Sewing for Dummies (Paperback)

~ Janice Saunders Maresh (Author) "Sewing is fun, relaxing, and tremendously rewarding..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Review

&covers everything you need to know in an easy-to-follow format& -- Ideal Home, February 2003

“…covers everything you need to know in an easy-to-follow format…”(Ideal Home, February 2003)

“…covers everything you need to know in an easy-to-follow format…”(Ideal Home, February 2003)

&covers everything you need to know in an easy-to-follow format& -- Ideal Home, February 2003“…covers everything you need to know in an easy-to-follow format…”(Ideal Home, February 2003) “…covers everything you need to know in an easy-to-follow format…”

Review

&covers everything you need to know in an easy-to-follow format& -- Ideal Home, February 2003“…covers everything you need to know in an easy-to-follow format…”(Ideal Home, February 2003) “…covers everything you need to know in an easy-to-follow format…”

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Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; illustrated edition edition (July 14, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076455137X
• ISBN-13: 978-0764551376
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #162,034 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

226 of 228 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Learn how to sew the easy way., June 29, 2004

By	M. E. Volmar (Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional Dominican Republic) - See all my reviews

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 Maritza Volmar

120 of 123 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not very thorough, December 28, 2002

By	Sara G. (Mamou, LA USA) - See all my reviews

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.

115 of 124 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for beginners, December 30, 1999

By A Customer

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.