Couture Sewing Techniques (Paperback)

~ Claire Shaeffer (Author) "When I left for Paris in January of 1991 for a week of press previews of the haute couture collections, the Gulf War had just..." (more)
Key Phrases: wrist seamline, couture workrooms, binding seamline, Susan Kahn, Yves Saint Laurent, Metropolitan Museum of Art (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

From the workrooms of world fashion, including Dior, Chanel, and Givenchy, the secrets of couture craft are detailed, enabling home sewers to refine their skills. Shaeffer, author of many sewing titles, focuses on the fine construction techniques of haute couture and reviews hand stitching, making pleats or finished pockets, shaping a perfect fit, producing flawless finishing, and creating beautiful embellishments and closures. Special attention is given to creating couture jackets, coats, and evening wear. Photographs of fashions and drawings of techniques accompany the text. Not for beginning sewers, this title is for libraries serving those interested in studying and re-creating the art and science of haute couture. (Glossary, bibliography, sources of supply, index, and metric conversion chart not seen.)-Judith Yankielun Lind, Roseland Free P.L., N.J.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Starting with hand sewing - the basis for every haute couture garment - expert Claire Shaeffer guides the reader through the steps to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. She presents the sewing techniques practiced in the studios of such legendary designers as Dior, Chanel, Givenchy, and Balenciaga. Detailed instructions and illustrations make high style a snap.

Product Details

• Paperback: 217 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561584975
• ISBN-13: 978-1561584970
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,149 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

271 of 273 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Emphasis on "couture" precisely defined, not for fainthearte, May 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Couture Sewing Techniques (Hardcover)

This is truly a wonderful book for those ready to step beyond "speed sewing" and rotary cutting to creating beautiful garments with exquisit finishing. I've been sewing for 40 years and never knew how different couture sewing techniques are from those the rest of us commonly use. As precisely used in this text the word "haute couture" only applies to those 20 or so designer houses in France who meet certain strict standards regulated by the government. Fascinating!

This is a book to read and study, lots of carefully detailed text and good photographs of haute couture designs and finishing techniques. Did you know there are at least five different hand basting stitches and even more permanent hand sewing stitches for garment construction? Did you know couture houses don't use paper patterns? That their seam allowances are usually at least one inch wide? That most of their basting is done from the RIGHT side of the garment? That most seam edges are finished by hand -- even into the curve clips? That most garments are constructed entirely by hand? That steaming, shrinking and molding garment sections by pressing are as important to the shaping process as the sewing? And I'm not just talking about pressing seams open here. Wow! And I thought I knew how to sew.

While other books may use "couture" in their titles this book means it. While I've said this isn't for the fainthearted anyone who sews clothing will find some new and accessible technique here. Grab it, keep it near your sewing machine and if you only add one new technique with each project your skill, pride and satisfaction in your work will grow immensely.

121 of 121 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just pretty pictures, June 19, 2000

By	susan402 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Couture Sewing Techniques (Hardcover)

Though there are wonderful pictures of couture garments, this is a how-to book. It is filled with detailed instruction and many easy to follow diagrams. "Haute Couture" is defined, and the chapter "Inside the World of Haute Couture" will be of interest to anyone who loves sewing or clothing. Then she goes on to discuss many couture techniques and applies them to a number of garments that any intermediate sewer could duplicate. This is how you get from intermediate to advanced! The best book I've found for information on women's tailoring, and it includes my favorite reference when someone asks me how to make bound buttonholes. If you want to take your sewing to the next level, get this book in your library.

108 of 109 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A valuable resource for those who want to go beyond "paint-by-numbers" garment sewing, January 23, 2006

By	N. Mentor "imanisaida" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Firstly I'd like rebut the comment given by the person who said that the techniques were unnecessary, outdated and could easily be found in the internet. I purchased this book because I couldn't find any website that spoke to the techniques found in this book in any straight-forward detail (The pictures are invaluable). Do a search for "couture sewing" and you'll find sites by ready-to-wear vendors incorrectly labeling their garments 'couture' or fashion schools offering classes.

As to the "outdated" comment, a lot of the garments shown are by the designers when they were alive. So you'll see a Dior or Chanel garment designed by THE Dior and Chanel, not the later designers working for their respective houses. Granted the designs might be considered 'dated' to some, but art doesn't go out of style; and the techniques used in the garment assembly can easily be applied to the latest runway fashions seen today. All you need is a little imagination.

Most people don't have the time to sew every stitch on the garment by hand. Note, though, that this is a book on haute couture technique where handsewing comprises 95% of the work done in couture houses. There IS something to be said for the control provided by handsewing. Most of the mistakes I've done on garments may not have taken place had I sewn by hand because of fabric unintentionally caught up in seams, etc. Also some fabrics are very unforgiving, and cannot withstand repeated machine-sewing/ seam ripping. A little time spent on planning from muslin to garment goes a long way. I find this book user- friendly; easy to read and refer to while working (though it would have been nice if it were spiral-bound). There is an adequate index/glossary in the back and the few unknown terms can be Googled for clarity.

Lastly, I feel that this book is for people who feel that if they're spending time on stitching a classy garment (i.e. wool/linen suit, wedding gown, vintage restoration, historical re-enactment) they might as well spend time on the detail.