Power Sewing Step-by-Step

Rating:
Summary: Think twice
Review: The title might lead you to think this is a way to sew like store-bought, with tricks and tips to do it all faster and better. Not! With the cost of her patterns, the double and triple sample make-up before you actually cut the fabric you wish to make an item out of, this is only for emulating stores where clothes cost the same as my car. There are helpful tips and tricks but they won't make anything faster or easier; they probably will make the end result better, however and that is worthwhile.

Rating:
Summary: Think twice
Review: The title might lead you to think this is a way to sew like store-bought, with tricks and tips to do it all faster and better. Not! With the cost of her patterns, the double and triple sample make-up before you actually cut the fabric you wish to make an item out of, this is only for emulating stores where clothes cost the same as my car. There are helpful tips and tricks but they won't make anything faster or easier; they probably will make the end result better, however and that is worthwhile.

Rating:
Summary: Not what I was looking for
Review: This book has some great tips, but it is for a rather advanced sewer. I'm certainly not a beginner, but I was hoping for some basic instruction, like how much fabric you should buy to make your own bias tape. I did like the zipper techniques, and have used them successfully. I thought way too much time was spent on vests. If you like Betzina's style and want to emulate it, you will probably get more from this book than I did.

Rating:
Summary: Not what I was looking for
Review: This book has some great tips, but it is for a rather advanced sewer. I'm certainly not a beginner, but I was hoping for some basic instruction, like how much fabric you should buy to make your own bias tape. I did like the zipper techniques, and have used them successfully. I thought way too much time was spent on vests. If you like Betzina's style and want to emulate it, you will probably get more from this book than I did.

Rating:
Summary: necessary source
Review: This book is a must for sewers of all levels. I wish this would have been available when I was teaching sewing to adults. Ms. Betzina is clear on all instructions, and has obviously put in an extrodinary amount of time sharing her expertise with us. Along with Fabric Savvy, all sewers would benefit from the tips and wonderful photos.

Rating:
Summary: A MUST!
Review: This book is fabulous for sewers. She even explains how to alter ready-to-wear clothes you already have. If there is a crease under the waistband in the back iof your jeans..here is the problem, and here is what you doDo you have "smile" lines in the front or the back of your pants..here is the problem and how to correct it forever.I got out my jeans and fixed the problem immediately and this information..on all kinds of clothes I already own and am about to make has proved to be so useful..you cannot begin to imagine

Rating:
Summary: A MUST!
Review: This book is fabulous for sewers. She even explains how to alter ready-to-wear clothes you already have. If there is a crease under the waistband in the back iof your jeans..here is the problem, and here is what you doDo you have "smile" lines in the front or the back of your pants..here is the problem and how to correct it forever.I got out my jeans and fixed the problem immediately and this information..on all kinds of clothes I already own and am about to make has proved to be so useful..you cannot begin to imagine

Rating:
Summary: fantastic!
Review: This book is worth it for the tip boxes alone. The photos are well-considered (although the styles and fabrics don't appeal to me personally, at least they are less dowdy than some other books out there), the written descriptions are short and sweet, and the production value of the book is tip-top. My only complaint is that I wish I had bought the spiral-bound edition; I have to weight the pages open if my hands are full of sewing. I own a lot of sewing manuals, but this is the one I go back to again and again. As has been mentioned in some reviews, it's not quite for beginners, but if you have basic construction knowledge, this book will improve your work.

Rating:
Summary: The best for mastering technique
Review: This is a wonderful resource for sewers of all levels who want to learn professional sewing techniques for garments. Clearly written, well-illustrated and thorough in detail, the book will spend many hours as your "mentor" on sewing projects. The language is plain and easy, and takes care to explain technical terms. In addition to some up-front info on interfacings and fabric selection, each chapter is devoted to a clothing piece -- jackets, pants, vests, dresses, etc., and is chock-full of specific walk-me-through-the-steps instructions on how to do this or that part of a garment in a better, faster, or more specialized way. Lots of great tips for customizing pieces, too, and lots of examples of pieces that Sandra has made, with a "how I made this" explanation. Also, she occasionally deconstructs ready-to-wear and couture pieces as a way of showing different options for different effects. The only critique I have is that Betzina's self-promotion is a little heavy-handed, though not offensive.

Rating:
Summary: Great book, buy the spiral-bound copy!
Review: This is NOT a book for beginning sewers - the writer assumes you know the basics of sewing and garment construction. I love all of the ways she shows how to make clothing special - Sandra's examples are classy, but not fussy. There are a lot of useful things like different ways to improve your zipper installation, classier facings, linings (Like WHY to line pants, for instance), easy bound buttonholes, nicer hems, when you should take the time to hand sew, when you can cheat... Basically she is teaching the reader how to make ordinary home-sewn clothing extraordinary using the best techniques. Good section on improving fit, pretty much all useful info.