Think of a corset as a blank canvas.Linda Sparks' The Basics of Corset Building: A Handbook for Beginners is a comprehensive guide to building your first corset, including:Section One: Tools and Materials for Corset BuildingDiscusses the tools you'll need, plus types of steel, plastic, and textiles.Section Two: Building a CorsetEverything you need to know about working with bones and busks, setting grommets and eyelets, and creating a beautifully finished corset.Section Three: Construction TechniquesCovers all the steps, including making a modesty panel, making a mock-up, and building single layer, double layer, and fashion fabric corsets.Section Four: Alterations and FitDiscusses commercial corset patterns, as well as how to fit and style a corset for exactly the look you want.

    Thirty projects range from the simple to the challenging, from patchwork slippers and aprons to tote bags and pillows to her beloved quilt patterns, offering something for every level of quilter. Schmidt reviews the fundamentals of quilting and provides easy-to-follow instructions, patterns, sewing tips, and an artful approach to design basics. With engaging wisdom and beautiful step-by-step color photography throughout, Denyse Schmidt Quilts will inspire beginning and skilled crafters alike to embrace this age-old tradition with a new and modern twist.

    Tailoring is the classic guide to the required techniques. Step-by-step instructions and close-up photographs help hobby sewers get professional results. Tailoring covers all three tailoring methods (custom or hand, machine, and fusible) and the complete process from fabric selection to finishing touches. There are detailed instructions on adjusting the pattern for proper fit, which is critical for good results. Tailoring is all about impeccable details, and Tailoring shows how to achieve them, from the roll of the collar to a perfect pocket.

    Crafters with a sense of humor, a taste for the weird, wacky, and way-out, and a hunger for the outrageous will find themselves captured by this wildly creative menagerie of sock monsters.Possessed of irresistible charm, these creatures offer all the inspiration anyone needs to transform cast-off socks into wickedly funny toys. There's Claude with his perplexed expression and tiny tail that stands at full attention. Jordan's always on the prowl; he's got three eyes, so nothing escapes him. And there's something really odd about Estelle. Maybe it's her silly conical head balanced precariously on four tiny feet--or perhaps it's just that she's always sticking out her bright red tongue. Great instructions and charming illustrations make it easy to bring these unique personalities to life. A Selection of the Crafters Choice Book Club.

    Inspired by the art nouveau movement's Alfonse Mucha, this freehand, background filler quilting design has electrified the quilting community. Dubbed "McTavishing," after its creator, it has become the most popular new design concept in quilting today. As shown in the 25 illustrated projects, McTavishing may be added to any quilt or garment, from wholecloth to contemporary art quilts, and done by hand, domestic machine, or longarm technique. The book's seven how-to chapters demonstrate the uses of the McTavishing stitch—as an addition to an open quilt block, in a border, to highlight complex applique, custom tailor a favorite garment, or as part of a larger overall design—while the accompanying DVD provides lessons from the author. Accompanied by interviews with accomplished hand and domestic machine quilters, this guide offers readers an unparalleled view of the exciting new quilting process.

    Using the wide range of fabrics, threads and materials now available, Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn give aspiring and knowledgeable embroiderers alike the inspiration to experiment with the basic hand stitches to create infinite stitch interpretations. Over 100 sumptuous photographs of stitched pieces introduce a breathtaking range of new work by the authors as well as stitching from different cultures and a selection of other contemporary work. These examples are accompanied by detailed captions explaining the working methods. Complete with stitch diagrams showing the different design applications of the stitches and a comprehensive glossary, this is a colourful sourcebook of ideas for embroiderers wanting to exploit the compelling texture of stitch.

    This book shows novice and expert quilters alike new ways of planning, designing, and constructing contemporary quilts. The Modern Quilt Workshop takes you through every step of making a quilt, encouraging you and challenging you along the way. YouÆll learn basic principles of quilt design, as well as new technical skills that will make your quilts more beautiful, more durable, and more fun to make.Never before published, these breathtaking patterns were created to help you learn specific design and technical skills. Want to learn how to piece circles flawlessly? Need to fine-tune your color choices? Confused about how to choose quilting patterns? Follow the step-by-step diagrams and youÆll be mastering new design concepts and innovative techniques with each new project.Each of the 15 quilt projects shows the level of difficulty, lists the skills youÆll learn, and shows how each quilt might look in different color combinations.Design tips in each chapter teach you what to look for in fabrics, or options for how to quilt the quilt.Measurements and yardage requirements are provided for 4 sizes, from baby quilts to bed quilts.Cutting templates, and tips for using them, are included.A thorough section on quilt construction and assembly helps even the first-time quilter learn the basics of cutting, piecing, aligning seams, thread color selection, choosing batting, quilting, and binding. Beginning quilters will love the simple, yet sophisticated, patterns that can turn a pile of cotton fabric into a work of art. Advanced quilters will hone technical and design skills, as well as master new techniques, such as improvisational piecing and working with sophisticated color palettes.Whether you wish to create a treasured family heirloom or a beautiful gift for a friend, these unique patterns will inspire you to try something new.

    Covering everything from casual to tailored designs, it can serve both as an introduction to the pattern-drafting skills necessary for menswear and as a more in-depth treatment of patternmaking techniques. The guide covers the patternmaking process for an array of menswear garments, as well as the accompanying theories and concepts.

