"Anyone who can work through the labyrinthian directions for sewing that accompany the commercial pattern can surely learn the comparatively simple and clear rules for pattern making," says nationally acclaimed sewing expert Adele Margolis. Her profusely illustrated primer allows you to create your own fashionable patterns and personalized commercial patterns. You'll learn how to design and execute everything from skirts, dresses, and blouses to sportswear, jackets, and children's clothing. You'll also find tips for: shaping fabric to your figure; mastering the art of flares, flounces, pleats, and tucks; creating fashionable necklines, pretty pockets, stylish sleeves, and much more.
Simple step-by-step directions and more than 1,000 illustrations show how to successfully complete apparel for work, home, and play that reflects your personal style and taste.

This mini pocket guide is packed with mega information curated for sewing novices! Once you've found your perfect pattern, use this guide to lead you through the sewing process and answer all of your questions along the way. The small size means you can take it with you everywhere, and is a great gift for all sewists.

Learn how to make and embellish six fabulous felt hats. 'A chic hat elevates any outfit and always draws compliments. I treasure my unique Bobbi Heath hat and now, thanks to her book, I can create my own from scratch at home. Bobbi is a natural teacher, she provides clear and easy-to-follow instructions and makes millinery fun.' - Susanna Brown - Curator, Victoria and Albert Museum A stunning felt hat is the perfect accessory for any occasion - from an everyday addition to your winter wardrobe to a head-turning statement piece for a special occasion. In this practical and informative guide, expert milliner Bobbi Heath shows you how to make felt hats in six different styles to perfectly complement any outfit, including a fabulous floppy hat, cloche, bucket, pill box, cap and button. Bobbi starts with the basics of how to measure your head, then talks you through the secrets of stiffening the felt, using steam to mould your fabric, and blocking. Learn invaluable stitching and edging techniques, then have fun experimenting with trimmings to make your hat unique. With a foreword by Dillion Wallwork, a London hat designer and prominent milliner for over 30 years, this practical book will appeal to all hat lovers and anyone looking for an easy introduction to the art of millinery.

This is an accessible compendium of tried and tested sewing, patchwork and embroidery techniques. It covers all the basics on how to sew, with clear instructions and over 1300 photographs and illustrations, to help you achieve professional, accurate results every time. It is a beginner's guide to machine embroidery and a dictionary of hand embroidery stitches and skills covers ribbon embroidery, needlelace and drawn threadwork, and traditional counted thread techniques such as Hardanger. You can learn traditional hand-sewn patchwork, quilting and applique methods, as well as the latest speed-cutting and piecing techniques, and how to use fusible bonding web. It includes inspirational examples of contemporary and traditional work by leading textile artists. This appealing gift set offers a complete guide to sewing, patchwork and embroidery in three handy books. Whether you are cutting out a pattern, turning hems or deciding which type of zipper or seam to use, concise instructions guide you through each stage, one step at a time. Here is all the information you need to design and make your own patchwork quilt, whether you are a beginner or an experienced quilter. Master classic hand stitching and contemporary machine embroidery, and learn how to become a proficient embroiderer. Here, with 1300 illustrations and photographs, is all the information you need to succeed as a home sewer.

"Selection of the Crafters Choice Book Club"Beautiful natural dyes from plants found in the wild or grown in your own backyard.
As more and more crafters are discovering, dyeing your own fabric can yield gorgeous colors. Now master dyer Rebecca Burgess identifies 36 plants that will yield beautiful natural shades and shows how easy it is to make the dyes. Pokeweed creates a vibrant magenta, while a range of soft lavender shades is created from elderberries; indigo yields a bright blue, and coyote brush creates stunning sunny yellows.
"Gathering Color" explains where to find these plants in the wild (and for those that can be grown in your backyard, how to nurture them) and the best time and way to harvest them; maps show the range of each plant in the United States and Canada. For the dyeing itself, Burgess describes the simple equipment needed and provides a master dye recipe. The book is organized seasonally; as an added bonus, each section contains a knitting project using wools colored with dyes from plants harvested during that time of the year. With breathtaking color photographs by Paige Green throughout, "Gathering Color" is an essential guide to this growing field, for crafters and DIYers; for ecologists and botanists; and for artists, textile designers, and art students.
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Reinvent crewel embroidery with colourful wool and cheerful designs that are sure to brighten any home. Jo Avery invites stitchers of all abilities to take on this traditional heritage art and make projects that pop! 15 fresh designs breathe new life into traditional crewelwork embroidery. Includes projects such as pincushions, pillows, wall hangings, hoops and more.

