- Hardcover-spiral: 176 pages
- Publisher: Krause Publications; Spi edition (25 Nov 2011)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1440215456
- ISBN-13: 978-1440215452
- Product Dimensions: 25.7 x 23.1 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
10,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #25 in Books > Home & Garden > Crafts > Needlework & Fabrics > Embroidery
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
A great plan, a great pattern, a great fit, a great fabric and a great finish are the 5 fundamentals to completing a perfect sewing project. Here Sarai Mitnick reveals her 5 fundamentals in her trademark clear instruction to provide a rounded and beautiful sewing guide. Totally comprehensive, this title covers: sewing techniques; planning and fitting; working with patterns, fabrics and linings; and, finishing techniques. It includes 5 beautiful projects (1 blouse, 3 dresses and 1 skirt) with tissue paper patterns so readers can learn to sew AND creative a gorgeous project.
About the Author
Sarai Mitnick is owner of Colette Patterns and majors on modern sewing patterns for design-orientated sewers. She has written for Design Sponge, Modern Seamster, The Storque and DIY City Magazine and her mission is to share the joy that sewing can bring. Sarai lives in Portland, Oregon and her work can be viewed at www.colettepatterns.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover-spiral
I may not be a beginner dressmaker, but I have found this book both useful and a pleasure to read. I tend to pick up lots of sewing guides and the like and still the Colette Sewing Handbook has what others are missing:
* A focus on dressmaking. Many sewing introduction books are more generic, so they might show you how to make a cushion, but they don't necessarily explain how to set in a sleeve. Sarai Mitnick shows you exactly how.
* Clothing patterns that are actually stylish, unique and that you'd actually want to make and wear. But if you know about Colette Patterns, then you'll expect this already. I'd recommend having a look at the five different patterns and checking out what other stitchers have made online to get some inspiration and an idea of whether you would make these designs.
* A discussion not only of how to make items, but how to decide what to make to suit you. I've seen this in books on style and buying clothes from the likes of Gok and Trinny and Susannah, but this is the first time I've seen this kind of advice in a sewing book. And it's blooming important! If you're going to spend hours of your time (not to mention your hard-earned cash on fabric and supplies) on an item of clothing, it's pretty disheartening to find that it doesn't suit you (I speak from experience!) or that it simply doesn't suit your lifestyle. Again, Mitnick comes up trumps with some friendly pointers to set you off in the right direction.
Some of the other things I love about this book: it sits flat when it's open, so you can refer to it while sewing; Sarai Mitnick's tone in writing is encouraging and conversational, without being in your face with fake, over the top enthusiasm and exclamations; it is very pretty, which makes it an utter pleasure to read through and dip into. There are many other things I could mention, I'm sure, but I'll let you discover these for yourself. Enjoy.
* A focus on dressmaking. Many sewing introduction books are more generic, so they might show you how to make a cushion, but they don't necessarily explain how to set in a sleeve. Sarai Mitnick shows you exactly how.
* Clothing patterns that are actually stylish, unique and that you'd actually want to make and wear. But if you know about Colette Patterns, then you'll expect this already. I'd recommend having a look at the five different patterns and checking out what other stitchers have made online to get some inspiration and an idea of whether you would make these designs.
* A discussion not only of how to make items, but how to decide what to make to suit you. I've seen this in books on style and buying clothes from the likes of Gok and Trinny and Susannah, but this is the first time I've seen this kind of advice in a sewing book. And it's blooming important! If you're going to spend hours of your time (not to mention your hard-earned cash on fabric and supplies) on an item of clothing, it's pretty disheartening to find that it doesn't suit you (I speak from experience!) or that it simply doesn't suit your lifestyle. Again, Mitnick comes up trumps with some friendly pointers to set you off in the right direction.
