Thursday’s Book Review

Professional Sewing Techniques for Designers by Julie Cole & Sharon Czachor

Fairchild Publications, © 2009

Rating
5 stars = Shiny!

Description
A sewing manual that is anything but basic! While expensive, this book is worth every penny if you’re an aspiring dressmaker or designer. It teaches everything you need to know in a simple, easy-to-understand way.

Contents
1. The Design Process; 2. Getting Prepared; 3. Stabilizers; 4. Darts; 5. Pockets; 6. Seams; 7. Tucks & Pleats; 8. Zippers; 9. Waistbands; 10. Ruffles & Flounces; 11. Collars; 12. Facings; 13. Cuffs & Wrist Finishes; 14. Sleeves; 15. Hems; 16. Linings; 17. Closures; 18. Finishing Touches.

Liked
I loved that this is an all-inclusive book. It covers everything you need to know in order to sew—and sew well. It assumes that you’re a design student and are learning to sew for your career, not merely as a hobby, and so it takes the job of teaching you seriously. Basically it takes you along the construction of a garment from conception to finish and instructs you each step of the way. It doesn’t stop with just one technique, but shows you multiple ways of performing each task, and recommends different methods based on what you’re sewing and what fabric you’re using.

Each chapter begins with a collection of fashion sketches—which are gorgeous and fun, by the way. They illustrate several different examples of garments that use the techniques you’ll be learning.

Fairchild Publications, © 2009

Fairchild Publications, © 2009

It tells you the key terms you need to learn, and provides a list of tools you’ll need. It then proceeds to demonstrate multiple methods of performing whatever the task at hand is. It even covers hand sewing, if applicable.

Fairchild Publications, © 2009

It shows you how to “transfer your knowledge” and “stretch your creativity” . . . or how to take what you’ve learned and run with it, applying it to different situations. This is followed by a section that covers problems that might crop up with each task, including how to perform the techniques when working with tricky fabrics, such as denim, velvet, satin, or lace. Finally there is a self-critique checklist, along with a review of the chapter.

Disliked
The only thing I disliked is that the book assumes you’re a design student taking a professional course in fashion design. Many times it tells you that if you’re uncertain or have questions, to ask your instructor. Well, I’m a self-taught dressmaker—this book is the only guidance I have! As such, I would have preferred if they’d taken an extra paragraph or two to expand on the few areas where it suggests you consult someone else for further instruction.

Conclusion
This is an excellent guide to sewing for dressmakers and designers alike. If you’re sewing just for fun, it may not be worth the extra expense, but if you’re at all serious about sewing, you’ll want to invest in a copy. If I could get away with it, I would definitely make this my classroom textbook . . . but I’m afraid the price would scare away most novice sewers!

I give it five out of five stars and declare it a must-have!

Buy Now: Professional Sewing Techniques for Designers

(Yesterday’s Thimble is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Basically, this means if you click a link to an item that Amazon sells, and then buy it, I earn a small fee that helps support this website.)

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Have you read this book? Did you find it as useful as I did? How has it helped your sewing skills?