A form of handmade lace, tatting is a traditional skill with origins dating back centuries and spanning continents. Each stitch is composed of two half-hitch knots. The single thread is looped and knotted with the aid of a small shuttle - a simple technique that produces amazingly intricate results. This book shows how a simple piece of tatting can be developed into something striking and complex. The reader is guided through the process with easy-to-follow diagrams and descriptions. The 15 stunning designs, including many variants to experiment with, allow the tatting disciple to explore the craft further. Ideas for how the basic patterns can be developed are included, as well as suggestions such as creating very different looks by varying the thread used. Whatever your level of experience, "Mastering Tatting" offers the chance to create something satisfying and unique to cherish or give as a gift.

The number-1 requested sewing book just got better Ideal for sewing enthusiasts of all skill levels, this book uses photos and clearly written text to demonstrate all the basic sewing techniques needed for sewing clothes and home decor items.""

From a cheeky Fox Duffle Coat to a sweet and simple Mouse Pocket Dress, the designs in The Fox, the Bear & the Bunny are great fun and utterly adorable. The animal themed projects include dresses, dungarees, coats and trousers, and each are embellished with different animals for a playful twist. The Bunny coat has ears and a tail, whilst the Cat Mittens have a fun pawprint motif. Aimed at crafters with some experience of machine sewing, the pull-out pattern sheets, simple, step-by-step instructions and clear diagrams make even seemingly complicated patterns easy to understand and accessible, and all the patterns can be scaled up or down to fit children aged 1-5. The fun features of these clothes encourage creative play, and children will love having unique and quirky clothes that really stand out. With everything from rabbits and owls to foxes and bears, youngsters and adults alike will be delighted by these whimsical and original designs.

Stay pain-free with this quilter's survival guide for a healthier mind, body, and spirit. This guide will make sure you have the right posture, techniques, and stretches when putting in those dedicated hours on your next project.

Zakka is a Japanese design aesthetic that combines usefulness with beauty and style. In this book, Sedef Imer has created a collection of simple, pretty, and handy projects inspired by the art of Zakka to help organise and beautify your home. Suitable for all levels of sewists, you will be inspired by these fun and easy-to-sew projects that will brighten and adorn your home.

Every vintage-obsessed sewist dreams of having a closet full of gorgeous dresses. The follow-up to the popular Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing and Gertie Sews Vintage Casual, Gertie's Ultimate Dress Book is packed with all the information and patterns you could ever need to create a wardrobe filled with stunning vintage frocks. The book begins with all the essential techniques for dressmaking and includes instructions and patterns for 23 dresses for a variety of occasions. Elements of each pattern can be mixed and matched, allowing readers to customise the bodice, skirt, sleeves, pockets and details of each dress for a truly unique creation.

This title helps you learn the classic techniques of painting silk, with creative projects to do at home. There are exciting designs to create, including a Decorative Fan, a Lily Scarf, a Flowery Camisole and a Block-printed Blind. It features a gallery of exquisite silk painting treatments by leading contemporary artists. It includes information about materials, equipment and techniques such as using gutta and marbling. There are 25 original and easy-to-achieve projects presented step by step. It contains over 300 specially commissioned photographs, which clearly demonstrate each stage. This is the definitive approach to a traditional craft. The art of decorating textiles has been popular since ancient times and of all the natural fabrics silk is the most sought after. Increasingly sophisticated dyes have led to new and elaborate decorative techniques, but the real beauty of silk painting is that even simple designs produce outstanding results. This book shows how to create 25 decorative pieces, and contains all the information you need to get started. Types of silk and their suitability for different dyes are discussed, and many basic techniques - including tie-dye, dip-dye, salt scattering, gutta resist, marbling and batik - are explained. Once you have mastered these basics the projects will be easily achieved. The projects vary in complexity so you can start off with a dip-dyed handkerchief before tackling more involved techniques such as the gutta hand-painted parasol. The projects are presented step by step with photographs to take you through the stages. This book is a wonderful introduction to one of the world's most rewarding crafts.

