Power Sewing Step-by-Step

Rating:
Summary: Spotty
Review: Although there were several excellent tips in the book and the directions were clear, sources mentioned in the book were not listed in the back of the book as promised by the author.

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Summary: The best sewing reference....
Review: Being a Sandra Betzina fan with two of her books already, I had to have this one . The book is fabulous - hard-back, spiral bound, multiple clear color pictures, easy to read print, and the book size is very comfortable to handle. Instructions are clear and pictures are referenced by step-number to the project instuctions. Full of tips and sewing alternatives for vests, pants, skirts, dresses and jackets...some are simple...some more complex and challenging, but with the understandable directions given, anyone who sews can have their finished project look so professional! Have read the entire book through once - just like a novel - and continue to spot read certain areas...have already learned many new techniques. If you love to sew and want to improve your skill level, learn new techniques, and make clothes that fit, this is the book to buy.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful Even For an Experienced Seamstress
Review: Having sewn since I was an 8-year-old 4-H-er, (more than half a century ago!) but now experiencing arthritic hands and much less time to sew, I find Sandra's tips and descriptions are extremely helpful. She recommends interfacings and linings by brand name and suggests, in great detail, ways to prepare and use current fibers. Though experienced in classic tailoring, I find her tips most useful and am expanding my library with her books just to improve my techniques. Thank you, Sandra, for permitting me to continue to show creativity - more easily!

Rating:
Summary: Good book - requires some sewing skills
Review: I bought this book thinking it would be good for a beginner like myself. I soon found out that it assumes you already know basic construction. With that in mind I found it useful once I learned the basic contruction technique for a given garment. As a beginniner I still struggle with it though. I think its better suited for the more advanced sewer.

Rating:
Summary: Good book - requires some sewing skills
Review: I bought this book thinking it would be good for a beginner like myself. I soon found out that it assumes you already know basic construction. With that in mind I found it useful once I learned the basic contruction technique for a given garment. As a beginniner I still struggle with it though. I think its better suited for the more advanced sewer.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful Even For an Experienced Seamstress
Review: I was an absolute beginner when I purchased this book. I sewed my first real skirt based on her construction techniques--including the zipper, which when I followed her technique, was a breeze! Zippers seem easy to me now. I love her ideas, and her vision of how things should flow on the body. It is a fountain of useful information, but also it offers great inspiration. Most of all this text enabled me to let go of my fear about sewing and embellishing patterns to make clothes that are truly your own.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book even for absolute beginners!
Review: I was an absolute beginner when I purchased this book. I sewed my first real skirt based on her construction techniques--including the zipper, which when I followed her technique, was a breeze! Zippers seem easy to me now. I love her ideas, and her vision of how things should flow on the body. It is a fountain of useful information, but also it offers great inspiration. Most of all this text enabled me to let go of my fear about sewing and embellishing patterns to make clothes that are truly your own.

Rating:
Summary: Power Sewing Step-By-Step
Review: If you could hire a personal sewing trainer, I think the coach would be like this book. It is inspiring, clear in its direction and entertaining. The photographs are beautiful and the garments are elegant. I think anyone from a novice to an expert will find this book useful. I especially liked the ideas for details that will make a garment special without being overly fussy and crafty. Sandra Betzina also covers wardrobing, fabric selection, fitting and interestingly, how to tell when a garment is not working and to leave it behind without guilt. I was glued to this book till I'd read it cover to cover.

Rating:
Summary: Making Perfect Sewing a Reality
Review: Sandra is not only known for her t.v. show "Sew Perfect," but for her patterns based on realistic sizes carried by Vogue. That she was able to convince a major pattern company to offer this was awesome, I think, because she could have stayed with the independent companies. This is a book based on reality sewing, just as her sizes are realistic. It helps the sewer bridge the gap between your "eye", knowing something isn't "sew-perfect" and what your aspirations are. She continually addresses frustrations that occur and explains how to solve them. She thoughtfully has the book made in a spiral format, with clear step-by-step instructions. Its like being in a classroom.

Rating:
Summary: Great photos alone worth the purchase!
Review: Seeing all the photos of Sandra's creative wardrobe in Fabric Savvy was enough to make me decide to order this book. The book is very well organized with lots of great tips and photos. Wish something like this had been available when I started sewing... My favorite part of the book is seeing all the great photos of Sandra's clothing - this is enough to inspire anyone! She provides pattern numbers for most of the clothing shown - which is great for now because the book is new and most of the patterns are still available! This book would make a wonderful gift for a beginning sewer who is interested in making fine clothing.