Lauren Stowell and Abby Cox, owners of the popular online store American Duchess, have teamed together to recreate four complete dresses from the 18th century. Whether readers are experienced seamstresses or are new to hand sewing, they won’t want to miss this comprehensive guide. The projects include The English Gown, The Sacque, The Italian Gown and The Round Gown. Each project is broken down into easy-to-follow steps and Lauren and Abby tackle every detail—fabric, patterns, stitch techniques, accessories, shortcuts and troubleshooting. Whether you choose a romantic 1790s muslin gown or a grand sacque gown of silk taffeta, you will feel like you just stepped out of your favorite novel or period of history. Lauren and Abby’s company, American Duchess, has been featured on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Reno Gazette Journal, the Today Show and Garmz.com. Their historically accurate shoes have been used in productions by the New York Metropolitan Opera, Ford’s Theater, Broadway’s Cinderella, The Jimmy Fallon Show and The Knick. Lauren and Abby have over 32k Facebook followers and over 34k followers on Instagram.

    But when Natalie Chanin and her Alabama Chanin and The School of Making teams began to look at needlework closely, they realized all stitches are based on geometric grid systems—and by using grids as guides, they could make learning stitches, even seemingly elaborate ones, as easy as child’s play.   In The Geometry of Hand-Sewing Chanin presents their breakthrough method, featuring illustrated instructions (for both right- and left-handed stitchers) for more than 100 stitches—from the most basic straight and chain to the more fanciful feather and herringbone; photos of both right and wrong sides; and guidelines for modifying stitches to increase one’s repertoire further. To simplify learning, the book also includes two plastic stitching cards die-cut with the grids on which every stitch in the book is based. These reusable cards can be stitched through for practicing ( just as children use lacing cards to learn to tie shoes) or used as stencils for transferring grids to fabric.

    Sew modern quilts for everyday use that will help you return to the roots of quiltmaking, with projects designed to help you use up every last scrap. Learn sorting and storage tips to help you plan your next quilt, with projects categorized by type of scrap--squares, strings, triangles, or little snippets. You'll never look at scraps the same way again!

    The essential guide for every sewer just got better! All New Fabric Savvy is updated to include detailed information on 107 different fabrics; must-know information on determining fabric content, working with knits, working with different types of interfacing, removing stains, and choosing lining material; recommended tools and notions; illustrated reference sections on seams, details, closures, and hems; 476 photographs and 110 illustrations.Organized alphabetically, the 107 fabrics include old favorites--like cotton, wool, knits, and silks--to new options, some of which you might never have heard of or sewn with--synthetics; those that resist water, sun, stains, and wrinkles; those made from animal hides (and, of course, their faux cousins); those regenerated from wood pulp; and many more.

    By using basic pattern blocks called slopers, Alm shows sewers how to design new shapes, style lines, and fashion details--creating patterns for nearly any piece of clothing they want to sew. Take a basic straight skirt pattern, for example, and convert it into any other skirt design. Change the hemline or the basic shape of a skirt from straight to A-line to full swing with multiple gores. Try adjusting the waistline placement or convert it from waistband to waistline-facing. Change the style and placement of the closures. The options are endless once sewers understand the basics of flat-pattern designing, which is explained in the book.Designing Clothes with the Flat Pattern Method is divided into sections: skirts, tops, and pants. While many of the same principles apply to each garment type, there are different techniques to take into account. As soon as sewers know how to design from these three slopers, that knowledge is easily transferred to designing dresses, shorts, jumpsuits, and outerwear. The principles and techniques taught are also easily transferable to designing children's clothes. By following extensive technique instruction in each of the three categories, twelve different garments are designed from each basic sloper and photographed on models so readers fully understand the process and the end result.Thanks to Designing Clothes with the Flat Pattern Method, passionate sewers will be as skilled as Project Runway contestants in no time!

    With just a little know-how and the right accessories, you can get the most out of your sewing machine and give all your sewing and quilting projects a professional look! In Sewing Machine Magic, author and sewing expert Steffani Lincecum shares 30+ years of experience on how to handle a sewing machine with greater ease and confidence, and explains how to easily find and use the right presser feetand other accessories for your machine, whether you purchased it at retail or found it at a yard sale. You'll learn the logistics of managing thread, how to achieve the proper stitch formation for every project, and how to troubleshoot a variety of common sewing problems. Learn to use more than 30 presser feet and other accessories, from the basics to more specialized tools designed to maximize efficiency, precision, and creativity. The 10 fashion and home decor projects show inventive ways to use some of the feet and accessories.

