The Sewing Stitch & Textile Bible: A Complete Illustrated Guide to Techniques and Materials (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Delivers technique tips you will refer to often.

Spiral encased, lay-flat format allows you to work while you read.

Whether it's simple repair advice, instructions for soft furnishings or tips for designing fashions, this comprehensive sewing resource contains instructions anyone can understand, and use for years to come. In addition to easy-to-follow instructions, demonstrated in 500+ color photos and diagrams, this book includes a stitch directory with functional and decorative stitches created by hand, machine and serger. Plus, a textile directory with details for working with 70+ fabrics from chiffon to denim, and application advice for seams, edges, buttonholes, zippers and more. This is a foundational reference every sewing enthusiast can use.

About the Author

Lorna Knight runs workshops for sewers seeking tips from the couture and high-end fashion worlds, is a regular contributor to Sewing World magazine, and has contributed to many sewing books and fashion sewing magazines. She’s a former design assistant, design and technology teacher, and business owner.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Krause Publications (September 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896895270
• ISBN-13: 978-0896895270
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #410,835 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice format, March 31, 2008

By	James W (Savannah GA USA) - See all my reviews

This is a nice compact book that fits in my sewing box and has an internal spiral binding so the pages will lay flat. Good instructions on many hand, machine, and serger stitches and their applications, with cross-references to get similar stitch effects using hand instead of machine, machine instead of serger, etc. It also covers a lot of specialty stitches for beads, sequins, embroidery, and ribbon that aren't in some much larger books. Stitches are definitely the strong point, though the shorter textile section is still very helpful and, not surprisingly, often gives some details on what kind of stitches do or don't work with a given material. It's not a "complete guide to sewing," but it's probably the most useful day-to-day sewing reference I have. Good back-up books I use that spend more time on the shelf are: McCall's Needlework Treasury: A Learn & Make Book (McCall's Needlework & Craft Books) -- big & ancient but thorough, and New Complete Guide to Sewing (Readers Digest), which is a giant, glossy, 4-lb monster. I probably need Sewing for Dummies too but it's too late for that.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Guide --Wanted to Upgrade to Five Stars, June 21, 2009

By	NYer (New York City) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I was looking through this at a brick and mortar store and was very impressed by the clear illustrations. I focused on the stitches, not the textile section, which is somewhat less important to me right now as I have an old edition of Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Guide (the new guide, also at the store, looked good as well).

Through Amazon, the book also is $10 less (I'll make it up to the nonvirtual store with another purchase sometime). I plan to add this to my shopping list.