book – Stacey Stitch

Book Review: Reader’s Digest New Complete Guide to Sewing

Published on May 24, 2014 by Stacey Stitch2 Comments

I’ve had a few emails from readers and queries from friends about a good reference book to start with when they’re sewing, so let me introduce you to the bible: The Reader’s Digest Complete book of sewing.

When I first began my adventures I spent a lot of time on the net searching various forums, cross referencing with amazon’s handy “look inside” and reader’s reviews. I ultimately settled on this book after taking all of the above into consideration.

It might be a little pricey but it really does cover everything and anything in between.

Being dyslexic, diagrams are a great way of showing me what to do. I can only get so far when I’m reading written instructions and this book goes that extra step further, with clear instructions and pictures.

Whether you’re dyslexic or not this is a really great handy guide for anyone getting into sewing. It has step by step diagrams for processes from tailoring to hand stitching hems.

Take the circular ruffle on my Joanie inspired dress. Something that I really struggled with looking at the instructions on my vintage pattern (as with all vintage patterns, they assume you already know a lot about sewing) but I just looked to my bookshelf, checked the reference pages and found what I was looking for quick smart, and away I went.

I haven’t sewn any of the projects in the book – they’re not really my style but the instructions are clear, concise and contain a handy key at the top of the pages to point you in the direction of the correct pages for each separate part of the making up process.
Everything I have ever been stumped by, whether it’s a technical word, the correct way to sew a fastening or a tricky seam, I know I have the help I need an arm’s length away.

If you’re beginning your sewing journey and would like the perfect accompaniment then kit yourself out with this book. It really is the best and works side by side with your sewing machine.

It’s currently on Amazon for £40 BUT you can get a good second hand copy for under £10 too.

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Fabric for Fashion: The Swatch Book

Published on March 27, 2014 by Stacey Stitch4 Comments

Let’s not sugar coat it; Fabrics for Fashion: The Swatch Book is expensive with the RRP £60. I got it for around about £37 and even then I could only afford it due to the stroke of good luck I’ve had recently.

It is however, for someone like me who doesn’t yet know her batiste from her shantung, priceless.

I am one of those people that walk around a fabric shop hanging her head in shame, confused about the properties of various fabrics and all too often drawn to the cotton blends as I know them well.

I am oh so typically British in my embarrassment in asking anyone anything, my husband refers to it as “the shyness”, wherein if I find myself in a situation where I don’t know something the normal me (friendly, chatty, enthusiastic) reverts to the painfully shy and not wanting to attract attention me that I was in my formative years.

This swatch book is perfect for me for a few reasons:

I like to order pretty fabrics online but with limited knowledge I find myself stumbling about in the dark, googling dresses made from certain fabrics to get an idea of drape and weight and then fearing the postman will delivery something that I simply can’t work with (this has, so far, not happened as I have been cautious)
I’m quite a tactile person when it comes to fabric. I am also one of those annoying people that keeps you in a fabric shop for too long because I’m busy stroking everything. Shop in Abakhan in Manchester? I’ve probably touched your fabric (don’t worry – I have very clean hands).
I find prints and colours far too distracting, often considering them more than how the fabric will hang and drape when the garment is made.

There are 100 swatches in the book and with exception of a few they are in their natural, undyed state. The samples are a good size, giving you a true impression of their feel, weight and structure and all have a description alongside them.

Each section is accompanied with information on fibres, the basic construction of fabric and weave comparison. There’s a fantastic glossary in the back which helps with the terminology used throughout.

All in all, a great reference book that I know I will use time and time again, will save me many future headaches, make purchasing fabric online so much easier and will add much diversity to my future home sewn wardrobe.

Vintage Lingerie: Historical Patterns and Techniques

Published on March 20, 2014 by Stacey Stitch3 Comments

When I saw this book on Amazon I knew I had to get it. I had a quick scan through the reviews online and decided to purchase.

I adore vintage styled lingerie (total Kiss Me Deadly addict) but it doesn’t come in cheap. If you want quality, you’re most certainly going pay for it.

When it landed through the letterbox with a comforting thud I tumbled downstairs, pulled apart the packaging and gazed and the beautiful front cover.

I was aware of the author, Jill Salen, as my cousin’s (then) girlfriend (now wife) had lent me her fabulous book on corsets a few years ago when I was first foraying into making my own burlesque costumes. While the book was amazing, the thought of making a corset was very daunting and I loved reading through but it was packed up and shipped back to the lovely Sarah (thank you!).

But, I digress….back to Vintage Lingerie: Historical Patterns and Techniques.

I am more than happy with its stylistics. The book is laid out in an easy to read way, spaced out generously (I find books that are “too busy” very confusing due to my dyslexia) and sleek and stylish. It covers 30 pieces from 1890 to 1970 and is set up for each piece as follows:

The first page devoted to a beautiful piece of vintage lingerie, photographed beautifully and simply.
The following page with a description of the year or era, detailing on the fabric, techniques, measurements and embellishments used.
Following this is the scaled down pattern, each reproduced on graph paper for ease of scaling up separately.

While this book as an absolutely beautiful addition to my collection I really should say that it is definitely not aimed at beginners.

There are few (if any) instructions for actually making the garments but it really doesn’t feel daunting to me to consider starting to reproduce any of these items, after all using the internet to find clarity on certain sewing techniques is old hat at this point for me!

There are two comprehensive projects contained in the back on this book, with full detailing and step by step instructions:

A black brassiere (1930s)
A petticoat (1905)

Neither of these grabbed me as items I would really like to crack on with; there were far more gorgeous offerings in the previous pages (corselette or the Dior style longline bra for instance) but I am sure that is just a matter of personal taste.

At the back of the book is a handy chapter about embellishing and finishing techniques such as scalloping, making button loops, fastenings etc.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for good a resource of vintage lingerie. I have been looking for something like this for a while now and everything else seemed to fall short of the mark.

I can’t wait to get cracking with my first project from this, although I will definitely be making a toile, sewing in a cheap fabric and then making the final in something a little more luxurious!

Oh and I am very tempted to purchase Jill Salen’s next book Vintage Swimwear Patterns: Historical Patterns and Techniques, but that’s for another time when my purse is a little fatter I think!