The Book of Home Sewing

The Book of Home Sewing is a quick-and-easy reference guide to all the home-dressmaking and sewing skills you are ever likely to need. Suitable for both complete beginners and for more experienced stitchers looking for a refresher course, it covers everything from basic stitching to assembling garments and making your own patterns. The Home Dressmaking section takes you step by step through making the different parts of a garment - sleeves and sleeveheads, cuffs and collars, waistbands, hems, pockets, fastenings, and linings. It also demonstrates some ingenious ways of altering and remodeling existing garments for a better fit, or to give them a longer life. The Soft Furnishings section demonstrates how to make bed linen, curtains and blinds, table linen, cushions, and slipcovers. Clear diagrams show you how to work out how much fabric you will need, and there are lots of ideas for decorative trimmings to allow you to personalize your sewing projects. The final section of the book tells you how to keep your clothes and furnishings looking good - from laundering (including stain removal) to general repairs. Useful tips are included throughout the book to show you simple shortcuts and ways of achieving a professional-looking finish. A comprehensive cross-referencing system enables you to access every technique with ease.