    The book contains a total of 15 step-by-step projects. The first eight are basic skills projects and collectively these explain the key skills needed to complete any upholstery task. The projects include a drop-in-bottom chair, an overstuffed seat, caning, a box cushion and recovering a modern chair. The remaining seven projects involve the application of skills learnt in the first chapter. Pieces featured are an Art Deco armchair, a wing chair, a chaise longue and a leather chesterfield. A basic techniques section is included, but the aim of this book is to get straight in to the projects, getting hands-on experience of upholstery. There is information on the tools and materials needed, where to look for furniture that you can upholster and advice on choosing fabric. No other book on the market takes such a clear, progressive approach to teaching upholstery.

    The projects include bunnies, geese, hens, lambs and other springtime characters. Also included are applique and patchwork Easter cards, hearts, egg cosies, bags, and tea cosies.

    Important Note about PRINT ON DEMAND Editions: You are purchasing a print on demand edition of this book. This book is printed individually on uncoated (non-glossy) paper with the best quality printers available. The printing quality of this copy will vary from the original offset printing edition and may look more saturated. The information presented in this version is the same as the latest edition. The original version of this book came with a CD. You can access the full content of this CD online at C&T's website.

    It's convenient, well-organized, and a welcome gift for anyone.It's unlike anything else on the market: an attractive and compact magnetized case that holds a 64-page booklet brimming with illustrations, diagrams, and techniques in one sleeve, while another contains single project cards to pull out and work on. That's why Sew Easy makes sewing...so easy! From the tools to use to the terms to know, from measuring and marking to pressing the fabric, from sewing a basic seam to embellishing with appliqué, it not only teaches sewing skills but helps newcomers to think creatively. Each of the simple, fabulous, and whimsically illustrated projects introduces a new technique to practice; make it first according to directions, then do it again your way. Change the size, make up your own detail, choose some outrageous fabric, or decorate it with a personalized touch. Soon, you'll be stitching like a professional!

    Covering a wide variety of styles, textiles, and sizes, this book is useful for a wide range of pattern courses from introductory to advanced. It provides a sound introduction to the concepts and the processes of patternmaking, as well as a more advanced analysis of style and design. The author offers helpful techniques on taking measurements and adjusting the fit of garments for all body sizes, patterns, and types of fabrics.

    This book will provide the insight and knowledge to design one garment or a whole wardrobe with ease and clarity. It will provide them with the means to execute all of their creative ideas in a nearly infinite variety of clothing styles. The strength of Patternmaking Made Easy lies in its clear presentation of the principles, theories, and skills of patternmaking. Students will learn to develop all 22 blocks/slopers that can process their designs. - not just the basic fitted waist seam block/sloper. The text identifies and defines each block along with the designs that can be created from them. Because it illustrates all the pattern skills the author acquired during her 35 years in the garment industry, this book is one of a kind! It teaches industry efficient pattern skills not found in other patternmaking books. This equips students with the most comprehensive set of skills, thus giving them the greatest flexibility in design variations with the most efficient use of time. The illustrations and easy-to-read text provide a complete understanding of patternmaking techniques. Throughout this text, emphasis in using the basic design principles of proportion, balance and fit are illustrated. The author teaches through a step-by-step method that easily lets readers learn to create fashionable and professional-looking garments. It is designed for real-world use as you work and has an inside spiral binding so that it lays flat. This book is indispensable for anyone interested in fashion design or costume design.

    Its clearly laid-out projects cover hand stitching, hand sewn fasteners, and seams, all while teaching a simplified approach to pattern making. Readers learn to translate their body measurements into patterns for garments of their own design. They follow the steps from developing a pattern, to preparing a fitting muslin, to creating a finished garment. Each project builds on the previous one to develop a full understanding of the costume construction process.

    The "Big Book of Quilting" is perfect for beginning or advanced quilters, offering illustrated instruction and advice for making a variety of quilts that will delight the eye and inspire the hands.With easy-to-follow expert guidance, you'll discover a wealth of quilting techniques, tips and tricks including: Easy to follow basic instructionSimple time-saving tricksTips for choosing the right fabrics, thread and battingEasy techniques for eliminating the frustration of time-consuming piecing methodsInstruction for making your own quilt templatesTips for how and where to hand quilts in areas where it shows and machine quilt where it doesn'tTips to correct both big and small mistakes in measuring and sewing borders, sashes and blocksStep-by-step diagrams and create beautiful, curvy-petaled flowers with just a sewing machine, ruler and rotary cutterOutstanding embellishing techniques

    Shep, which includes extensive and detailed excerpts from "The Blue Book of Etiquette for Men" (1905) by Charles Harcourt. Croonborg's original work has extensive patterns and illustrations for vests, trousers, and coats of all kinds - including occupational coats (livery, etc). This work is also notable for a large section on Army uniforms of the United States, including descriptions, illustrations and tailoring drafts. Also Livery, Clerical, Sporting and Outing clothes. Sections on cutting cloth and tailoring techniques are also included. This manual is a "must-have" for the theatrical costumer.

    Readers will find: solid techniques for completing innovative projects; instructions that will save time and help machine embroiders become more familar with the capabilities of their machine; and beautiful home decor projects and accessories including a wall hanging, table runner, tote and purse.

    The six projects included in this book, aim to let crafters have fun while creating a work of art.

    It is filled with almost 900 full-colour step by step photographs that cover every aspect of creating a beautiful and unique quilt.