Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing

Fantastic book! Very helpful with my getting back into sewing.

This book was suggested in a video on YouTube from Evelyn Wood. This 1974 edition is a goldmine of information. I am a brand new sewist and this gives you step-by-step instructions on placing patterns, cutting patterns and sewing. Also maga information on fabrics, uses and tips on how to sew them. It also has lots and lots of illustrations. I do really well with pictures, not so much with text.

I purchased a used good condition. This book is just old. It's newer and hardly ever been used. The page edges are a little tanned around the edges. Overall it has some great information. I'm going to sit down and study this book. I am going to move fashion forward so far for the BBW.

Love this book

Well I didn't know what to expect, when this book arrived and I looked through it. I was very pleased with the information that I read. I am more than happy to have purchased this book as one of the two books that are starting my sewing library.

After having tried a newer edition of Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing, which was disappointing, I read a review which stated that the older editions were much better, and I ordered this 1976 edition--the oldest I could find at the time. Although the complete guide to sewing would require a library of hundreds of books, at least, this book does try to cover all bases and does a good job of explaining and illustrating, step by step, everything from sewing necessities to tailoring, with some patterns and directions for projects at the end. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has done some sewing and wants to increase their skills, or is looking for directions for a specific project. In my experience, if you are muddling through a challenge on your own it pays to have at least two or three good books to study and compare. As I said, there can be no such thing as a complete guide to sewing in one book. I also use an older edition of the Vogue Sewing Book in addition to a few other more specialized ones, and by comparing directions and pictures, can figure out most problems. One drawback to older books is a lack of information about some of the newer fibers, like fleece,and how to work with them. I can only give it four stars for that reason; although it would not have been a problem at the time it was published. It is well worth having in your sewing library.

This book was in perfect condition.

I do love this book. I’m a beginner at sewing and whenever I’m not sure how to do something or don’t understand something, this is my go to book! Evelyn Wood recommended it on YouTube and I’m so glad I bought it. It’s a vintage book which is what I wanted to have so that I can apply vintage methods to modern clothes creation.

This is a very complete manual of sewing necessities and techniques. While necessarily a bit dated - there's no mention of rotary cutters, for example - and it focuses primarily on garment sewing, it is very comprehensive for a home sewer. It was highly recommended by Evelyn Wood, who has a sewing channel on Youtube, and it lives up to the recommendation. The illustrations are clear, and there is a lot of detail about classic techniques.

N°1 recommended book from experienced seamstresses since decades and with reason! In this particular 1976 edition (mine is a 1979 reprint of the 1976 edition) wich is richer that the later editions to which they've retrieved chapters.It will teach you everything you need to know about sewing. It's the ultimate sewing bible.It covers:NECESSITIES OF SEWINGSewing tools and suppliesSewing machineSewing areaPATTERNS FABRICS & CUTTINGPatternsFabricsCuttingPORTFOLIO OF FITTING METHODSFittingCONSTRUCTION BASICSBasic stitchesSeamsDartsTucksPleatsGatheringShirringSmockingRufflesNECKLINES AND COLLARSNeckline finishesCollarsWAISTLINES WAISTBANDS & BELTSWaistlinesWaistbandsBeltsSLEEVES & SLEEVE FINISHESSleevesSleeve finishesCuffsMAKING & APPLYING POCKETSPatch pocketsInside pocketsHEMS & OTHER EDGE FINISHESHemsDecorative hem finishesFinishing corners (mitering)Special hemming situationsHANDBOOK OF CLOSURESZippersButtonholesFabric closureAttaching buttonsMaking buttonsHooks and eyesSnapsTape fastenersTECHNIQUES OF TAiLORINGTailoring basicsTailoring preliminariesTailoring constructionSEWING FOR MEN AND CHILDRENSewing for men and boysMaking a jacketMaking trousersMaking a shirtSewing for childrenSEWING FOR THE HOMESlipcoversPillowsBedspreadsCurtains and draperiesPROJECTS TO SEW FOR YOUR HOMECarefree livingCasual diningClassic bedroomModern bedroomGirl's roomBoy's roomPROJECTS TO SEW FOR FRIENDS & FAMILYEach section of a chapter has several paragraphs detailing in step by step very clear drawings how to proceed for each specific technique.Each section is detailed by type of fabric or different techniques.Of course the projects are dated, but the knowledge is invaluable and adaptable to contemporary projects.To top all this my copy is in perfect condition, just a little dirt on the jacket as old well loved books will have from frequent handling, and if the previous owner hadn't forgotten a RSVP card in it, I could've thought it had never been opened, so prestine are the inner pages.

Das Kursbuch ist wunderbar und detailliert illustriert und so ist seine Nutzung auch mit den wenigen Englischkenntnissen möglich.Es bietet tolle Tipps zur Anpassung von Schnittmustern an eigene Körpermaße an, somit ist es bestens für die bereits Nähende und Fortgeschrittene geeignet.Große Empfehlung!

Es un libro muy completo de técnicas de costura. No obstante recomiendo la nueva edición, de 2017, es más moderna en su presentación, aunque el contenido es el mismo.

I first started sewing when I was 4, but have recently started to be a little more adventurous when it comes to making clothes. I purchased the Readers Digest Complete Guide to Needlework after my grandmother borrowed it to me and have always been a big fan of that. I was looking for a book for reference and ideas and since I was so happy with the Complete Guide to Needlework I decided to get this. I must say I am extremely impressed by the size of the book and the information supplied in the book. The book is massive, very thick with a lot of information in it. Bear in mind it was printed in 1978 with a reprint being done in 1985, so the photos are pretty vintage looking. Despite this, the book is still incredibly relevant. There is a ton of reference material in relation to assembly of the fabrics (ie weave, knit etc), threads, needles, sewing machine feet, misc sewing tools, fastenings, and so much more! There is a detailed explanation of how a sewing machine works along with the internal parts of the machine you are unlikely to ever see. The bulk of the book is about construction of garments, how to read and make patterns, along with various types of pleats, darts, sleeves, pockets, and again so much more! There are illustrations on different garment styles (ie different types of dresses / skirts etc) along with a lot of written information about illustration. There is a lot of written information about patterns and assembly. The book very much starts assuming you know nothing about sewing. Even having sewn as long as I have, there was still a lot of information in there I had never come across and had never done myself. This is not really meant for someone looking to make household items, quilts, bags, etc. While there is a lot of useful and relevant information in this book that would relate to such things, it is far more relevant to sewing garments. There are better books out there about quilting and other misc sewing that would have the same information at the beginning about the fabrics, machines, tools, etc but would not be primarily about garment making. I think this book is ideal for a beginner or someone who has years of experience. I have found it to be the perfect reference material for garment sewing and would highly recommend for reference or to learn about garment sewing. I love this book and have already used it so many times in just a few short weeks.