    Discover the beauty of texture through an array of techniques. Learn how to acquire inspiration, develop a design, choose textiles, layer, embellish, edge and successfully attain surface texture and textural depth within your pieces. Creative Texturing is spiral bound to stay open to the page you are using and is small in size to conveniently take with you anywhere. Draw inspiration from the 240 close-up color photographs of Sue's work!

    Start with fresh, beginner-friendly patterns and build your skills to sew snowballs, stars, flying geese, and more. Using precuts from your stash or your own charms cut from scraps or yardage, you’ll learn tips to take the guesswork out of piecing. Modern and traditional quilters alike will fall in love with these quick, clever, and clean designs!

     60 stunning strip quilts at a great value--just pennies per pattern Choose from sizes ranging from wall hangings and baby quilts to bed-sized quilts, all by top designers Includes projects for beginners and experienced quilters in a variety of attractive patchwork styles

    Travel. Explore. One part travel-guide and one part sewing-guide equals all parts adventure. Modern lines and colors meet ancient motifs in 18 easy-to-piece quilts that reflect the color and mystery of the Southwestern United States. From the rich oranges and reds of Santa Fe to the whites and creams of White Sands, each quilt is artfully photographed on location in one of five Southwest regions from New Mexico to West Texas. Sew along with author and avid traveler, Kristi Schroeder, as she leads you on a road trip to some of America's most breathtaking scenic locations. Along with detailed piecing and instructions for making the quilts inspired by each destination, Kristi shares her favorite places to shop, eat and explore...inviting you to follow in her footsteps. Using landscape as your launchpad, Kristi will help you uncover new fabric palates and beautiful designs which you can expect your own creativity to follow.

    The patterns are designed to work together, so small projects fit into larger ones. Make for yourself or as gifts. Detailed concepts will include information on installing zippers, alternative fastenings, sewing with vinyl, making three-dimensional shapes, and the different types of interfacings that can be used and how these can transform your projects."--

    Learn how to create realistic representations of your favourite animals and birds in stunning paper-pieced quilt blocks. This unique collection of 12 contemporary quilt patterns includes a tiger, butterfly, swan, owl, peacock and polar bear as well as many more. There are instructions to show how to resize the quilt blocks if you want to make them larger, as well as instructions for how to add borders to increase the size of the overall quilt. Author and foundation paper piecing expert, Juliet van der Heijden, explains how your fabric choice can really alter the overall effect of the quilt patterns to create very different results, and she encourages you to have fun and adapt the quilt patterns through your own choice of fabrics.There are step-by-step instructions showing Juliet's foundation paper-piecing techniques and all the pattern pieces are available via a PDF download.

    

    Play with unexpected design elements, choose a winning color palette, and achieve balance and symmetry. Grab your favorite ruler and the included full-size templates to trim up equilateral, isosceles, and right triangle blocks with ease. With no tricky seams, these sampler blocks are perfect to mix and match.

    This jelly roll quilt collection includes 15 contemporary quilt designs that are quick and easy enough to piece in a weekend.

    If you've always dreamed of organizing a day, a weekend or a week away just to sew, this planner by Jacqueline Sava Clarke and Karyn Valino will help you step-by-step through scheduling, packing, and sewing your way through your time together.Meet up with your friends to sew as often as you like because this book includes 14 individual and 7 group projects, at least a year's worth of fun get-togethers. Designed specifically for sewing retreats, the authors offer practical guidance and checklists for everything your group will need, from help with planning supplies and how much time you'll need, to suggestions for extra activities and menu planning. It won't matter if your friends are new to sewing or if they're pros, what matters is that you'll all be together making your own cherished items that can only have been made with collaboration that happens on a handmade getaway.

    It features scores of step-by-step sequences showing every kind of technique, from using and adapting paper patterns, to couture-inspired seaming techniques that will take garment-making skills to a new level.Some notable and practical features of the book are:all photos illustrate the sewer's perspective from above, whether hand sewing or using a machine fine details (such as a small notch) are shown in close-up photo call outs photo annotations point out important details lengthy descriptive captions leave no opportunity for confusion. The contents cover the full breadth of dressmaking. The following are just a few of them.Sewing Kit -- the tools and materials required, including a sewing machine, overlocker/serger, and how to choose and use them Preparation -- Natural and synthetic fabrics, how to choose fabrics, prepping and handling, pre-washing, types of thread, interfacings, understanding and sizing a pattern Cutting -- Laying out and pinning fabric and patterns, weighting, marking, and tacking Making - Pressing is not ironing, creating shape, open and closed seams, pockets, openings and closures, zippers, sleeves and cuffs, collars, yokes, waistbands, decorative features, sewing jersey Finishing -- Bound edges, facings, hems, and linings Resources -- Metric/imperial conversion, sewing machine needles sizes and uses, common seam allowances, and US, UK and European size conversions. Other valuable topics covered are the anatomy of a stitch, correcting thread tension, fixing stitches, working 4-thread jersey, what selvedge is and how grain lines work, how to measure yourself (and why), how to alter a pattern to fit, making a toile (a personalized, muslin, fitting dress).Dressmaking: The Indispensable Guide is an essential reference.

