Designer Techniques Couture Tips For Home Sewing (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

King, host of the PBS series Sewing Today, here offers his resource guide for the home sewer who wishes to add couture touches to clothing and home decor items. King concentrates on edge finishes, piping, pockets, shoulder shaping, embellishments, and finishing touches and provides clear illustrations and step-by-step instructions for each technique. Recommended for public libraries and costume collections.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Offering innovative tricks for achieving fashionable looks with a sewing machine and serger, this book by fashion designer Kenneth King describes the techniques he has developed for adding stylish effects. It shows how to deal with difficult fabrics, make a fine rolled edge on sheer and transparent fabrics, pipe buttonholes and pockets, create a fool-proof welt pocket, construct a shoulder pad with no visible height, and many other tricks of the trade. Many of these tips can be applied to home furnishings as well as to garments.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Sterling Pub Co Inc (February 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806994894
• ISBN-13: 978-0806994895
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #989,273 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best techniques, ideas, and photographed sewing book!, March 10, 1997

By A Customer

Mr. Kings grasp of the world of Designer Techniques is immesurable. This book is a treasure. Techniques are shown and techniques described in easy to follow instructions for the home sewer. The book has some real COOL TRICKS to incorporate into your next sewing project for garments and home dec. Mr. Kings life story is just as facinating as his "bag of tricks." This book covers a mirad of subjects from what tools and equiptment you should have in your sewing room, through pocket techniques and tasseled handbags. Don't get the wrong idea, this is not just high end couture sewing techniques, it is shortcut methods and sound advice for any sewer - a great reference. I especially like the descriptions and ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPHS of the different interfacings, and underlinings and cordings and piping, so that I can go into a store and point to what I want!!! If you have limited $$$ to spend on your sewing library, don't leave this one on the store shelf!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible Couture Sewing, May 9, 2004

By	VL (Menlo Park, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Finally, someone has written a book on sewing techniques for those of us who also like beautiful clothes. It's fun to see how exciting clothes can be made using techniques and materials accessible to any home sewer. He uses pictures of his own creations to demonstrate the success of his techniques. The instructions are detailed and thorough. He tackles hard techniques and shows you the steps you must go through to get results. I was tired of books that showed me easy techniques, with only so-so results. I find this a book that I use over and over again... and I have many sewing books. I believe this is a book written by someone who actually uses the techniques himself to create beautiful clothes.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Information and inspiration!!, May 9, 2004

By	"horandesigns" (Dallas/Ft.Worth TX USA) - See all my reviews

I own "Designer Techniques" and I am perplexed about the review that "lopuff" wrote. She can't get past the photos because they are a "bad re-visit to the '80's...can we say vests and big hair?" I can only assume she didn't look carefully at the photos--she makes them out to be some fashion disaster, when they are really modern, light-hearted and kind-of chic. The photos that illustrate the techniques (as well as the illustrations and text) are informative, and that's what counts here. And, as for the techniques themselves, "lopuff" may feel thse are nothing revolutionary but, if you have ever actually done a lot of sewing, you know how valuable RELIABLE techniques can be in saving time and effot. THAT is what is revolutionary about this book.