The Little Book of Sewing
1st Edition
Published on 4. April 2019
224 pages
978-1-78854-669-0 (ISBN)
Description
'An ideal present for a stitching or sewing friend' CROSS STITCHER.
'Fabulous' PRIMA.
Looking for inner calm this year? The Little Book of Sewing is your pocket-sized guide to creating your own zen with nothing more than a needle and thread.
This little book is packed with essays, anecdotes, quotes, how-to guides and practical tips and contains all you need to channel your creative energy and start sewing today. It will show you how to: sew yourself calm, thread a needle, sew a gift, turn your passion into fashion and much more!
'I was delighted with this charming, thoughtful book, filled with inspiration, motivation and helpful tips for beginners and experienced sewists alike' HEATHER LEWENZA, CLOSET CASE PATTERNS.
'Reading Karen's book is like getting a pep talk from a friend. Yes, you can sew!' TILLY AND THE BUTTONS.
'Fabulous' PRIMA.
Looking for inner calm this year? The Little Book of Sewing is your pocket-sized guide to creating your own zen with nothing more than a needle and thread.
This little book is packed with essays, anecdotes, quotes, how-to guides and practical tips and contains all you need to channel your creative energy and start sewing today. It will show you how to: sew yourself calm, thread a needle, sew a gift, turn your passion into fashion and much more!
'I was delighted with this charming, thoughtful book, filled with inspiration, motivation and helpful tips for beginners and experienced sewists alike' HEATHER LEWENZA, CLOSET CASE PATTERNS.
'Reading Karen's book is like getting a pep talk from a friend. Yes, you can sew!' TILLY AND THE BUTTONS.
Reviews / Votes
Karen Ball has long been a welcome voice in all things sewing, and I was delighted with this charming, thoughtful book, filled with inspiration, motivation and helpful tips for beginners and experienced sewists alike. Sewing is so much more than just a hobby, and this little book is filled with big wisdom Reading Karen's book is like getting a pep talk from a friend. Yes, you can sew! * Tilly and the Buttons * A hug in a book! * The Foldline * Let your needle and thread give you a whole new sense of calm with this fabulous new book * Prima * It's packed with anecdotes, how-tos and tips, covering everything from mental health to the way sewing makes you feel great about yourself Delightful little book composed of essays, anecdotes, quotes, how-to-guides and practical tips. It makes an ideal present for a stitching or sewing friend, or perfect bedtime reading to get you in the mood for your next project! * Cross Stitcher *More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Head of Zeus
ISBN-13
978-1-78854-669-0 (9781788546690)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Karen Ball writes at Did You Make That, an international and award-shortlisted sewing blog that has been featured in the Guardian, The Bookseller, Sewing World, Love Sewing and Sew magazines. www.didyoumakethat.com
Karen has more than 25 years' experience in publishing and is author of over 20 children's books. She runs the publishing consultancy, Speckled Pen, and was nominated as a Bookseller Rising Star 2017.
Karen has more than 25 years' experience in publishing and is author of over 20 children's books. She runs the publishing consultancy, Speckled Pen, and was nominated as a Bookseller Rising Star 2017.
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Contents
- Introduction
- CHAPTER 1: ASPIRATION
- CAN ANYONE SEW?
- Baby steps
- Failure is necessary
- The joy is in the doing
- HOW TO CHOOSE THREAD
- Types of thread
- Matching thread to fabric
- Threads on show
- A final word on threads
- WHAT IS A SEWING PATTERN?
- Look inside your wardrobe
- Take inspiration from fabric
- See beyond the pattern sketches
- Read online reviews
- HOW TO THREAD A NEEDLE
- Length of thread
- Divide the work
- Thread heaven
- Good light
- Snipping
- YOUR FIRST NEEDLE CASE
- My top hand sewing needles
- SETTING GOALS
- Write down your aspirations
- Write down your goals
- HOW TO KNOT A THREAD
- NEW AND FEARLESS
- Don't worry about waste
- Ignore your inner critic
- Don't apologize
- TIPS FOR IMPROVEMENT
- Cut accurately
- Pay attention
- Grade seams
- Press your seams
- Don't rush
- CHAPTER 2: SELF-LOVE
- HOW TO CHOOSE A SEWING MACHINE
- Try on for size
- Source a freebie
- Sewing schools
- Sewing machine specialists
- Stay in budget
- Does brand matter?
- EMBRACING CREATIVITY
- DEALING WITH ANXIETY
- ESSENTIAL SEWING TOOLS
- Pinking scissors
- Pins and pincushion
- Measuring tape
- Iron and ironing board
- Marking tools
- JUGGLING SEWING AND LIFE
- The 15-minute rule
- Just say no
- Recognize your best and worst times
- Sew together
- Don't beat yourself up
- A SPACE OF YOUR OWN
- Don't Look Over The Garden Fence
- PODCASTS TO PIN TO
- A Stitcher's Brew
- Love To Sew
- While She Naps
- Blogtacular
- In Good Company
- The High Low
- How To Fail Podcast
- CONFIDENT SEWING
- Body measurements
- You made that
- Aspire, then achieve
- Watch yourself improve
- STORING SEWING PATTERNS
- Vintage patterns
- PDF print-outs
- Pattern Companies
- Try to keep tidy
- CHAPTER 3: BODY IMAGE
- YOUR BODY AS A TOOLBOX
- NAKED SEWING
- Mirrors
- Make it aasy on yourself
- Draw the curtains
- Underwear
- Danger, high risk!