Craft your own stylish accessories worthy of a high-end boutique with this collection of 21 macram bags, belts, and straps. From durable market totes to cross-body boho bags, there's a purse for every occasion. After mastering basic macram techniques, discover how to add special details, such as wooden handles, metal buckles, and zippers, to elevate the style and function of your designs. With its assortment of small-scale projects, this book is great for beginners, but also provides fresh inspiration for veteran macram enthusiasts looking to create wearable art.

Gretchen "Gertie" Hirsch is a passionate home seamstress, a sought-after sewing teacher, and the creator of one of the web's most popular sewing blogs: Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing. The blog began as a way for readers to follow Hirsch's progress as she stitched all 14 fashions from the iconic 1950s sewing book "Vogue's New Book for Better Sewing" (a "Julie & Julia"-esque experiment for the modern sewist). It quickly became a place for Hirsch to share tutorials and lively posts about sewing as it relates to fashion history, pop culture, body image, and gender. An extension of the blog, "Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing" is a hardworking reference title packed with lessons on couture techniques and customization, as well as an inimitable pattern collection featuring 25 wardrobe essentials and variations inspired by vintage fashion and Gertie's spirited, modern style.
Praise for "Gertie's New Book For Better Sewing: "
"If you read Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing, you already know that Gretchen Hirsch is all about teaching basic sewing skills that some of us (guilty ) may have skipped right over when we learned to sew. Now you can find all of Gretchen's sewing knowledge in one place." --Martha Stewart.com
"Like her blog, Hirsch's book is like a chat with a friend who happens to be an expert seamstress. Even if the vintage-inspired garments aren't your style, there's plenty to learn from this book." --"Library Journal"
"The styles are all rocked out with the tattoo-clad Gertie as the model. If you love a retro pattern, then this book is the one for you." --CraftGossip.com
"White paper templates, not tissue These will make it easier to trace." --"Sew Spoiled"
"I personally love the finishing details on well-made garments and found this book to be a fantastic resource for adding techniques to my repertoire." --ThreadBias.com
"Maybe my faaavorite part of the book is the Vintage to Modern dictionary. If you ever use vintage patterns or shop for vintage or retro-y clothes, you'll love this spread " --"Adventures in Dressmaking"
"The featured wealth of skills in a range of garment-sewing techniques are perfect for the home sewer with a thirst to learn how to create pieces for her own wardrobe." -- EcoSalon.com
"Her new book is an excellent extension of the blog that includes a fantastic collection of nine patterns to create your own vintage-inspired wardrobe." --SewNews.com
"One of my favourite aspects of the book is that it pulls back the curtain on construction and reveals what the insides of the garments look like. It's really helpful to take a peek at how another stitcher finishes her seams and keeps the whole thing hanging together--a very clever touch." --"Tilly and the Buttons"
"We love it, and we're so excited to have it in hand. It's wonderful to be able to infuse some "Gertie style" into our sewing. All the projects are great, and the layout of the book is really easy to use and navigate. It has a great vintage, yet modern look." --"Sew Mama Sew"
""Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing" is a fun, new pattern book, featuring sewing patterns that embody author Gretchen Hirsch's fresh take on vintage style."--CRAFTzine.com

