Even the best sewists will encounter problems, snags, and little glitches in their work. Expert sewist and author Nicole Vasbinder's Sewing Solutions is an indispensable reference filled with invaluable advice you can trust.
Organized by stages, you'll find:
February 15, 2013
After a decade of teaching sewing, Vasbinder has a good idea of the information that sewists need to create quality garments, and she has assembled some of her best advice into a collection of tips and tricks. Approximately half of the book is devoted to sewing tools--machines, needles, thread, notions, and rulers--and the other half focuses on common sewing and finishing techniques. Most of the tips focus on garment sewing, although many are relevant to home decor sewing or quilting as well. The format includes both step-by-step instructions and brief descriptions, and quick tips are provided, Q&A style, throughout the book. VERDICT Though most relevant and useful to beginners, Vasbinder's book can also serve as a ready reference for experienced sewists who need a refresher on a specific technique.
Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from December 15, 2012
This book is very helpful, even if all the sewing you do is limited to reattaching buttons. San Francisco sewing instructor Vasbinder knows exactly how to set novices at ease while also providing near professionals with a handy reference. After all, sewing machines are an investment, as are the time and care needed to produce good-looking clothing. Two sections and 10 chapters cover the must-know details. One section, Tools and Equipment, includes not only machine purchases but also notions, trims, marking and cutting, and other items. Section 2, Solutions and Tips, is all the rest: fabric, pattern, sewing embellishment, fitting, and finding solutions. The organization is superb: each topic is described in general, then followed up by information on where to get materials described, what every sewer should know, and varietals. Sidebars answer most common queries, such as how often to clean a machine or change a needle. The tips alone supply the kind of information most sewing books don't necessarily includeabout pincushions and why you need them, for example.Well thought out and executed for sewers and aspirational crafters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)