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Book Review: Sew Step by Step

February 4, 2011 By A Spoonful of Sugar - 1 Comment

We recently received a review copy of Sew Step by Step by Alison Smith from Penguin and its arrival was perfectly timed. Sarah had her first lesson in Textiles at school this week and will be making a number of projects over the term. She will be learning how to attach a zip; make buttonholes; and a number of other techniques. I am so excited that she will be building on her basic skills and starting to make garments. This book will be an excellent resource for her as it covers all the basic techniques needed to make clothing, soft furnishings and more.

If you are after projects, this book is not for you. It is more of an encyclopedia of techniques that covers all the basics such as: how to master seams, hems, edges; how to attach fasteners such as buttons and zips; how to add shape to your clothes with gathers, darts, and pleats. You can get a peak inside the book here.

What I love most about the book is that all the techniques are photographed step by step to guide you through the process. It is the sort of book that will give you the confidence to try new techniques and will be referred to again and again.

It is published by Penguin (RRP $29.95). It is also available from the Book Depository.

Do you have a favourite sewing resource?

Filed Under: Sewing Tagged With: book review

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Comments

  1. Terriaw says

    February 5, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    Looks like a great book to have as reference on my shelves! Thanks for the tip.

    Reply

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Scrappy Mini Stocking 🎄 These sweet little stocki Scrappy Mini Stocking 🎄
These sweet little stockings are one of my favourite quick Christmas makes — just the right size for lip balm, chocolates, sewing notions, or tiny treats. They’re beginner‑friendly, scrap‑happy, and perfect for festive table settings, teacher gifts, or adding a handmade touch to your holiday decorating.I used the Tilda Merry Little Christmas fabric for a nostalgic, Scandi‑inspired vibe — such a joy to sew with.Fabric credit: Tilda Merry Little Christmas, with thanks to @tilda_australia ✨💬 Comment STOCKING and I’ll send you the pattern link.Pattern Details: Scrappy Mini Stocking Pattern - available in my Pattern Store and Etsy Shop.Let’s make this season handmade and heartfelt 💕#scrappysewing #ministocking #christmassewing #handmadeholiday #scrapfriendlysewing  
A little collection of Tiny Totes in some of my fa A little collection of Tiny Totes in some of my favourite fabrics — Tilda, Ruby Star Society, printed linen, Christmas prints, and Japanese florals. They’re quick to sew, scrap‑friendly, and endlessly useful for pencils, makeup, sewing notions, sunglasses, gifting, and more.Save this carousel for your next sewing session ✨ Comment TINY for the pattern link.Pattern Details: Tiny Tote — beginner‑friendly, fully lined, and perfect for small cuts of fabric. Available in my Pattern Store and Etsy Shop.#tinytote #sewingfun #sewingcommunity #handmadegifts #scrapfriendlysewing
A sweet and super‑useful Tiny Tote made in the new A sweet and super‑useful Tiny Tote made in the new Tilda Village Life collection — perfect as a pencil case, makeup bag, or a little sewing kit. I’ve loved stitching with these charming prints.Village Life releases 1 October — with thanks to @tilda_australia for the beautiful fabric.The Tiny Tote pattern is available in my Pattern Store.
Comment TINY for a link to the pattern.Save this for when you need a sweet handmade gift.#tildavillagelife
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Sew the sweetest little Halloween Treat Pouch — pe Sew the sweetest little Halloween Treat Pouch — perfect for mini chocolates, candy, gift cards, and spooky surprises.It’s quick to sew, scrap‑friendly, and a fun way to use your favourite Halloween fabrics.Mini Treat Pouch Sewing Pattern is available in my Pattern Store + Etsy Shop.Comment TREAT for a link to the pattern.#halloweensewing #treatpouch #scrapfriendlysewing #minisewingproject
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Pretty Little Details — Part 1: Hardware Highlight Pretty Little Details — Part 1: Hardware Highlights ✨ Sometimes it’s the smallest touches that make a handmade project feel extra special. Zipper charms, cord locks, leather tabs, beads, snaps… these tiny upgrades add personality, polish, and a little “designer” moment to your pouches and bags.I’ve gathered ten of my favourite hardware details and shared how I use them in my projects. Save this carousel for the next time you want to elevate your makes — it’s full of simple ideas you can add to almost any pattern.More Pretty Little Details coming soon. I hope this series inspires you to play with the little things that make handmade feel magical ✨
Bright fabrics, tiny pouches, and the cutest littl Bright fabrics, tiny pouches, and the cutest little closure hack ✨ Instead of hunting for narrow elastic cord, I use colourful hair ties — they’re sturdy, stretchy, and perfect for sewing into button‑loop closures on the Mini Treat Pouch. Such a simple trick, and it works
beautifully with bold prints like these Ruby Star Society favourites.This beginner‑friendly pattern includes full‑size templates and step‑by‑step photos, so you can sew a sweet little gift in no time.🪡 Comment TREAT for the pattern link
🛍️ Also available in our Pattern Store + Etsy Shop (links in bio)What sewing shortcut do you swear by? I love a clever hack that makes handmade gifts even sweeter ✂️#MiniTreatPouch #SewingHack #ScrapFriendlySewing #ModernSewingPatterns
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