Accessible, good-looking and jargon-free, this book contains everything you need to know to sew well using your sewing machine – and nothing more. There are no scary couture-type techniques that real sewers never use, no painstaking procedures that don’t actually make your sewing easier, or help it look better, and no complicated methods of doing anything. Instead you will find easy-to-understand, practical and decorative techniques that make sewing simple, even if you have never used a machine before.
There are lots of clever tips plus shortcuts that can make things faster and easier to do, with clear advice on when you can use these speedy methods and when it really is better to do something the traditional way. Everything is illustrated with clear step-by-step photography and finished samples, with variation samples where appropriate. As well as techniques, there are some easy projects you can make on your sewing machine and although they are simple, they don’t skimp on style.
About the author
Kate Haxell learned sewing from her grandmother at a young age, creating eccentric outfits for her compliant dolls. After obtaining her art degree, she went to work for Country Living, then moved into book publishing and editing. Kate’s previous books include Decorative Knitting, The Seed Bead Book and First Knits. She lives in London.
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About the Author
Kate Haxell learned to sew at an early age, making clothes for her long-suffering teddy bears. She went on to study art and design and then worked for Country Living magazine. She moved into book publishing and, as an experienced freelance editor and author, Kate has worked on, contributed to and written numerous craft books. Kate lives in London with her husband, two dogs, two cats and a canary.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
187 of 187 people found the following review helpful
By Ian
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a bloke with no sewing skills I found this book really good value. Not only does it tell and show you what things like seams and hems look like, but also how to set your 'generic' machine to sew them. It's a bit like a Haynes Manual - shows you before and after and also 'wrong' and 'right' sides. I have used it to alter trouser leg lengths and to make from a pattern, a dressing gown.
If you need one book either for yourself or as a present for someone buying or owning a sewing machine, this is it. Fancy techniques are no good unless the fundamentals are understood - the book excells at this. It is also very readable.
Recommended.
Ian, Hampshire
If you need one book either for yourself or as a present for someone buying or owning a sewing machine, this is it. Fancy techniques are no good unless the fundamentals are understood - the book excells at this. It is also very readable.
Recommended.
Ian, Hampshire
87 of 87 people found the following review helpful
By hellabella01
Format:Paperback
This is a great book for those new to sewing. It tells you the basics of using your sewing machine and all the sewing techniques that you may stumble across in patterns that you don't yet know how to do are explained clearly. It also tells you things such as what size needles to use on different types of fabrics and the difference between a seam and a hem. Some have marked the book down because they don't like the patterns at the back, but you don't get this book for the patterns, you get it because it will help you to become a more confident sewer, the fact that there are patterns is just an added bonus. I have gained a lot from having this book.
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By M. Richards
Format:Paperback
This is the best book I've found for a novice sewer. It actually tells you how to sew a straight seam ...obvious to most people, I suppose, but a mystery to me! It clearly explains different ways of sewing seams and hems etc, with pictures.
There are a small number of projects at the back, and, like other reviewers, I don't find them particularly inspiring. Instead, when you see a term you don't understand in a pattern or project book, look it up in here.
There are a small number of projects at the back, and, like other reviewers, I don't find them particularly inspiring. Instead, when you see a term you don't understand in a pattern or project book, look it up in here.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By S. Richter
Format:Paperback
I love this book SO much. I hadn't sewn anything for ten years, but felt like trying it out again and bought a few books off of amazon. This is my favorite amazon purchase in a long time! It explains all basic and semi-advanced techniques you need to sew properly, from seams and hems to buttonholes, and it does so in a clear and concise language, broken down in simple steps with dedicated images to every step. It looks like a teenagebook on the cover, but I can tell that I will be using this book as a reference over and over again in my future sewing. Thank you so much Kate Haxell, you did a magnificent job with this book! I finally feel confident sewing again.
Coming back to add that I made the apron in the book, just to get things started, and it turned out great. I agree with comments saying the patterns aren't the most appealing, but they are useful when you need a simple project to try out all the techniques in the book. Thank you, Kate Haxell, I love this book!
Coming back to add that I made the apron in the book, just to get things started, and it turned out great. I agree with comments saying the patterns aren't the most appealing, but they are useful when you need a simple project to try out all the techniques in the book. Thank you, Kate Haxell, I love this book!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By AnnaE
Format:Paperback
This book explains sewing techniques really clearly and allows you to achieve much better results. Highly recommended, very good buy.
