All the guidance you need to create beautiful clothes, whether you are following a pattern, adding embellishments or starting from scratch. The step by step instructions for a wide range of dressmaking techniques from basic patterns through to couture designs makes it suitable for beginners as well as sewers with more experience. Easy-to-follow, highly illustrated instructions explain the essential dressmaking techniques - allowing you to work confidently from a pattern to create beautiful clothes that fit perfectly. It features an at-a-glance guide to basic garment shapes and styles, cross referenced with the relevant techniques throughout the book. Includes advice on body shape, choosing the right fabric for the right garment as well as decorative sewing techniques such as embroidery and applique. It features step techniques for making basic garment details including waistbands, hems, sleeves, cuffs, necklines, collars, fastenings, pockets and linings. Suitable for beginners, or those who are already designing or making their own clothes, this is the perfect book for honing dressmaking skills and inspiring fashionable new designs.
| ||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £1.95
Trade in The Dressmaker's Technique Bible: A Complete Guide to Fashion Sewing Techniques for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £1.95, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Card, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more
|
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Book Description
A comprehensive guide to dressmaking and sewing techniques by experienced designer and teacher, Lorna Knight. It includes step by instructions for a wide range of dressmaking techniques from basic patterns through to couture designs, making it suitable for beginners as well as more experience sewers. Easy-to-follow, highly illustrated instructions explain the essential dressmaking techniques, including how to work confidently from a pattern to create beautiful clothes that fit perfectly. It features an at-a-glance guide to basic garment shapes and styles, cross referenced with the relevant techniques throughout the book. Includes advice on body shape, choosing the right fabric for the right garment as well as decorative sewing techniques such as embroidery and applique. It features step techniques for making basic garment details including waistbands, hems, sleeves, cuffs, necklines, collars, fastenings, pockets and linings. The contents include the following: Tools & Equipment: sewing machines, patterns, threads...; Body Shapes Guide; Style Grid: shirts, trousers, jackets, skirts...; Fabric; Manipulations: Seams, darts, tucks...; Techniques: waist, cuffs, collars, sleeves, necklines...; Embellishment Ideas: top stitching, machine embroidery, beads...; Fabric Guide; Glossary & Resources; Index
About the Author
Lorna Knight studied textiles at Queen Mary University College in Edinburgh. She has worked as a clothes and lingerie designer and currently runs workshops on a range of sewing skills from high street to couture fashions. Lorna writes regularly for various sewing magazines and is the author of The Sewing Stitch and Textile Bible (Krause).
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
175 of 175 people found the following review helpful
By J. Beszant
Format:Spiral-bound
Wow! A dressmaking book that is clear and easy to use. It includes basic techniques through to more sophisticated tailoring. The diagrams and photos are the only ones I have found so far (I have lots of dressmaking books) that are easy to follow. It gives great tips on achieving better finishes and the kind of problems most people encounter trying to follow patterns or creating your own designs. Includes a chart of body shapes and the kind of clothes that suit them. Also diagrams of different styles of clothes and the techniques that are required to make them. Excellent for both beginners and as a reference for more experienced dressmakers.
48 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Spiral-bound
This is a user friendly book:
* neat size
* spiral bound making it easy to use as one is working
* excellent diagrams and step by step guides to techniques
The book also advises how to choose styles to suit each body type.
This invaluable book would be suitable for all - as a guide for the beginner or reference for the more experienced dressmaker. I am employed in a sewing room but have returned to dressmaking for myself recently - this is just what I needed to refresh my memory.
I will not need another reference book - this truly is a 'bible' for me!
* neat size
* spiral bound making it easy to use as one is working
* excellent diagrams and step by step guides to techniques
The book also advises how to choose styles to suit each body type.
This invaluable book would be suitable for all - as a guide for the beginner or reference for the more experienced dressmaker. I am employed in a sewing room but have returned to dressmaking for myself recently - this is just what I needed to refresh my memory.
I will not need another reference book - this truly is a 'bible' for me!
100 of 101 people found the following review helpful
Format:Spiral-bound
I was given this as a present by a thoughtful friend. It had been on my wishlist for a while, and so I was qutie happy to receive it. Until I opened it.
It's spiral-bound and small, which makes it handy to handle (although it still doesn't bend backwards, it does keep its page when opened flat), but greatly reduces image size and detailing. Instructions aren't as detailed as they could be and I often found myself going "HUH?" when looking something up or randomly reading. And I have a fair amount of experience, as I make my own dresses (!!).
My personal recommendation, whether you're new to sewing or more experienced would be to get "The Sewing book" by Alison Smith instead (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sewing-Book-Alison-Smith). Large images, brilliant step-by-tiny-step explanations... and some advanced projects at the end of the book to inspire you to go further.
