The Ultimate Sewing Book: Over 200 Sewing Ideas for You and Your Home

Rating:
Summary: Huge amount and very useful information in one book.
Review: I like this sewing book for it's detaild, well illustrated instructions. There are many techniques and they are devided into two halfs: home decor and clothes construction. At the first chapter you'll find the basics: tools and equipments, about the sewing machine (it could be enough explanation for some but I've seen better ones before). However, She writes about many kind of fabrics throuout the book and explains a lot about them! The photos are great too! There are a huge amount of information, how to-s for different kind of techniques packed in this book. For instance hand and machine stitches, seams, how to clip curves, pinning and cutting, marking patterns, alterations, interfacings, tucks and pleats, different sleeve costructions, collars, waistbands, pockets, linings, curtains, blinds, tiebacks, sheets, duvet cover, tabelcloths, slipcovers and many many more + a lot's of details (embellishments, corners, edges, even discussing different styles)! I'd deffinately recommend this book for a sewer who has a little bit of knowledge (knows how to sew a straight stitch or thread a machine). I think this book can be a bit overwhelming for a total novice - but maybe not every novice :) If it is more important for you to learn from a really step-by step book where every single move and detail are explaind and photographed carefully and everything has to be very very clear, then - I think this book could be confusing! (I'd recommend then the "Sewing 101, a beginner's guide to sewing") Otherwise this is a great book, also very good quality (not going to fall apart anytime soon)..if you looking for an answer more than likely you'll find it in this book since it contains such a wide range of info!

Rating:
Summary: from SherriAllen.com
Review: Including the words "the ultimate" in the title of any book is pretty risky. After all, you're creating some pretty high expectations before the reader even turns the first page. With The Ultimate Sewing Book: Over 200 Sewing Ideas for You and Your Home, author Maggi McCormick Gordon stepped up to welcome the challenge and hit a grand slam home-run. Filled with step-by-step instructions and beautiful full-color photographs, this book certainly lives up to its name.

The Ultimate Sewing Book provides an excellent introduction to sewing basics, which are an integral part of any successful sewing project. There is a brief discussion of the tools, equipment and fabrics used in sewing, followed by an exceptional presentation of the fundamentals, such as hand and machine stitches and seams, edges and gathering.

Dressmaking is covered in great detail. After giving you a crash course in using and altering patterns and choosing fabrics, The Ultimate Sewing Book demonstrates dressmaking techniques for the individual components that are used in the creation of garments. For example, you will learn how to make 4 types of collars, 10 types of pockets, 4 types of buttonholes and even 4 types of plackets.

The jewel of this book is the section that covers Home Furnishings. Making up over half of The Ultimate Sewing Book, this section teaches you everything you ever wanted to know about taking fabric and turning it into accessories for your home. In addition to the required sewing tips and techniques, there's information on choosing a style, choosing color, choosing fabric, measuring and assessing windows and furniture and much more. There are instructions for making curtains, blinds, bed linens, table linens, cushions, pillows and slipcovers. The first sewing project I ever attempted was a fabric blind inspired by the Home Furnishings section of The Ultimate Sewing Book; it's still hanging in my kitchen window.

Throughout the book, the instructions are detailed and guide you every step of the way. The photographs that accompany the instructions effectively utilize contrasting fabric and thread colors to further illustrate the point. All the photographs are large, colorful, intuitive and add greatly to the value of this book.

The Ultimate Sewing Book: Over 200 Sewing Ideas for You and Your Home is an excellent visual guide that will instill confidence in the beginner and inspire the experienced to dust off that sewing machine and start sewing! I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: A colorful photo filled sewing book...even for the beginner
Review: The Ultimate Sewing book is filled with numerous colorful step by step sewing instructions and photos. It shows you how to make clothing to home furnishings -- from hems and pockets to curtains and duvet covers. I am a novice sewer and I found the photos in this book very helpful. The photos are colorful and bright -- not just drawings like you see in many books. This book also gives examples of sewing basics. It shows you basic and advanced stitches, how to use paper patterns, edges and many much more. This is a thick book that is great if you need a visual guide to get you sewing.