Featured Embroidery, Quilting, Sewing Books

This quintessential guide to patternmaking offers comprehensive coverage, clear illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions, providing users with all the relevant information necessary to create design patterns with accuracy regardless of their complexity.

Includes three ready-to-use patterns

Reinvent Sewing for the Twenty-first Century!

“Where did you get your skirt?”

Ever want to create your own designer-look fashions? Develop unique accessories or home decor? Even if you’ve never held a needle or used a sewing machine, this book is all you need. With three simple patterns and easy-to-follow instructions, you can put your own stamp on fashion and step out in style-yours!

You’ll learn:

– Tips and techniques from a fashion industry insider

– How to use your sewing machine to express your creativity

– How to custom-fit commercial patterns for that sexy look

– All about the latest fabrics and the best ways to use them

Plus a glossary of sewing terms makes quick reference easy.

• The essential addition to every sewer’s bookshelf
• Packed with time-saving tips and techniques
• Designed for quick and easy reference at every stage of sewing
• Streamlined conventional sewing methods
• New developments in both conventional sewing machines and sergers
• Patternless projects that complement the fashion attitudes of the 21st century
• Updated tips and product information that reflect recent offerings in the marketplace
• Serger sewing methods presented side-by-side with their conventional counterparts so you can choose the techniques that best suit your project and your sewing style
• “Sewing on Special Fabrics” – With these tips and techniques in hand, stripes, plaids, satins, velvets, denims and more are transformed into sewer-friendly fabrics.
• “Simply the Best Patternless Projects” – In addition to updating the original fashion wardrobe, new projects make kids’ clothes an important part of this section, too.

Book Description:

For those who have mastered the basics and want a challenge, Serger Secrets provides instructions for adding more than 50 techniques to the sewers arsenal. Complete with troubleshooting tips and dozens of inspiring photographs of completed garments, Serger Secrets is guaranteed to bring out the creativity in any designer.

From the Back Cover:

Testing the stitch width:

1. Cut two pieces of fabric measuring 3X12 inches (7.5x30cm). Divide one piece of fabric into thirds, and place it on top of the other. Number each third to correspond with the numbers on the cutting dial. Set your machine for a 2.5mm stitch length, 1.5-2mm stitch width, and a balanced 4-thread stitch.
2. Adjust the cutting width to 1mm, and stitch through both layers of fabric until you reach the first line. Turn the cutting width dial to 2mm, and stitch to the next line. Turn the dial to 3mm, and stitch to the next line. Turn the dial to 3mm and serge off the fabric.
3. Look for the best section of stitching on the fabric. If the stitch needs more or less fabric to create a good seam, then fine-tune both looper tensions so that you end up with a well-balanced seam.

Testing the stitch length:

1. Cut two pices of fabric measuring 3X12 inches (7.5X30cm). Divide one piece of fabric into quarters, and place it on top of the other. Number each section. Set your machine for a 1mm stitch length, 1.5 to 2mm cutting width, and a balanced 4-thread stitch.
2. Serge to the first line. Change to a 2mm stitch length and stitch to the next line. Continue until you have serged off the fabric.
3. Examine your sample, and review the fabric and stitch adjustments required for your project. If the cutting width is adequate, then you need to fine-tune the looper tensions.

Embroidery machines are the hottest trend in home sewing, with over 400,000 machines in use. The possibilities are endless when it comes to embellishing everything from kids’ wear to table linens. This guide provides essential information that goes beyond the basic instruction manual for owners of a home embroidery machine or combination sewing-embroidery machine.

Taking the guesswork out of using a home embroidery machine, this book covers the entire embroidery process from choosing designs, threads, stabilizers and needles to hooping, design placement and stitching techniques. Simple projects are made easy with step-by-step instructions, allowing readers to experiment with their new skills and embroidery techniques. A handy troubleshooting section helps solve problems along the way.

Includes a bonus CD featuring 6 exclusive embroidery designs digitized by award-winning Lindee Goodall, owner of Cactus Punch?.