The fabrics here are African designs, made primarily in Africa, commercially, rather than by traditional methods. Most are contemporary, made of cotton; though varieties of rayon, wool, a blend, or synthetic also are present, as well as fabric with metallic thread or surface embellishment. Many examples are printed adaptations of traditional woven textiles, because the pattern and color and their effect are the essential qualities. This volume, arranged visually with a focus on design, color, and pattern, is a pictorial survey, which includes examples of simple, bold two and three-color designs, stripes, grid formats, and overall geometric patterns. The pictures serve as reference and inspiration to artists, designers, and all involved with fashion and fabric. The companion volume, African Prints, complements the designs featured in this book.

The term 'tailored' has changed as methods of manufacture and the retailing of clothes have evolved. This book demonstrates the wide range of cutting methods used to produce garments which are described as 'tailored' jackets. Although the main focus is on modern methods of producing clothing, a rich and complex cutting tradition is acknowledged and used. It is hoped that the modern garment designer will be inspired to rediscover methods that retain their validity today.

The different approaches to 'tailored' cutting are described under three headings: bespoke cutting, engineered cutting and style cutting. The rich heritage of the latter came from the tremendous creativity that was unleashed by women's emancipation at the beginning of the twentieth century and the merging of tailored styles with fashionable clothing. The section on style cutting has therefore derived some of the cutting techniques from that period, thus demonstrating how they can be applied to current methods of production.

Tired of wearing the same clothes? How about revamping your wardrobe with new custom made clothes? This is a practical sewing manual that shows all the steps for making skirts and trousers, from the basics, like different hand stitches and using a sewing machine, to taking measurements and understanding patterns, all explained with detailed illustrations and photographs for each step. The results are bespoke garments, handmade by you. The book includes everything you need to know to get started; no previous sewing experience is needed, but you will be amazed at what you can achieve: a wealth of different types of skirts -straight, curled at the waist, classic, mini, flared, balloon, mermaid, asymmetric and more - and trousers - with or without pockets, classic, skinny-fit, low-waist, and many more.

This is a wonderful collection of projects - including toys, baby sleep-bags, and more - that are sure to get baby's approval. Popular author and designer Rebecca Danger (50 Yards of Fun and The Big Book of Knitted Monsters) introduces simple and clever sewing projects for Baby. These adorable designs include toys, clothing, a baby sleep-bag, a crib sheet, a bag, and much more.

Make sewing by hand your next creative accomplishment! Embrace the chance to unwind and enjoy the process of creating quilt blocks from scratch with Becky Goldsmith's step-by-step instructions.

From the authors of Needle Felting for Beginners, awarded BEST CRAFT BOOK in The Craft Business Awards 2021. Needle-felting is an easy and fun technique, requiring little in the way of expensive materials or equipment. Its accessibility means it's becoming more and more popular, and award-winning authors Judy Balchin and Roz Dace show how to make 20 wonderful little teddy bears using this tactile technique. Each bear measures around 10-12cm (4-5in) tall and can be made in a matter of hours from a bundle of wool fibres, a felting needle and some carefully chosen embellishments. Each bear has its own special character, and they make ideal gifts and keepsakes for friends and loved ones. There's a pretty ballet bear, a cool Christmas bear, as well as a vintage bear, rainbow bear and cute baby bears. Each project is accompanied by clear, step-by-step instructions and beautiful photographs, and there are handy hints and tips throughout the book to help make the crafting process even easier. Detailed guidance is provided at the start of the book on the materials and equipment you need; how to sculpt a basic bear; make your bears' paws, feet and faces; and how to really bring your bear to life by carefully positioning the nose, eyes and ears. The techniques are easy to learn and soon you will be designing and making bears of your own to keep or give. Previously published as How to Make Little Needle-Felted Teddy Bears (ISBN: 9781782210696).

This is the perfect book for beginner sewers, with friendly and easy-to-follow directions. Sew Me! Sewing Basics is geared towards would-be sewers of all ages, who may never have touched a sewing machine or even threaded a needle before. It's the perfect book for anyone who wants to get started in the craft, or just needs a quick refresher course in sewing. Choly Knight's friendly and easy-to-follow directions will get readers sewing with confidence, making repairs and creating new garments from scratch. She starts at the very beginning, showing how to choose a sewing machine and introducing the most basic techniques and shortcuts. From cutting patterns and sewing seams, to binding edges, gathering fabric and installing zippers, each new skill is accompanied by a quick practice exercise to try, allowing readers to learn as they sew. 36 simple and straightforward projects are provided for sewing fun accessories from plushies, pincushions and placemats to hand towels and hats.