"If you read "Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing," you already know that Gretchen Hirsch is all about teaching basic sewing skills that some of us (guilty ) may have skipped right over when we learned to sew. Now you can find all of Gretchen's sewing knowledge in one place." --MarthaStewartLiving.com
"This is not down-and-dirty sewing, but studied and time consuming. Which is awesome." --"Angry Chicken"
"Since most women are a size bigger in the hips than in the waist, the pattern proportions in the book are already adjusted to take this difference into account. When I read this in the sizing guide, I actually got out of my chair and did a little happy dance. Three cheers for patterns that are actually shaped like the women who will be using them " --"The Zen of Making"
"This book overflows with pictures, drawings and diagrams to ensure your sewing success. She also includes a whopping 25 patterns, making this book a steal Sure to be a reference for your sewing room and guaranteed to be a resource you turn to for zippers and buttons . . . even if you don't make a single pencil skirt." --"Generation Q Magazine"

"If you are a fan of the mid-century vintage look, this book is a must-buy. Hirsch's instructions are excellent, and use new technologies and techniques that didn't exist 50 years ago." --Examiner.com

The finishing touches applied to a garment can take it from the realms of the ordinary to the heights of luxury. Creating Couture Embellishment offers a step-by-step guide to manipulating fabric and making and applying a rich variety of embellishments. Chapters cover fabric-manipulation techniques of pleating, quilting, tucking, ruffling, shirring and smocking, as well as the fabrication and application of feathers, beading, embroidery, flowers, decorative ribbons and bows, bias bindings and piping, fringe, braids and passementerie. The heirloom quality created by the insertion or application of lace is also explored. Featuring a visual index of every embellishment in the book that is designed to offer inspiration as well as showcasing the myriad of choice, Creating Couture Embellishment provides a comprehensive sourcebook of ideas for the student, professional and home sewer alike.

Do you browse through vintage clothes at flea markets and wish you had the knack to breathe new life into dated smocks, flares and kaftans? Kelly Doust's Minxy Vintage is the book that will help you transform those items and, in fact, anything that has been sitting in the back of your wardrobe, waiting for a reinvention. In Minxy Vintage, Kelly combines her love for fashion with creativity and her enthusiasm for craft, and transforms stained, musty, dated clothes into modern and unique pieces. Feel inspired with over 50 projects ranging from customised frocks, wedding dresses and trench coats to cardigans and accessories. This is not just a book about loving vintage fashion - it's about seeing the possibilities for reinventing all old clothes, and how to look fabulous doing so, no matter what your age, location or budget.

With country style a key trend for this Fall why not create the country feel in your own home with these 8 stylish country-inspired home projects. From a simple draught excluder to a large bean bag floor cushion to sink into in front of the fire, these projects will add to your home's comfort and beauty. Each project is demonstrated using two differing fabrics from Westminster Fibers Free Spirit amazing fabric designers--with the colorful and creative style of Anna Maria Horner and the classic and eclectic style of Joel Dewberry.Easy-to-follow instructions with step-by-step illustrations and lots of detailed photographs will guide you through the creative process from preparing your fabric, cutting it out, sewing and adding finishing touches. The gorgeous other projects featured include a round tablecloth, food covers, a lap quilt, table mats, fabric bowl & lid and a padded chair cushion.So get sewing and create the country feel around your home

If you're a sewer or a quilter, then the chances are good that you've got a collection of scrap fabric sitting in your home somewhere that you just can't bear to throw away. With Fat Quarter: Bags & Purses, you won't have to! The 25 quick and easy projects range from: tool bag toy bag craft caddy lipstick pouch overnight bag And more, and are all designed to be sewn from fat quarters or less--meaning you can finally put those scraps to use! What could be better than that?

In this book, crafters can make adorable birds, including popular parakeets and parrots, or an easily made, wearable brooch.

A collection of sewing projects for Christmas wreaths and garlands to make the festive period even more special. Celebrated author and pattern designer, Mandy Shaw, shares her favourite Christmas sewing projects with us and shows us how to make beautiful Christmas decorations to decorate your home at this special time of year. The projects feature Mandy's favourite seasonal motifs including snowmen, reindeer, holly, doves and candy canes. Mandy shows us how to use her super simple techniques to make 11 different garlands, wreaths and Christmas cones. These projects make the perfect presents for friends and family or treat yourself and make your own home extra special this Christmas!