- BODY MEASURING TOOLS
- A friend
- Close-fitting layers
- Body measurement table
- Tape measure
- Elastic cord
- Final note
- CHOOSING A PATTERN SIZE
- Pattern company size chart
- Finished measurements
- What is wearing ease?
- Personal taste
- FOOD AND SEWING
- Alcohol
- Greasy foods
- Cotton gloves
- Take a break
- FITTING TECHNIQUES
- Tissue fitting
- How do you tissue fit?
- A toile
- Struggling with fit?
- EVERY BODY'S WONKY
- SEXUALITY AND SEWING
- COMMON FITTING ADJUSTMENTS
- Lengthening or shortening
- Bust adjustment
- Moving dart tips
- YOUR CHANGING BODY
- Adolescence
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Gender reassignment
- CHAPTER 4: MENTAL HEALTH
- SEW YOURSELF CALM
- MINDFUL SEWING
- SEWING FEARS
- Fitting
- Wasting time
- Buttonholes
- Wasting fabric
- The seam ripper
- Tailoring
- HOW TO READ A SEWING PATTERN
- Pattern envelope
- Instruction sheets
- TIDY SEWING, TIDY MIND
- Cutting out
- Notching and tacks
- Fuse your fabric
- Gather your pattern pieces
- Prepare your machine
- Find a natural pause
- Put equipment away
- WRESTLING THE WORM OF SEWING DOUBT
- Step away
- Reach out
- Re-read the instructions
- Choose a manageable task
- Stop sewing
- TEN REASONS WHY SEWING IS GOOD FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
- CHAPTER 5: KINDNESS
- COMMUNICATION
- Emojis are your friend
- Body shape
- The nuance of language
- Follow hashtags
- Finally,
- HOW TO CHOOSE FABRICS
- Machine washable
- A cohesive wardrobe
- What do you already wear?
- Hate ironing?
- Check the pattern envelope
- Solid or print?
- Natural or synthetic?
- A SILVER THIMBLE
- Q&A WITH SEWING FRIENDS
- Does my bum look big?
- Do I need this?
- Shopping splurge?
- Last minute sewing?
- SEWING WHEN IT COUNTS
- House warming
- Baby blankets
- Grief quilts
- Wedding dress
- Sewing toys
- Cancer
- Showing love
- Sewing self-esteem
- SEWING SCISSORS
- Dressmaking shears
- Pinking shears
- Rotary cutter
- Embroidery scissors
- Serrated scissors
- Left-handed scissors
- CUTTING OUT FABRIC
- Right side, wrong side
- Paper press
- Your pressing station
- Laying out the pattern pieces
- Attaching pattern pieces
- Cutting out
- BE KIND TO YOUR FABRIC
- CHAPTER 6: PASSION
- FEELING SEXY
- Underpinnings
- Celebrate shape
- Your sexy
- LOVE YOUR SEWING MACHINE
- Clean after every project
- Oil moving parts
- Change your needle
- A professional service
- SEWING IN BOOKS AND MOVIES
- Books
- Movies
- USE YOUR SEWING TO CHANGE THE WORLD
- How to be a craftivist
- Mastectomy machinists
- The Made Up Initiative
- Slow fashion movement
- Ethical sourcing
- Protest marches
- SEWING MACHINE ACCESSORIES
- Five essential feet
- Five other essentials
- CAREERS IN SEWING
- Hobby or job?
- Do you have savings?
- Business plan?
- Part time?
- Support network?
- Brainstorm!
- Does it need to be now?
- Career Options
- FOR THE LOVE OF SEWING
- Love notes
- Beyond romance
- Hidden messages
- CHAPTER 7: HIGHS AND LOWS
- TEN MOST COMMON SEWING MISTAKES
- 1) Scorching fabric
- 2) Using a blunt needle
- 3) Forcing a machine
- 4) Fitting issues
- 5) Wrong sleeve, wrong armhole
- 6) Tight hand stitching
- 7) Sewing under the influence
- 8) Pocket bags too low
- 9) Button placement
- 10) Wonky topstitching
- HOW TO HANDLE SEWING FRUSTRATION
- Go for a walk
- Know when to schedule
- Accept imperfection
- Find inspiration elsewhere
- Compare to other hobbies
- Take a class
- Invest in high-end fabric
- Keep yourself happy
- ADVICE YOU CAN AFFORD TO IGNORE
- Never sew over pins
- Tailor's chalk
- Press immediately
- Use a press cloth
- Buy the best
- WHAT TO DO WITH FAILED PROJECTS
- Gift it to someone else
- Take it to the charity shop
- Refashion it
- Rename it as a toile!
- REMEMBER.
- RESOURCES: KEEP GOING!
- Online fabric shops
- Sewing pattern companies
- Sewing books I recommend
- Sewing Magazines
- Sewing blogs I enjoy
- THANK YOU
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- About Anima