    Sharing our cots, they are our first friends and accompany us to adulthood. This book lets you share that magic by creating your own bear to hand down through your family.Learn about every aspect of this icon of childhood including the history of Teddy Bears, notes on care and repair, personalizing instructions, and three complete projects supported by full-size templates to build your skills.Create a bear to pass down through your familyPersonalize your bear with different expressions and features3 step-by-step projects accompanied by full size templates

    Add extra accessories like hats, bows, and glasses to personalize your animals. We must admit, they rate pretty high on the look-what-I-made scale of satisfaction Contains: 3 pages of paper patterns 12 sheets of felt 8 colors of embroidery floss 15 sets of precut felt eyes and cheeks 2 embroidery needles 1 bag of polyfill stuffin

    In Sew Your Own Dolls there are girl dolls and boy dolls, casual dolls and fancy dolls, and even a doll in pajamas! There are four basic body and head shapes and infinite possibilities for making them unique. Maggie is going shopping wearing a chic navy dress coat and carrying a glitter clutch bag, Louisa is having a casual day and is dressed in jeans, a flannel shirt, and baseball shoes, and dapper Hugo is a cool sailor in a striped top with tattooed arms. There is a doll for everyone, and each one has full-size templates for the body shapes and outfits, and simple step-by-step artworks and instructions to help you on your way—the only difficult part is choosing which one to make first!

    Creating Couture Embellishment offers a step-by-step guide to manipulating fabric and making and applying a rich variety of embellishments. Chapters cover fabric-manipulation techniques of pleating, quilting, tucking, ruffling, shirring, and smocking, as well as the fabrication and application of feathers, beading, embroidery, flowers, decorative ribbons and bows, bias bindings and piping, fringe, braids, and passementerie. The heirloom quality created by the insertion or application of lace is also explored.Featuring a visual index of every embellishment in the book that is designed to offer inspiration as well as showcasing the myriad of choice, Creating Couture Embellishment provides a comprehensive sourcebook of ideas for the student, professional, and home sewer alike.

    Never sewed anything but finally want to start? This is the book for you! On 52 pages and over 220 pictures you’ll get detailed explanations about: Sewing by hand or with a machine, choosing the right fabrics, sewing stretch fabrics, creating new and working with pre-existing patterns, sewing a mock-up, adjusting patterns, adding a zipper, lining, sewing gloves, leggings, boot covers and a dress, attaching armor to fabric and of course a lot of detailed pictures, tips and examples of my own finished costumes!

    Frances Toibin's self-proclaimed mission is to help fashion-conscious women create their own beautiful clothes to wear with style. It is founded on the belief that the simplest shapes in the finest fabrics make the most successful clothes. In The Essential Collection, designer Frances has taken the key shapes from some of the most enduring fashion trends, such as the pencil skirt and the boxy shirt, and refined them into clear dressmaking patterns with easy-to-follow instructions. Frances has sources the perfect fabrics to suit each garments and shows four alternative looks for each pattern to provide further technical know-how as well as style ideas to enable the home dressmaker to make their own capsule collection of garments unique to them. For example, the pencil skirt is shown in navy gabardine to suit an elegant working wardrobe, but alternatively this skirt takes on an edgier look when made up in metallic stretch fabric with a raw hem. With dressmaking patterns supplied in the pack alongside the book, and given in sizes 4 to 16, The Essential Collection makes it possible for all women - whether dressmaking novices or accomplished seamstresses - to own an enviable selection of timeless and adaptable staple garments.

    Award-winning quilter and designer Christa Watson guides you through 11 skill-building projects with quilting designs in three categories: walking-foot, free-motion, and a combination of the two techniques. Christa is here to help you start and finish strong!

    

    This book includes 10 fashion designs such as a scarf, cowl, vest, handbags, blankets and hat, made using light- and worsted-weight yarns. Written instructions as well illustrations, photos and symbol crochet are included to help you with this exciting new technique.

