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Complete Book of Sewing Techniques – new book

My new book – Complete Book of Sewing Techniques

I got a surprise this morning. A new book on sewing dropped through the door – and it’s by me! The surprise is that I didn’t know that it was to be published. The book, called ‘Complete Book of Sewing Techniques’ is a rejig of another title I wrote back in 2007 (The Complete book of Sewing). At the time, I wrote the original for a fixed fee, which means that the publishers could republish etc. So that appears to be what has happened, although the publishers of the new edition are Fox Chapel.

The new book looks great and includes ‘more than 30 essential sewing techniques for you to master’. These are the techniques form the original but without the 15 garments that had been included and of course, the techniques remain current and applicable

The book starts with a Sewing Essentials section including tips on choosing and using a sewing machine, fabrics, threads and notions, a look at interfacings and stabilisers, general know-how  on paper patterns and a useful measurement guide.

 

The next section is Basic Techniques, including hand stitching and machine stitching, from stitches for specific parts of a garment such as blind hemming, to different seams and seam finishing.

 

The Style Techniques section includes just that – techniques for style, such as hemming techniques, facings and bands, darts, pockets, waistbands, collars, sleeves, cuffs and zips. There are also variations of buttonholes, other fastenings, tucks and pleats, linings and interlinings, gathers and ruffles, fancy edges (piping, beaded trims etc) plus adding elastic into casings or waistbands, making different straps and ties and different kinds of applique.

The final chapter is a brief look at soft furnishings, from measuring and making curtains, determining fabric quantities and handling pattern repeats.

So there you are – without knowing it, I have another book published! By the way, it was a nice surprise…