Book Reviews

Ultimate Sewing Bible by Marie Clayton

This book is aimed to get those with no or very little experience sewing competently.  It starts off with an introduction to sewing equipment and useful extras.  It then introduces basic sewing techniques such as different stitches and seams.  Each technique is accompanied by a step by step guide and large clear diagrams to guide you.  There are also useful tips scattered throughout the chapter.

The remainder of the book of the book is split into 3 sections: Dressmaking, Advanced Tailoring and Home Furnishings.  It covers topics such as using paper patterns, altering patterns, hems, linings, curtains, blinds and cushions.  The instructions are easy to follow and there are useful diagrams and photos. 

This book would be a great guide for someone looking to start making their own clothes or furnish their house.  It is a sizeable book jam-packed with useful information.  It would make a great addiction to any beginner/intermediate sewists’s library.   Overall it is a good introductory book to sewing.

This book is published by Anova books and can be purchased from their site here.

Handbook of Quilting & Patchwork Stitches by Nikki Tinkler

This handy little book covers over 200 different stitches and designs for quilting. The start of the book covers essential equipment and techniques and then tells you about the different types of quilting (Sashiko, Trapunto, Italian...)

The rest of the book covers the different stitches; each stitch has a full page dedicated to it.  There are photos of the front and rear of each stitch as well as diagrams and written instructions telling you how to create the stitch. 

There is a useful stitch selector on pages 60-65 with a photo of each stitch and a page number underneath so you know where to look for the step to step instructions.  This book is a useful reference guide for those looking to experiment with different stitches.

You can look inside this book here.

This book is published by Search Press and can be purchased on their site here.

200 Braids to Loop, Knot, Weave and Twist by Jacqui Carey

Braiding is an ideal technique to introduce texture, or a trimming to your textile work.  The first half of this book covers the techniques needed to make the braids including knotting, looping, weaving and working with beads.  There are written instructions and photographic guides to each technique.

The middle of the book has a braid and trim selector, showing photos of all the different variations shown in the latter half of the book and telling you which page number you will find them on.  The second half of the book devotes two pages to each braid variation showing you 4 different ways of making it, with colour and material variations.

This book is a definitive guide to braids.  You can look inside here.

This book is published by Search Press and can be purchased through their site here.