Over the last several years, collecting some helpful sewing books has saved my sanity (and my projects) over and over again. Not only are sewing books great for gaining fresh inspiration and ideas, but they are also helpful for technical help and to get some valuable tips and tricks that will help you become an even better sewist.
Below, I have compiled 11 sewing books that are sitting in my Amazon shopping cart right now. You can shop my cart by clicking any image or title below to see more information.
Enjoy!
The Sewing Book
Not Your Grandmas Sewing Guide
“Learn the how, where, when, and ‘What the f**k?!’ of sewing basic garments. This is not sewing like grandma used to do. Grab a bottle of wine and get ready to cut corners and curse your way through this beginner’s guide to stitchery.
You’ll find the basics of using a sewing machine, insight into patterns and pattern-making, and all of the easiest odds and ends to include in your own garment creations. This guide provides concise, step-by-step instructions to help you conquer your creativity without the Xanax and crying in the corner. Time-saving tips and where to skip the fuss make this a great guide for people with a wide range of f***s to give.”
Sewing Happiness
“Twenty simple sewing projects are tied together with a thread of memoir that tells the story of how sewing brought Sanae Ishida profound happiness. Each seasonal project, specially designed to promote health, creativity, relationships and more, provides gentle inspiration to live your best life.
When Ishida was diagnosed with a chronic illness and lost her corporate job, she thought her life was over. But these challenges ended up being the best thing that ever happened to her because they forced her to take stock of her life and focus on the important things, and enabled her to rediscover sewing–her true passion.
Inspired to succeed at just one thing, Ishida vowed to sew all of her daughter’s clothes (and most of her own) for one year. Sewing Happiness includes 20 projects plus variations (including Japanese-inspired home goods and children’s and women’s clothing) organized by season, and stitched together with Ishida’s charming personal story.”
Make Yourself At Home
“Part self-help, part memoir, part décor inspiration, fans of Moorea Seal will love this book for its warm voice and candid exploration of what it means to create a comfortable home. Organized room by room, each chapter delves into what each room represents in our lives, and how we can feel at home in our spaces and at home in ourselves.
What you won’t find? Strict design solutions. This isn’t about a prescribed style. Instead, Make Yourself at Home will help you find which expression feels most authentic to you through color palates, interior design modes, conversation prompts, essays, approachable DIY projects and more. You don’t have to have the perfect life or perfect home in order to infuse your space with your signature spark and feel relaxed in your space. “
Sewing To Sell
“You love to sew. Don’t you wish you could make a living from your sewing? You can, with the help of this practical guide from professional sewist and pattern designer Virginia Lindsay. Everything you need to know to start sewing for profit is here, from finding your personal sewing style to creating a product line, identifying customers, equipping your studio, pricing and selling your work, marketing yourself, designing your own patterns, and handling the business and legal side of sewing. And that’s not all! You also get 16 projects that you can start sewing and selling right now.”
A Year Of Cozy
“From the author of the popular blog, A Cozy Kitchen, comes a beautifully photographed one-stop-shop book with all the recipes and projects you’ll need for some cozy inspiration this holiday season—and all year long. You’ll love Adrianna Adarme’s easy-to-follow instructions and will enjoy getting lost in her warm and comforting photographs. Organized by the months of the year and by categories as “Live,” “Do,” and “Make, ” this book offers ideas for activities, recipes, and DIY projects that make the little moments in life just as exciting as the big. Adarme gives us special (but totally doable) things we can do for others and ourselves. From quick recipes to easy crafts, she focuses on simple, inexpensive undertakings that have a big reward: happiness. The Year of Cozy will surely inspire you to march into your kitchen and craft closet to make something you can truly be proud of.”
School Of Sewing
“School of Sewing allows you to follow in the footsteps of a group of beginners who shared one goal- to learn to use their sewing machines. This book is an engaging, detailed lesson plan designed to guide you along that same journey, whether you are learning alone or as a group. It begins with easy-to-follow instructions for how to use a sewing machine and advice on buying fabric and tools and then progresses through 12 projects- one three-hour lesson a month, perfect for friends to learn together. Your own School of Sewing will be proud to show off or to gift these trendy projects, which include a pillowcase, zippered pouch, tote bag and patchwork quilt, each with optional details for “extra credit.”
Happy Homemade
“Are you a DIY sewer, with a passion for Japanese style? Look no further, Happy Homemade: Sew Chicis the Japanese Sewing book you’ve been waiting for—all new timeless and straightforward creations of Yoshiko Tsukiori, acclaimed Japanese fashion designer and author of The Stylish Dress Book, now available in English in the United States. Happy Homemade: Sew Chic features 20 flexible sewing patterns that boast authentic Japanese style created simply—by you. Sew-your-own pants, tops, dresses and skirts will add that sought-after Japanese flair to your wardrobe.
Simple lines make these garments perfect for women of all ages and all sizes. This book includes a complete western-sized sewing pattern for each design that is easily adjusted to fit your body form. The understandable, concise diagrams and simple instructions allow you to create a unique style with ease and confidence.
Perfect Party Dresses
“The easy to follow instructions for 12 glorious smocked dresses and 3 petticoats include more than 180 step-by-step photographs, full color smocking graphs, detailed construction diagrams, and multi-size liftout patterns.
Learn how to expertly tie a perfect sash bow, and discover helpful hints and tips for finishing touches and care of smocked and embroidered garments.”
The DressMaker’s Handbook of Couture Sewing Techniques
“Fashion designer and expert sewist Lynda Maynard tackles each professional technique with clear instructions in simple step-by-step sewing books. Once these skills are understood, sewists will embrace their dressmaking projects with more confidence and the ability to create chic, refined looks. The Dressmaker’s Handbook of Couture Sewing Techniques unlocks the door to stunning results with better shaping, simpler construction methods, and professional finishing touches. Lynda also explains several seemingly difficult “secrets,” from making bindings and finishing for hems, armholes, and necklines to underpinnings and structuring techniques. Plus, she teaches how to master finishing touches from textured stitches to couching and applique. A complete guide to the fabrics suited to each technique and inspirational fashion photography are also included.”
Breaking The Pattern
“Taking you beyond the patterns featured in this sewing books, Breaking the Pattern will inspire you to not only build on your sewing repertoire but to grow in confidence with your own sewing. Patterns come in a range of sizes from US sizes 4 to 16, with concise information of measuring yourself and finding the perfect fit. Full size pattern sheets are included in this neat package, perfect for the contemporary dressmaker.”
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