It's spiral-bound and small, which makes it handy to handle (although it still doesn't bend backwards, it does keep its page when opened flat), but greatly reduces image size and detailing. Instructions aren't as detailed as they could be and I often found myself going "HUH?" when looking something up or randomly reading. And I have a fair amount of experience, as I make my own dresses (!!).
My personal recommendation, whether you're new to sewing or more experienced would be to get "The Sewing book" by Alison Smith instead (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sewing-Book-Alison-Smith). Large images, brilliant step-by-tiny-step explanations... and some advanced projects at the end of the book to inspire you to go further.
81 of 83 people found the following review helpful
Format:Spiral-bound
I bought this book based on the first review and WOW - it certainly is fantastic, clear and practical too ... the spiral binding allows it to sit open next to the sewing machine as I use it. I've been sewing for years (self taught) and this is one of the most helpful sewing books I have come across - lovely clear photographs and explanations. I forget techniques I haven't used for a while and wanted a book that would save me from time-consuming practice and material wastage. It's exactly what I wanted. Thank you to Lorna Knight.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Spiral-bound|Amazon Verified Purchase
Just recieved this book today and I'm so impressed. Althought I know how to do all the different types of seams and I'm not a beginner, I had forgotten a few of them. This is a great book for inspiration and makes you want to take the extra time to use different techniques instead of just sticking to old faithful. The only problem was that some of the pages were stuck together as its a ring bound book, so I tore some of the little bits holding it together. If you pull the pages apart as if you were reading from back cover to front before you read it I find they dont rip as easily.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Tonia
Format:Spiral-bound|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this from a store and loved it so much that I ordered one from Amazon for my friend. The one from Amazon was half the price! The book however was even worth the RRP as it contains an excellent reference for any beginner or experienced sewer. I have many sewing books from a variety of talented people but this one is compact, easy to use and takes up little space. It's clearly written with useful tips too. I have done my City & Guilds and in my view, this book contains a lot of what I covered in four years of study! I highly recommend it to you!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Spiral-bound
I bought this book for my daughter who has just started making her own costumes. She refers to it all the time! The spiral spine and hard cover are ideal as you can prop it up and use both hands to do your work. I recommend it to all.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By LadyLibrary
Format:Spiral-bound
This is indeed a 'bible' of techniques and advice. For a beginner or novice dressmaker it's invaluable - masses of pointers, instructions and advice on everything from which fabrics to choose to how to sew zips and construct a shirt cuff. There's a lot here for the more advanced dressmaker as well, covering more difficult or specialist techniques and also simple pattern adaptation. The ring-bound format is perfect, allowing it to lie open on my sewing table as I work. Certainly recommended for anyone looking for a basic all-purpose manual for a range of sewing projects.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 15 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Does what it says on the tin
Bought this as a gift for my Sister and she is delighted with it. She's an experienced sewer but has gaps in knowledge and really appreciates the variety and depth of information.
Published 4 days ago by LMB
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ideal birthday gift
purchased for my daughter-in-law's birthday. She's been sewing, mainly crafts for about a year, and recently shown an interest in making clothing so I thought this would be ideal.
Published 7 days ago by thecat
4.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive and clear
Lots of detailed instructions on techniques I never knew I needed for all kinds of garments, both formal and casual.
Published 12 days ago by Elaine Gallaher
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent product, ideal, just what I needed
worth 5 stars, excellent value, thoroughly recommend it, have other manuals on dressmaking. This is by far the best!
So easy to use and understand.
So easy to use and understand.
Published 16 days ago by Mrs. Janice Uren
4.0 out of 5 stars
usful book to have in sewing room
not used this book very much as yet, but feel quite confident it is there, as i find the instructions very clear.
Published 16 days ago by janet
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent tips
Hi,
This book is excellent, its full of lots of information and helpful tips, It was bought at the same time as a new sewing machine for for my wife [who is a very... Read more
This book is excellent, its full of lots of information and helpful tips, It was bought at the same time as a new sewing machine for for my wife [who is a very... Read more
Published 24 days ago by Mike Price
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
All you need to know. Great instructional book that is essential for all dressmakers. Nice compact book that is easy to carry around.
Published 1 month ago by Kathryn Smith
3.0 out of 5 stars
dressmaking book
informative, but did not learn anything new, ideal for novice dressmakers, good clear instructions and diagrams, a handy book to have
Published 1 month ago by valerie else
3.0 out of 5 stars
disappointing
I was rather disappointed with this - I had bought it because I wanted to know how to adapt commercial patterns and the information given was inadequate. Read more
Published 1 month ago by jk
5.0 out of 5 stars
so glad i bought this.
I am a man of passion for Art. I am studying Interior Design but I also do Photography and Fine Art. Recently I have been very interested in fashion and fashion designing. Read more
Published 1 month ago by thura
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
