What? Another multi-function post? I know, I'thou getting sick of them too, but I promise this i will be helpful, and too the final for quite awhile. So please just humor me!

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I was thinking the other twenty-four hour period…"What is the all-time advice that you tin can give to someone who is new to sewing?"

– Get a keen sewing machine?
– Clean your auto?
– Only utilise your fabric scissors on Textile?
– Pre-wash your fabrics?
– Change your auto needle more than once a year? (Oh expect, you should tell ME that one ; )
– Just exist creative?

I think the best communication I could requite would be to…

notice a really good sewing book!

Certain, you lot could goggle everything you wanted to know, but when you are get-go starting out – You don't know what you don't know! I love that phrase, only it's so true. I kept telling my husband that when I started designing this blog. He would inquire me why I didn't exercise "yada, yada, something computery…" and all I had to say was "I didn't even KNOW I could do that!"

Sewing is the same manner. You know bits and pieces from simply wearing clothes for most of your lives. (I hope ; ) Information technology'south hard not to know by now what a ruffle is, or what kind of textile denim is, just do you know that there is a special presser pes that only makes ruffles? or what kind of seam holds those jeans together? (I didn't know about the ruffle foot until a few months ago, and I've sewn my whole life!) Hither is where the book comes in. You might not learn everything in that location is to know, but you will at least know the basics, and have a place where you can await upwards the new terms and techniques you hear almost while trolling the interwebs.

The biggest problem is really finding the right book, so I have checked out every sewing guide I could find at my local library, and graded them for you. This way you lot'll know right away if THAT volume is really stuffy and dry or THIS ane has super great photos. I know information technology won't cover all the sewing guides out there, but at least information technology's a start!

There were then many books to look through that I actually had to break them down into groups by how I rated them. Today we'll cover all the one star books, and why I didn't care for them. And then tomorrow will exist the two stars… (You get the idea.) Here we go!

☆☆☆star Sewing Guides

Get the Near out of Your Sewing Machine
past Marion Elliot – © 2010

I wasn't certain whether or not to include this one, merely I figured if the title fooled me, I'd improve warn you simply in case. This looked like a how to book at first glance, but is more of a cross between a sewing guide, a refashion book, and a regular sewing projects book. While it covers things similar types of stitches, needle sizes and a few presser feet, there isn't enough bones information to really get you started.

Fabric Sewing Guide
past Claire Shaffer – © 2008

This was a comprehensive book with smashing petty "Claire's hints" scattered throughout it's pages. Unfortunately in that location were virtually no pictures to help yous empathise the techniques being described.

Sewing Techniques & Patterns
by Marie Noelle Bayard – © 2006

Another sewing guide that is very comprehensive, but defective in pictures to assist yous understand. I feel that pictures are a must to assist new sewers follow along more easily. There is no need to go frustrated with a technique if a simple motion picture would clear everything upwardly.

Encyclopedia of Sewing
by Donna Kooler – © 2009

I was expecting this to exist a very helpful volume since I already own the Encyclopedia of Knitting, and use that ane all the fourth dimension. Instead this volume contains lots of "extra" information to sift through, and is very dry and ho-hum. Information technology covered what you would need to know for basic dwelling sewing, but only seem dated for such a contempo publication. I was a bit disappointed.

Have you come across any sewing guides that really weren't worth your fourth dimension that you recall should be added to this list? Do yous own any of the books above, and have they been helpful? I'd honey to hear your thoughts on what helps/helped you acquire how to sew.


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