    Star designers including Kim Diehl, Country Threads' Mary Etherington and Connie Tesene, Pat Sloan, Carrie Nelson, and Jo Morton will help you along the way.Pair your repeated blocks with plain squares, rotate blocks for a playful spin, or simply line them up row by row. From fun make-in-a-weekend designs to stunning quilts to cherish and pass on, you'll find the perfect block to repeat in this colossal compilation of quilt patterns!

    Gorgeous photographs illustrate 10 beautiful projects where Amy Friend seamlessly bridges the gap between improvised design and technical execution. Discover a unique approach to creating one-of-a-kind blocks with guided exercises that explore scale, symmetry and alternate gridwork. Then, with Amy's help, you'll have the opportunity to design your own patterns. You really can have a dash of the unexpected through improv with the precision of paper piecing and still create those secondary patterns we all love in quilts made using traditional blocks. With a modern spin, Improv Paper Piecing gracefully guides the reader, step-by-step, through improvisationally designing your own paper piecing patterns to strategically setting the grid---so that the end result is a masterful, unique quilt of repeated blocks. If you're looking for a fun exciting challenge, the party is here. Step over and stitch outside the box.

    Add or remove pockets, adjust the neckline, or swap a zippered back to a button front! With step-by-step instructions, clear illustrations, and how-to photos, you'll learn professional design alterations for your favorite men's, women's, and children's garment patterns. Whether you have basic sewing skills or are a confident dressmaker, you can learn to be your own fashion designer.

    In today’s ready-to-wear society, it’s a creative and rewarding personal choice. Packed full of information on basic sewing techniques, this book provides an ideal introduction for beginning sewers as well as a useful reference for those who already have sewing skills. Learning how to sew has never been simpler, with step-by-step photographs and friendly advice from internationally accredited sewing expert Wendy Gardiner. Along with clear instructions on everything from making seams, hems, sleeves, and collars to attaching linings and zippers, Wendy includes comprehensive information on fabrics, threads, needles and other equipment. Her clear directions ensure that even beginners will get great results. With the techniques you learn in The Complete Book of Sewing you’ll soon be stitching amazing clothes with skill and confidence.Inside The Complete Book of SewingBeautifully illustrated, comprehensive guide to all aspects of sewing, from dressmaking to soft furnishings.Covers sewing techniques from hand stitching and hemming to making collars and sleeves, adding darts for shaping, and inserting zips and buttonholes.Includes comprehensive information on fabrics, threads, needles and other equipment.Step-by-step photographs and color illustrations.Perfect for beginning sewers with no previous experience.

    There are 20 designs included, from traditional flat-pocket calendars to hanging cones and festive pouches, for both adults and children alike, along with a treat-filled calendar for the family dog! At time of writing there isn't a comparable title on the market, and the trend for creating handmade, personalised, Instagrammable Christmas traditions is very popular.The book contains all the techniques needed to make the calendars, and every project is shown clearly step by step, with helpful tips and advice throughout. Using Debbie's friendly and easy-to-follow instructions, readers will want to get crafty and create new festive family traditions!

    Cute houses, cuddly creatures, friendly characters, and even a checkerboard are all achievable with three-dimensional sewing for beginners and experienced sewists. Plus, the projects in this value-packed book will use up your scraps, stash, and even your socks!

    

    Clean, slim lines; elegance grounded in simplicity rather than ornament; and styles designed for the active lives of the men and women who wore them—nearly a century later, the styles of the era still thrill us. This book, accompanying an exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum, London, both celebrates Jazz Age fashion and helps us understand its context. While presenting beautiful images of classic works by such designers as Chanel, Patou, Lucile, Lanvin, Vionnet, Hartnell, and Molynuex, worn by stars and stunners like Clara Bow and Louise Brooks, it also shows us how the era’s fashion developed. Martin Pel traces the effects of the end of World War I, the rise of America, rapid changes in the lives and expectations of women, and technological breakthroughs like the introduction of Rayon and zippers. All played a part in the creation of an aesthetic that couldn’t have been farther from the buttoned-down, bustled-up clothing of the preceding generation. ​A testament to an era that marked the birth of the modern, and whose influence is still felt today, Jazz Age Fashion is an unforgettable document of an unforgettable age.

    This book explains the period's sewing techniques and makes a range of 1940s outfits to recreate the look of those vintage years. With detailed step-by-step instruction, it captures the style of the time and explains the impact of wartime austerity on the cut and construction of women's dress.

