Singer Complete Photo Guide to Sewing - Revised + Expanded Edition: 1200 Full-Color How-To Photos [Paperback]

Editors of Creative Publishing (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2009 | Series: Complete Photo Guide

The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing – Revised is the one reference every sewer needs. Its 352 pages and 1100 photographs cover every aspect of fashion and décor sewing. Sections include choosing the right tools and notions, using conventional machines and sergers, fashion sewing, tailoring, and home décor projects. Included are step-by-step instructions for basic projects like pillows, tablecloths, and window treatments. Sewers from beginners to the skilled will turn to this book again and again.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Sewing garments and home-decor items does not have to be mutually exclusive; there are certain skills and fields of knowledge peculiar to each, and there are some areas of overlap. Remarkably, this extremely comprehensive, heavily illustrated volume manages to do justice to both apparel and decor techniques, from the rudiments of the sewing machine and other essential equipment to an exploration of fabric types, from taking proper measurements (of people as well as of windows and tables) to learning all the basics as well as more advanced skills for many kinds of sewing: women's wear, including tailoring; activewear, including swimsuits; babies' and children's clothes; window treatments, pillows, bed coverings, and table linens. The section on making custom alterations to store-bought patterns is especially helpful for garment sewers perpetually frustrated in trying to achieve a perfect fit. Novices will find this a very useful reference in understanding the often-cryptic instructions of commercial patterns; experienced sewers should have this guide on hand to help them achieve thoroughly professional results. --Amy Handy --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing is your most valuable tool for a lifetime of sewing success. Keep it handy by your sewing machine for instant answers to your sewing questions. You'll find the information you need for every step of clothing construction, from easy fitting to fine tailoring details. Sew stylish home accents for every room with the confidence of a pro. Beginner and expert alike benefit from this complete guide. From cover to cover, it is filled with the quality and expertise you recognize and trust from the editors of the Singer ( Sewing Reference Library (. Concise step-by-step directions and full-color photography show you the clear picture for every project and sewing technique. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Creative Publishing international; Original edition (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589234340
• ISBN-13: 978-1589234345
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 1 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,017 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Reference
  • #27 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Needlecrafts & Textile Crafts > Sewing

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

208 of 216 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars This an older Singer Sewing book renamed..... July 8, 2001

By Fanshawe VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

If you purchase this book, be aware that is was published under another name, "Singer Sewing Step by Step" in the early 90's. I'm glad that I checked it out of the library before purchasing, because I already own the other book...yes, it has some decent photos, but I would be cautious in recommending this to a beginner, as I was when I purchased the older version. Construction techniques are not thoroughly explained, usually only one or two pages of photos are devoted to any one technique (collars, sleeves, etc.). Personally, I was very frustrated by this. One would be better off using this as a complement to another book, such as the Readers Digest guide to sewing or the Vogue sewing book, both of which are excellent resources but lacking in photo illustrations. The book is a bit dated, too, but if you can get past that, it is not too bad.

103 of 106 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Worth owning, but could be better. July 12, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm a beginning sewer (*very* beginning) and I purchased this book to help me with all the things patterns don't explain. Some sections have been extremely helpful (zippers, hems) and some are disappointing (sleeves, collars.) In general, the big problem is that a technique that needs 5-10 pictures (including the finished product!) has only 2-3 photos of critical steps. Those are useful, but I often find myself struggling to imagine what they're trying to accomplish. I'm not aware of a better illustrated guide, so I'm still glad I purchased this book. As far as I can tell sewing is a lot like writing code -- you just have to screw it up by yourself in order to learn much. Maybe if I ever master one of the trickier things in the book, I'll videotape it and put the video on the web. ;-)

108 of 114 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best for the Money September 24, 2001

By K. lang

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a sewing teacher for adults. This is the book I recommend to my students as an adjunct to the class. The photos are excellent and nearly everything is included. Several of the reviews said you can't learn to sew from the book. Learning to sew or expanding your knowledge of sewing demands guidance from an instructor or other experienced person plus good printed references, too. To me, this is the best all around basic book in print today. It can always be supplemented with specialty texts and fliers available at fabric shops. Of course, if you already own the Singer specialty books this one will be a repeat and not as good for your needs.

104 of 111 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars This book is not complete July 31, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

It is a compilation of excerpts from the other titles in the Singer Sewing Reference Library. Since I have those books, this book just repeated (exact same text & pictures) information that I already have, only, as I said, not as complete, because they're just excerpts. I highly recommend the individual books in the Singer Series, which are much more informative, but I can't recommend this rehash. Also, I feel that the description should mention somewhere that the book is excerpted from other books, because then I would have known not to buy it.

117 of 127 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love It May 25, 2000

By Jarleth A. English

Format:Hardcover

This book was too cool. I am one of those people that work by picture. Read the instruction's later. And does this book have picture's. They are in color and magnified. It touches on almost all aspect's of sewing. The section I needed most was constructing a tailored notched collar. Thank You Singer! It was in this book. To go with this book I also bought The Vogue Sewing book. They work great together. Buy them both.

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for Beginners January 30, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I bought this book with the idea that I could actually learn to sew by reading it. Not so. The book is a fine reference book with great pictures, but it is not for those of us whose greatest sewing accomplishments to date is figuring out how to turn the sewing machine on.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Worth owning but could be better March 4, 2008

By C. L. Messina

Format:Paperback

I am a middle aged male whose last sewing class was in Jr. High. I have tried my hand on very small projects (pen holder, pillow), with no instruction and some success. That said, I'd guess I'm part of the target market for this book. Some reviewers say this book assumes you know how to sew, and since I have a machine, there is a little truth to that. The problem is, how many pages should a beginner book spend covering your machine? Well, if you are truly new then you need a lot of comparative information and really that's something you can only get through dealers and seamstresses/tailor's, because a lot of your questions are probably covered by the manual and are also a matter of personal preference. This book doesn't cover a lot of this area- but I don't count that against it. I suggest new sewers do what I just outlined (see dealer or seamstress/tailor and ask), read their manual if they already own a machine or go to the library and browse the sewing section. If you go into the process entirely blind you'll unneccessarily spend money on a lesser book covering basics that may be machine or user specific.

That said, I bought this book hoping to get enough from it to actually sew a garment or project after reading it. I'd say your chances of that as a new sewer are not impossible but not great. The reason is the topics seem kind of rushed over and out of context. It's as if someone assembled a bunch of articles but didn't take the time to explain how each one interrelates to the next. The pictures are nice but there could be more. All in all I was disappointed with this book.

Since I've bought this book I've had a chance to look at a few other books in the same category (luckily my library has a pretty good selection).... In hindsight I think the much better book is the New Complete Guide to Sewing (Readers Digest). It covers a wider range of topics and puts it all together, which is very important if you're to make heads or tails out of the vast language of sewing.

Best of luck to all new sewers out there! Read more ›