arranged alphabetically, allowing the sewer to use it as a quick reference, rather than having to reserve it for study use.

There are also several specialty tools and attatchments described in this book that I would not have known existed, let alone how to use, but these are most often described in sidebars, leaving the main pages free for techniques using basic straight-stitch and serger equipment.

Fantastic!

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful reference material, February 13, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Sewing Secrets from the Fashion Industry: Proven Methods to Help You Sew Like the Pros (Rodale Sewing Book) (Hardcover)

This is an excellent reference for those who want to make their custom-sewn garments look even better than ready-to-wear and still keep the time involved minimal. The book offers concise, well-illustrated instructions showing how to efficiently perform the most common sewing activities, such as setting in zippers or lining vests, just as they are performed in the industry. In addition, the book is so logically organized, the reader can fine the topic almost without consulting the index or table of contents. This one is now a mainstay in my sewing library