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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
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From: SmilieFace
Date: 01-09-2007, 12:59 AM (1 of 15)
| I'm new to sewing, and in my projects so far (2), I've found that bad instructions can make my sewing a nightmare. I'm wondering which brands (eg: Simplicity, Vogue, etc.) have the best instructions. Thanks! |
User: SmilieFace
Member since: 01-07-2007 Total posts: 11 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 01-09-2007, 06:29 AM (2 of 15)
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I love Kwik Sew - especially the books which come with a range of patterns in them - theres a baby one, a toddler one, a kids one, a lady's one (called Kwik Sew the Easy Way), and a lingerie one. They cost more than a single pattern but you get several items in all sizes with foolproof instructions. Good way to learn the basics.
Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-09-2007, 08:09 AM (3 of 15)
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I think all the big pattern companies also have books that explain the techniques they use in more detail. That might help you understand the patterns better and give you more options for doing things. And there is always Pam on here. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 01-09-2007, 09:29 PM (4 of 15)
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none have really great instructions... except maybe Kwik Sew, A lot use vague terms or are quite sparse (Jalie, Burda) a good general book to explain techniques can help a bunch, Simplicity makes one and I like Power Sewing by Sandra Betzina too.
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: Sancin
Date: 01-09-2007, 11:48 PM (5 of 15)
Like others, I agree a book is probably most helpful. I also like Sandra's Powersewing, but don't count on it to clarify instructions on pattern instructions as she does have a different way of sewing - powerful and fast. Many books do not use the same vocabulary or pictures that pattern companies do. You need to look at what you need to do and find the best instructions. ....... and then ask our Pam who writes the clearest instructions 
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: SmilieFace
Date: 01-10-2007, 07:49 AM (6 of 15)
| Thanks for the tips, and the quick response! Are there any books you recommend? |
User: SmilieFace
Member since: 01-07-2007 Total posts: 11 |
From: Sancin
Date: 01-10-2007, 03:57 PM (7 of 15)
There was a discussion and lots of suggestions on this not long ago. I am not sure how to find previous discussions, but Andrea seems to find most anything so maybe she will check this out. 
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 01-10-2007, 10:12 PM (8 of 15)
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haha, I am a bit of a hunter-downer. now what did you want me to hunt down?? OK, my thoughts-- When I was very new at this, I'd gripe that the instructions were wrong, and boy they make a lot of mistakes, don't they? (Haha, this tells you something else about my personality, huh?) Nowadays, I find errors infrequently...ehem...err, Anyway, being a do-it-myselfer, I learned many techniques by going from basic patterns and moving gradually to more complex ones, building on my skills each time. What I learned is that the pattern companies do give the techniques, but they don't tell you _every_step along the way. They assume that you have a certain knowledge base, for better or for worse. For ex, they rarely tell you what to press and what the goal is, and which part exactly to clip and why. If you adhere strictly to the instructions like you would a challenging recipe, you will miss some important steps. It's like one of those sets of secrets that you have to join the club to get the secret password. There's one pattern series that does spell a lot more out: Simplicity's Sewing Patterns for Dummies. They have a book too, and they tend to spell it all out. It's not a bad way to get the basics that some of us were lucky enough to learn while playing at our mothers' heels, just by being in the environment. I'd go that route, and see if it gets you over a hump so you can get to enjoying the process of more varied projects sooner. Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: mommydionne
Date: 01-23-2007, 06:20 PM (9 of 15)
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Simplicities Simply the Best Sewing Book is really good for the beginner, it explains patterns and techniques etc really well for a Newbie  , we all have to start somewhere! I gave my newer copy away to a girl I knew who wanted to learn how to sew, I still have my mom's old copy from the 60's when she took sewing in high school
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838
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From: lsoutherla
Date: 01-23-2007, 10:15 PM (10 of 15)
| I totally agree with Sinplicity's Simply the Best book! I have mine from high school (we won't go into why I still have it). It is a good one for beginners. |
User: lsoutherla
Member since: 05-04-2006 Total posts: 72 |
From: IsabelleB
Date: 01-24-2007, 10:09 AM (11 of 15)
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I love New Look, they're exactly the style I'm after, and they're cheap, too. (well, most of the time). I do ind their instructions helpful, but like the others said, you do need to have a manual to make sure of the basics.
Isabelle
Sewing blog: Kitty Couture |
User: IsabelleB
Member since: 10-25-2006 Total posts: 265 |
From: MaryW
Date: 01-24-2007, 05:07 PM (12 of 15)
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I have changed my mind about the Loes Hinse patterns. I love her style, but the methods are NOT the best. I now end up changing things to add stability and some quality.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Sancin
Date: 01-25-2007, 12:57 AM (13 of 15)
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Thanks for the tips, and the quick response! Are there any books you recommend? Check these discussions out. http://swn-archive.sew-whats-up.com/t-20129.html&highlight=sewing+reference+books http://swn-archive.sew-whats-up.com/t-17769.html&highlight=sewing+reference+books http://swn-archive.sew-whats-up.com/t-17170.html&highlight=sewing+reference+books *~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895
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From: SmilieFace
Date: 01-25-2007, 07:39 PM (14 of 15)
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Thanks for the links. I went to the bookstore, and couldn't find the Simplicity book. Instead I found Sewing for Dummies. Do you think this will be useful? |
User: SmilieFace
Member since: 01-07-2007 Total posts: 11 |
From: melaniestenius
Date: 03-16-2007, 03:36 PM (15 of 15)
| I am new to sewing and I wanted to get books on how to's. I found The Complete Idiots Guide to Sewingand Sewing for Dummies helpful. I also have one from Vogue but I thought that it was a little advanced because the author assumes that you know some things already. |
User: melaniestenius
Member since: 03-15-2007 Total posts: 6 |
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