You gotta weave it to believe it! Learn fabric weaving with 12 fun projects for crafters, garment sewists, and quilters. Try out simple, classic patterns incorporating woven textiles anywhere you'd use fabric!

The perfect companion for anyone new to machine sewing, or looking for a little extra guidance, this book is packed with friendly advice, stylish projects and expert sewing tips. Sewing machine guru and popular author, Wendy Gardiner, brings you this invaluable guide to getting up and running with a sewing machine. She includes all the basics, including machine anatomy, how to thread up, and how to check stitching and tension. Once you have built up your skills, there are 12 great projects to make, including: a patchwork placemat, a drawstring bag, an appliqued pillow, a clutch bag, a tablet cover, tab top curtains, a quilted pot holder, and a notebook cover - there is something for everyone. Each project is designed to teach techniques such as sewing seams, adding buttonholes and zips, blind hems, quilting, free-motion embroidery, using an alphabet and making pleats, trims and pockets. There is also a glossary of all the important terms, and an excellent trouble-shooting guide. Revised, updated and expanded edition of The Very Easy Guide to Using Your Sewing Machine (9781844488285).

Following in the footsteps of the successful Beginner's Guide series, The Beginner's Guide to Upholstery takes readers gently by the hand and shows them the simple techniques they need to bring their love of fabric to upholstered items for the home. This is not a dry, highly technical professional upholstery manual, but a bright and accessible book that presents 10 simple projects using modern methods that are quick and easy to achieve. Readers are taken step-by-step through the process of how to upholster desirable pieces of furniture - using items found at antique markets, street sales and thrift stores that are designed-up and given a modern twist. Readers will learn about fabric choice and other materials, discover essential upholstery techniques and then embark on the projects. which include a simple stool, a vintage sewing box, a blanket box or ottoman, a fluted headboard, a Danish dining chair, a bedroom/nursing chair, a patchwork armchair and a mid-century design two-seater sofa, all guided by the author's expert instruction.

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.

Start with a basic T-shirt; finish with a fun and fashionable garment that a little girl will love This adorable collection of dresses and tops offers more than 25 amazingly easy projects to stitch and quilt, all using "sew-simple" techniques and affordable, machine-washable fabrics. The designs--all for girls ages 2 to 8--range from an empire-waist party dress with a tiered skirt to a drop-waist hoodie tunic with ruffle trim. There are also ideas for using remnants to embellish jeans and sew hats, purses, and other accessories.

The wonderful folk art quality of hand-made hooked rugs endears them to all who encounter them. Over the hundred and fifty year history of their popularity in rural North America, thousands of diverse rugs have been made by cottage industries and individual craftspersons alike. Today older rugs are collected and cherished and new rugs are continually being made. This book will be a guide for antiques dealers and novice collectors alike. This handsome new book preserves, for a new generation of interest in hooked rugs, the historical background of the often whimsical designs and instructions for starting a rug of your own. The sections present over 300 color photographs of different rugs in lively geometric, abstract, floral, animal, Oriental and original designs, and factual discussions of the interesting people who motivated the designs. The author takes a look at the prolific rug producers at the House of Burnham, and gives the complete story of the Grenfell mats of Newfoundland and Labrador. The contributions of rug making promoters such as Philena Moxley, Pearl McGown and Joan Moshimer are heralded with examples of their original designs and hand work. After inspiring them with old designs, the author encourages the readers to pick up some burlap, wool rags and a rug hook and follow her step-by-step illustrated instructions to make their own rugs. Then she explains how to preserve the rugs for the future.

