The way we live today means that more and more people will be learning skills by themselves, in the absence of learning them from a family member. Sewing is a wonderful skill to have and is a significant help when repairing and re-purposing clothing and other cloth items. This book does a good job of teaching the beginning sewist how to acquire the tools and supplies needed, and how to get started learning how to sew.
The book is split into workshop sections. The first introductory section introduces in generic terms the parts of a sewing machine and their functions, the accessories which may be available, and getting ready to sew. All of the instructions are accompanied by clear photographs and a step-by-step tutorial format. For complete beginners, it might be helpful to have a friend or family member to help. However, in the absence of a "guru", I believe it would definitely be possible to thread a machine which was in good working order without any other assistance than this manual.
The book shows different seam finishing techniques (note: this book doesn't cover overlock or sergers, so this is finishing for flat seams). It also covers seam allowances and tips and tricks such as pin placement, basting, hand sewing buttons and blind hems.
There's good information on fabrics, linings, fabric preparation, cutting, pattern matching plaids, stripes, and more. The book contains tutorials for both garment construction and home decor/soft furnishings. The projects, such as quilted placemats, are well written and amply photographed. There's a glossary and index, but no links are provided. A simple internet search will provide an abundance of links and retailers for sourcing supplies.
This is a solid introduction and reference for sewists. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone interested in sewing garments or home decor. Very useful.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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