91 of 96 people found the following review helpful
By Joonie
Format:Paperback
When I saw this book at Waterstones, I bought it straight away because the wordings of the book and pictures are so clear and very easy to understand. This book is great for beginners. Kate made sewing very easy, interesting and understanding to follow. The book shows you step by step on how to sew from the basics to the nearly "difficult", but with Kate's explaination it is easy peasy to follow. Good book and an all rounder!!
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By Lucky L
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
When you first look through this book, it seems perfect for beginners. It's really well presented, and all the instructions are laid out in a step-by-stap way with lots of colour photos. The language is nice and simple too.
However, once you actually try to follow the instructions it's not so great. The colour photos look pretty, but they don't show what you need to see. They're all close-ups, even when you need to see the whole thing. Example: she tells us to cut out a 'a classic ham shape' but there is no picture/diagram of what on earth that means (just an arty but useless close-up). I don't know what she means by that, and I'll never find out because there's no picture of the finished item either - just another pretty close-up.
It's the same story again and again - the photos have been cropped and edited to make the book look pretty, rather than to show a beginner what they they need to know. Simple line drawings or diagrams would be much more useful, but there's none.
You will learn some basics from this book, but the instructions are not as easy-to-follow as they seem.
However, once you actually try to follow the instructions it's not so great. The colour photos look pretty, but they don't show what you need to see. They're all close-ups, even when you need to see the whole thing. Example: she tells us to cut out a 'a classic ham shape' but there is no picture/diagram of what on earth that means (just an arty but useless close-up). I don't know what she means by that, and I'll never find out because there's no picture of the finished item either - just another pretty close-up.
It's the same story again and again - the photos have been cropped and edited to make the book look pretty, rather than to show a beginner what they they need to know. Simple line drawings or diagrams would be much more useful, but there's none.
You will learn some basics from this book, but the instructions are not as easy-to-follow as they seem.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Nina
Format:Paperback
I like using a sewing machine because one can see the result very quickly, but I really don't know much of the machine itself except for the absolute basics. I have browsed through this book a few times and started reading it for real from the beginning, and already I feel more confident. I have learned some very vital things, thread tension to mention one, and am looking forward to reading the manual of my own, future sewing machine; words you would never have heard me utter pre-Kate.
This book is thorough without being heavy to read and for its price it is a gem. I happily recommend it to anyone who is prepared to invest a bit of time into learning some theory on their tool, instead of possibly destroying expensive materials and losing interest in sewing. Not all of the practice projects seem like they are for me, but I view them as an unexpected bonus to the tough stuff, so five stars out of five!
This book is thorough without being heavy to read and for its price it is a gem. I happily recommend it to anyone who is prepared to invest a bit of time into learning some theory on their tool, instead of possibly destroying expensive materials and losing interest in sewing. Not all of the practice projects seem like they are for me, but I view them as an unexpected bonus to the tough stuff, so five stars out of five!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well laid out
I wish that I purchased this item sooner from my wish list. Extremely well laid out and very well written. Easy to follow guide with photographs. Read more
Published 21 hours ago by Linda
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sew or not to sew
Great book, covers lots of questions you have about your machine, I took it to my sewing class to show others and they were impressed how much it covers, gives me more confidence... Read more
Published 8 days ago by Sillynana
3.0 out of 5 stars
OK
Instructions are good for using a sewing machine but some of the patterns are a little old fashioned for me
Published 26 days ago by Mrs Janet Dowd
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great starter
Very clear and well written starter guide to sewing with machines. It is a great reference and written in a very approachable style.
Published 26 days ago by K. Draper
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for beginner
It has been many a year since I did any dressmaking - I am only just starting with quilting. This book is great for a novice - very clear instruction and ideas for projects to... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jj2805
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good instructive book
Found this book to be very instructive for a beginner. I am currently working through it with my sewing machine.
Published 1 month ago by Hare
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fab book
I learnt to sew quite a few years ago and have just got a sewing machine after a very long break. This book is brilliant, very easy to follow with lots of tips which have really... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Phantom1306
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very useful reference book
I started sewing again after a few years but I'm still a beginner and I was looking for a book to help me progress. Read more
Published 1 month ago by S. M. Love
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good book
I bought this book for my teen daughter. This book is well explained and perfect for a beginner in dressmaking.
Published 1 month ago by H. Y. Guims
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beginners Guide to Machine Sewing
I bought this book because my knoinstructionwledge of home sewing is very scant. I find the book extremely easy to follow & I learnt immediately why the bobbins on my machine never... Read more
Published 1 month ago by butlinsbonkers
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