Make, mend, and customise your own wardrobe with this highly photographic beginner's guide to machine sewing. A sewing book for beginners that's actually helpful. It's love at first stitch! This highly photographic, easy-to-use guide to machine sewing features more than 200 step-by-step techniques to help you master every stitch in the book! Inside the pages of this sewing reference book, you will find: - More than 200 sewing techniques, all clearly and closely photographed and explained in sharp detail - Discover how to read a pattern, use a sewing machine, and sew basic stitches, seams, and hems - Explore how to put your new-found skills to use to create, personalise, up-cycle, and re-purpose your clothes and soft furnishings. - Photographs and explanations of essential sewing equipment and materials - for both hand and machine sewing - A guide to sewing jargon and terminology that describes when, where, and how to use each tool and technique - Techniques to create something new or to customise things you already have Whether you're a seasoned sewer or just starting to learn how to sew, a fashion design student or sewing for yourself at home, Sew Step by Step will guide you through every hand stitch, machine stitch, and sewing technique you will ever need. With fully updated text and a refreshed design, this is an essential sewing handbook that you will want to keep next to your sewing machine to come back to time and time again. Close-up photographs accompanied by crystal clear instructions take you through everything from cutting out patterns to inserting collars, sleeves and pockets into garments. Explore how to put those skills to use to make, mend and customise your clothes and home furnishings. You will also learn how to find a suitable fabric for every project with an easy-to-use guide to different materials. It also makes a wonderful gift for beginner sewers and expert stitchers alike.

This beautiful new book guides readers with intermediate to advanced level sewing skills toward the successful creation of costumes for theatrical or dance performances, and for re-enactments and interactive fiction. Nearly 250 beautiful color photographs and detailed line drawings of many types of costumes, along with solid design principles, provide a wealth of easy to understand information and how-to instructions. Practical tips concerning theatrical production teams, lines of authority, budgets, scheduling, and post-production storage of costumes are included. An annotated bibliography and a resource guide are both useful references.

Beautiful guided stitchwork for every season—featuring fall pumpkins and mushroom wreaths, winter skiers, spring blossoms, summer vegetables, and more!

​​With 56 unique embroidery pieces to reflect the seasons, this next book from beloved author Yumiko Higuchi takes creatives on a month-by-month exploration of colorful motifs that can be used on a variety of fabrics and surfaces. Each month starts with an emblem of the month number, such as a vibrant poppy wreath for May, a viny pumpkin for October, and sprigs of mistletoe and Christmas roses for December. Each emblem perfectly captures the spirit of the month, and the subsequent patterns for each month follow the seasonal theme.

​Each design in the book is accompanied by step-by-step instructions for recreating it, including stitch types, thread colors by number, and thread type. There is also a detailed section on how to perform certain stitches and knots to guide beginners.

Whether embroidering a new dress, a pillowcase, a bag, or even a jar cover for jam, Stitching through the Seasons has charming patterns that are sure to spark creativity and festivity for embroiderers both experienced and just starting out. ​

Join Gai Button as she shares her secrets to needle felting adorable miniature dogs. Using different wools, silks and fibres, and with just three needles, you can make all manner of realistic-looking dog breeds, including labradors, pugs and poodles. There are six dog projects in the book, and the techniques for making them are explained clearly with illustrated step-by-step instructions, along with handy tips. Each dog also has to-scale templates included, so you can start needle felting your favourite pooch right away. Needle felted dogs are easier to make than they look, making them suitable for beginners and confident felters alike!

Designed for beginner sewists and those who already have the basics, this book is an essential guide to learning how to sew by hand or machine.

Transforming pre-loved clothes into stylish, unique garments for your baby or toddler is great for the environment, great for your bank balance and, most of all, great fun! In Restyle & Restitch for Little Ones, you will find 30 sewing projects for creating stylish baby clothes, from newborns to two-year-olds, including trousers, dresses, sweaters, mittens, rompers and socks. The projects are accompanied by colourful, full-size patterns to help you make the most of your repurposed clothing. You will discover how best to change the size of any of the patterns in the book to suit your own child's measurements, and how to choose the most appropriate clothing to use rather than convert, taking into account the young wearer's safety. The projects are complemented by gorgeous photographs of the author's own children and their friends modelling the restyled outfits, and by Linnea's extra hints and tips for making the most of your well-worn items.

Embrace zero waste living with this collection of sustainable gift wrap solutions including furoshiki, the traditional Japanese technique of fabric knotting. What could be nicer than receiving a present AND the beautiful scarf it's wrapped in! Whether you use a vintage silk scarf or create your own fabric with patchwork, piecing and dyeing techniques, or reuse unwanted items to make quirky gift wraps - this collection is packed full of ideas for reducing waste. Other ideas include how to make present toppers made from unwanted fabric and yarn scraps to finish off your gift wrapping with a flourish.