Some of the other things I love about this book: it sits flat when it's open, so you can refer to it while sewing; Sarai Mitnick's tone in writing is encouraging and conversational, without being in your face with fake, over the top enthusiasm and exclamations; it is very pretty, which makes it an utter pleasure to read through and dip into. There are many other things I could mention, I'm sure, but I'll let you discover these for yourself. Enjoy.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover-spiral
In economic terms alone, the purchase of this book is a no-brainer. Colette patterns retail for US $18. But I agree with all the other reviewers that there is plenty more besides, and I believe that whatever your skill level you can learn something, be inspired, and become more creative in your approach to sewing through this book. It doesn't claim to be a comprehensive manual, but there seems to be enough here for a beginner to get started and make progress. And in case you are thinking from the cover that it might just be a designer putting a stylish pretty pastel gloss on the tired fromula of 'learn to sew with a few basic designs', no no and no. I particularly like the emphahsis on adaptation of patterns and fitting as an essential part of dressmaking, alongside the sewing techniques - so often writers concentrate on one or the other. So, if you weren't lucky enough to receive this at Christmas, treat yourself now, and kickstart your 2012 self-sewn wardrobe!
Note the included patterns are sized rather differently from the big commercial pattern companies. The bust sizes are 33in to 46in, drafted with a C cup. They are on thin pattern tissue paper, and tracing off is recommended.
Note the included patterns are sized rather differently from the big commercial pattern companies. The bust sizes are 33in to 46in, drafted with a C cup. They are on thin pattern tissue paper, and tracing off is recommended.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover-spiral
I've been sewing for 12 years now, almost exclusively from vintage 40s 50s patterns. I'm self-taught, always striving for the perfect fit, with skills gleaned mostly through experience and sewing blogs. Although I regularly check out the Colette blog and like the look of Sarai Mitnick's commercial patterns, I wasn't convinced I needed this book. For a start, I'm never very good with sewing books finding them often hard to understand and apply. Still, Colette's Handbook was recommended by several bloggers I like and so I decided to take the plunge. I'm so pleased I did now as it is one of those sewing books I can actually imagine using and referring to regularly. Regardless of whether I ever make any of the patterns it includes, I'm impressed with its clear approach and found several useful tips that I will be using from now on. Mitnick has a lovely writing style that asks one to look at the process of making clothes organically, thinking through the entire process, from buying the right fabric to tracing the pattern onwards, building up to a result that will fit/ suit not only the body but also the personality and style of the wearer, favouring quality of craftmanship over quantity and cutting corners.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wonderful, fabulous and worth every penny!
I would like to point out that I did receive the book without the patterns, this was a publishing error (and beyond Colette Patterns control) and quick as a flash, I contacted... Read more
Published 16 days ago by Bundana
Colette Sewing Handbook
I just received THE COLETTE SEWING HANDBOOK in the mail today after a long wait. It seems there are to be patterns included. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Brinda Callahan
Everything I wanted from my next sewing book is here
Unlike so many other books that try to be all things to all people, this book knows what it wants to achieve and focusses on that, recommending other books for areas not covered in... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Woolly Moose
a delight!
After reading much press about the Colette Sewing Handbook, both reviews here at Amazon and lots of sewers blogs, I knew it would be a useful addition as well as providing some... Read more
Published 3 months ago by ohsewfantastic
Great book!
I have been trying to start sewing for quite some time now and have always found some excuse not to. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bibbles
Great guide for a beginner-intermediate dressmaker
This is a long awaited sewing guide from the designer behind Colette Patterns, Sarai Mitnick. Aimed at beginner to intermediate sewing this book covers the basics of dressmaking,... Read more
Published 4 months ago by F. Pullen
An excellant find!
Found this book by accident and loved it! I am not young and not an inexperienced sewer, although not made garments for about 15 years. Read more
Published 5 months ago by trishthedish
Excellent
I have waited for this book to come out since reading about it on the Colette Patterns blog page. It is a well put together book fullfilling a really good spot in the market. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Melody
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