Singer: The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing

I really didn't need another sewing book. I sew on old Singer sewing machines and have vintage sewing books to match the years of my various machines. What I did want was a good up to date book for a kindle that is much easier to tot around then a big bulky book. I also needed a book that would refresh my memory during my sewing season, Halloween to spring which this book definitely does. After struggling with some sewing I had some oh yeah moments reading this book. Not sure if I would call this a beginning sewing book but I think once a person starts sewing it will all make sense. Has nice sections on using a surger, sewing with patterns and appreciate types of seams sewing various types of material.

I bought this item and bundled it with a Singer Sew Essentials Storage System and craft utility bag for my niece who is starting to take sewing lessons and who was given my mother's old Singer sewing machine. I bought this book because of the great reviews and because of how good it is for beginner sewers as well as a guide for those who already know how to sew. The book was very comprehensive, and I liked that it had additional photos as well as updated information when compared to the previous edition of this book. My niece loved the book. Would recommend this book to both beginners as well as those who already know how to sew.

I wasn’t expecting ”TheCompletePhoto Guide to Sewing” until the end of November, however I was pleasantly surprised yesterday evening arriving home from work to find it at my door step. Rating the book: Mint condition, something I didn’t expect because I got such a great deal. Love an instruction book with good, but brief detail. I love the beautiful detailed pictures that you can look at and pretty much learn from there if you are in a hurry. The book is an “excellent” sewing teacher. I’ve been sewing for many years and very much love this book.

I'm a self-taught/mom-taught sewist. The problem is that what I learned from Mom (no offense Mom) was one-off information about what I was sewing at the time. Thanks to the Internet you can find all this information online but often only when you already know what you are looking for. This is what I'd expect to be required reading for a sewing class where you read the basics then do it in class on a project designed to accommodate the techniques you've learned. The first night I got it and flipped through to find lots of new information I didn't know, some things I knew already and a handful of stuff I'll probably never need. I'm still quite glad to have this to reference when trying to wing a project an needing some technical advice! The photos feel very dated but the techniques have stood the test of time so there's no real complaining to do there! Note: The book does not lay flat easily. Wish it did.

I must say when I purchased this book, it was not expecting it to be this in depth. I really must say what a nice book. It covers everything you will ever need to know about sewing, it covers absolutely everything from tension to needles, thread length and width timing of your sewing machine with such amazing pictures. It’s well laid out very easy to understand and I would definitely recommend this to any sewer

I recently brought my mother's sewing machine out of retirement, a 1956 Singer "Slant-o-matic" 401A model. After watching many you tube videos, I became fascinated with learning its various functions and how to use its special accessories. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a one-source location for the essential information or knowledge needed to establish a foundation for proper use of the machine, i.e. size needle for various types of fabric, proper machine settings to work with needle and fabric, etc. Nothing explains like a photograph, and this book shows one how to sew clothes and home designs, which tools are needed, how to use them, the details of different threads, everything a beginner needs to know.

I sewed a windsock in junior high "Home Economics" class. That was at least 25 years ago. So, when I found a sudden interest in learning to use a sewing machine, I wanted a book that was essentially "Sewing 101" for absolute beginners, starting from scratch. While this very pretty and well-reviewed book proclaims itself to be "All You Need to Know to Sew" and "The Essential Reference for Novice and Expert Sewers," I would not recommend it for the true novice. There is no discussion or glossary of basic sewing terms, so if you don't even know what a bobbin is, what hemming is, what it means if a hem is blindstitched or an edge is overcast, expect to be a bit lost from the get-go; it is taken for granted that you already know all of these terms. Some of these concepts become clearer in later pages, so perhaps my gripe is with the order of information presented (for example, I had to wait until page 44 for an explanation of "woven" versus "knit" fabrics, despite earlier pages recommending certain stitches and machine settings depending on which type of fabric you intend to use). The basic mechanics of a sewing machine (i.e. How does it work?!) are never discussed. The book glosses over sewing machine selection in less than half a page, then spends eight pages explaining the serger, a specialized machine that does not even factor into the beginning sewer's journey. Yes, I know the internet exists. Yes, I know all of this information could be gleaned from watching YouTube videos. But I wanted a book--a comprehensive book--and this one sounded perfect. As a true novice, though, I found this book to be a frustrating way to start.

I have technically been sewing for 20 years... With a 15 year break. There are so many tips in this book that I remember my Mom going over with me when I was 10, but now that I'm 30, I just didn't remember. I originally checked this book out of our local library on a whim. I didn't know what all was in it, but that maybe it would have some advice on something I hadn't seen before. Well, it actually did have stuff I needed right then and there. I was making a suit jacket for my husband's halloween costume and while I normally have no problem following the pattern directions, for some reason, this wasn't working for me. I glanced through this book and it had a whole section on tailoring! Honestly, the first time through the book, it took maybe 2 hours to take in everything. Most of it, I didn't need at the time, but I could see the uses for it. As soon as I got home, I decided to order the book for myself and take the library copy back. I have used it once and I will use it again, I am sure quite soon. It also goes through a few of the seewing tools that experienced sewers may be used to, but my Mom never had. There are some that make life a bit easier that I didn't know about, like the sewer's ham for ironing.

I purchased this as a gift to a friend new to sewing. It looks fabulous. It has wonderful big, clear photos to go along with the text making it very easy to understand. I like it so much I’m going to buy another one for my own library. Highly recommend!

What a wonderfull book for somebody like me who has an slight inkling how things has to be donne,but when it comes to practice there is only a black hole and panick sets in. this book caters for everybody, the beginner, (I would call it " the seamstress bible")the advanced and the expert could find invaluable advice. The photos are showing very clear how to proceed. and there is simply everything what you have to know about sewing and tailoring. from what has to be in your sewing box over drawing a patron to homesewing garments and there are also lots of projects. the only minus point is rather technical, this book is made of very havy qality paper and only a paperback. i dont know how it will stand the longterm use. it would have been so much better if it was hard cover other better spiral bound, so much easier to keep by ones sewing machine.

Topics resources good

Very good guide for beginners with clear photos and designs

El libro esta bien (sobre todo la parte de hogar), trae un monton de cosas pero en los procesos constructivos se agradecerian mas fotos intermedias. Las fotos las podian haber actualizado un poco. Si tuviera que volver a comprarlo no lo haria y cogeria el de Beth Baumgartel, de precio similar a este, con los mismos contenidos (si lo coges en ingles viene con un DVD) y con opcion a cogerlo en castellano.