    In Sew Caroline Weekend Style, SewCaroline.com blogger Caroline Hulse delivers all the learn-to-sew info a beginner needs, including must-have tools and materials, basic stitches, and step-by-step finishing techniques. From there, you'll be set to sew Caroline's easy, go-to pieces for all your weekend adventures. Stitch up coordinates to wear out to brunch, to an afternoon picnic, just lounging around the house, and more. And don't forget the finishing touches. Versatile bag and accessory patterns stitch up in a snap to complete your ensembles so you can step out--in weekend style!

    

    As well as introducing the historical periods, it gives patterns for a range of typical garments that women of the poorer classes would have worn. Organized by century, it draws on historical sources and finds, paintings, and photographs to recreate the clothes of these under-celebrated women.

    With foreword by Marie-Therese Wisniowski, who runs Art Quill Studio.This stunning collection showcases the work produced by renowned textile artists Els van Baarle and Cherilyn Martin, and explores how – even when working from the same starting point – textile art can produce a myriad interpretations of shape, form, colour and technique. Els and Cherilyn have chosen six themes for their own starting point, each full of inspiration and artistic potential: Memory (both personal experiences and historical events); Graven (cemetery) images and idols; Books as objects; Pompeii and archaeological excavations; Walls; and Everyday items.For each of the themes the authors have provided a personal interpretation of the work and a description of the techniques they used, along with step-by-step instructions. In the chapter on memory, for example, Cherilyn demonstrates how old fabrics and textiles (which themselves have a unique history all of their own) can be recycled to incorporate your own stitched drawings. Alternatively, Els explores Procion Dye techniques to create colourful and striking fabrics that bear no resemblance to Els work on the same theme.The trend for collaborative textile art is increasing in popularity. This fascinating guide provides a rich seam of inspiration from two renowned artists, exploring how to get the most from your collaborations and produce beautiful and unique work.

    Got one charm pack, two packs, or three? Make the most out of them with quilts that use up nearly all of the charms in your favorite packs. You don't need a huge fabric stash to achieve a dynamic, scrappy look--just your choice of charm packs Make a range of projects, from table runners to lap-sized quilts, all by top Moda designers Tips and tricks from each designer are included to help you show off your unique collection of charm squares

    In this glorious celebration of her passion for fabric, Tone shares over 20 sewing, patchwork, applique and quilting projects that will bring colour and beauty to your home. Projects include stunning quilts, pretty pillows, sophisticated soft toys and beautiful accessories--all designed with characteristic Tilda charm. Featuring gorgeous photography, in-depth instructions and full-size templates, you'll soon be sewing by heart.

    Clear instructions and diverse designs, ranging from modern and bright to traditional and scrappy, make this the perfect introduction to quilting with Star blocks for beginners and experienced stitchers alike.

    Furthermore, McCunn provides instructions for combining the bra with skirt patterns to make Empire-waistline sleepwear, tops, dresses, even wedding gowns. Praise from Users "An invaluable guide for making clothes and lingerie that fit a real body rather than the measurement system of standard commercial patterns. The instructions are clear and provide many tricks for a person fitting herself." Joan Vinall "McCunn's books are a valuable addition to any collection of Sewing and Craft books. His instructions are so carefully thought out, thorough, easy to follow, and well illustrated that anyone making lingerie will benefit from them. " Carol Hillegas "McCunn's approach enabled me to make well-fitting and supportive bras and swimsuits for my unusual figure." Kathryn Raike-Panuline "McCunn explains the WHY of pattern making not just the HOW, so I have learned concepts as well as practical skills, and when I am drafting, I actually understand the process instead of just following instructions by rote. Using his bust sling design to make bras that fit me perfectly because they are tailored to my exact shape is both liberating and empowering." Carol Utau "McCunn's method, a culmination of many years experience, has helped many people, including me, in learning to draft and sew. His instructions are clear and straight to the point." Rudaina Sumrein "It's nice to know that even a beginner sewer's experiences can be useful. Bras have been a constant source of angst for me for many, many years. Now, even though I am a beginning sewer, I get good it, adequate support, ease of care, better skin health, for a very reasonable price." Kenna Heaton "In competitive swimming, the swimmer needs to focus on the clock, not fret over potential exposure. McCunn's custom fit bikini gives me that confidence, making me a faster swimmer. It also fits me better than any previous bikinis. I recommend it for anyone with an excuse to wear a swimsuit!" Jenifer McAtee "The most comfortable panties I've ever worn!" Deborah Castle "McCunn's books are amazing, I have them and recommend them to everyone." Jane Ann Butters

    Share the love with cuddly traditional and modern patterns by today's top quilt designers.