Reviews (4)

Disappointed
I ordered this book because of it's 5-star rating.When it arrived, I found the purses to be more artsy/craftsy where I was expecting something upscale and designer-like.My fault, the cover photos should have given me a clue.Anyway, I was disappointed and ended up returning the book.

Great ideas from simple to intricate
This book had purses for everyone, sewers and non-sewers, old and young, small and large.The purses are hip and the patterns are easy to understand.I already had some of the patterns but they even presented them in a better way with great step-by-step COLOR photos.

Fabulous!
I never bother with reviews, but this book was so wonderful that I couldn't help myself.It was inspiring, full of wonderful, clearly photographed instructions, and left this non-sewer feeling as if I could really pull these off.
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Subjects:  1. Art Needlework    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Fashion    5. Handbags    6. Hobbies/Crafts    7. Needlework - General    8. Dressmaking & tailoring   

Features

• Illustrated

Subjects:  1. Beauty & Grooming - Fashion    2. Body, Human    3. Clothing and dress    4. Fashion    5. Gender Studies    6. Social Science    7. Social aspects    8. Sociology    9. Sociology - Social Theory    10. Art / Design / Textile & Costume    11. Art / Fashion    12. Costume    13. Social & cultural anthropology    14. Social theory   

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Fashion    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Sewing    6. BG-HISTORY - BG-TRUE CRIME    7. Crafts & Hobbies / Sewing    8. Dressmaking & tailoring   

Reviews (13)

This book is a must for sewers
If you want to produce shirts that do not look home-made, you really need this book in your library.I also have the video that goes with it and would highly recommensd that as well.He does make it look very easy!The special feet used, like the felling foot and the rolled hem foot, are not easy to use without practice!The author uses some great techniques that changed my sewing for the better.It's a fantastic book!

A classic for shirt makers
This book should be in your personal library if you create shirts and blouses. It gives a thorough discussion of sewing techniques, fabrics, and fit.

For passionate shirtmakers
This is a great book for people who've wanted to pull apart a commercially made shirt to see how it's made and replicate it. The information is VERY detailed and the author is VERY passionate about shirtmaking andthe various techniques.This is a plus and a minus for the book - to get the best out of the book you really do need to READ the book; there are no quick fix solutions, just fabulous detail.So, if you're looking for a book offering quick, concise information this book is NOT for you. Butif you'repassionate about producing a professionally made garment and enjoy learning detailed techniques buy the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blouses    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Fashion    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Sewing    7. Shirts, Men's    8. Crafts & Hobbies / Sewing    9. Dressmaking & tailoring   

Subjects:  1. Art Needlework    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Fashion    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Needlework - Embroidery    7. Embroidery   

Reviews (38)

Good premise, but needed more
I was excited about this product since It wasn't just T-shirts. Some of the ideas were interesting, but several of them have been done before.
skip it...there are better books out there...
I bought this book, as well as Generation T and Tease all together. This book is the worst of the three. Poor illustrations, no actual photos, poor directions-too much background on beginning sewing techniques, and the projects for the most part are just plain boring.
Very cool sewing
I used a couple of ideas under the pants section. I hemmed my pants keeping the original hems. When the weather got warm, I opened the sides of my jeans to create godets. One day I saw this denim skirt with a vabriant redtriangular fabric in the front...well I took out my book (under SKIRTS) and created my own skirt with an old pair jeans.
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Subjects:  1. Alteration    2. Clothing and dress    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Creativity    6. Fashion    7. General    8. Hobbies/Crafts    9. Remaking    10. Sewing    11. Crafts & Hobbies / General   

Reviews (9)

Well written book but skimped on some sections
I bought this book primarily for its section on passementrie but found a wealth of information on beading, bobbin embroidery and braiding.I noticed though that one of the braid samples, the 3-strand with a chevron pattern did not have illustrated or written instructions, which was disappointing as the traditional 3-strand weave, that we know through girl's pig tails, was documented in the book.Another disappointment was that the passementrie section had no pictures. Granted, Ms. Conlon's goal was to allow the reader to create their own designs but an example for a finished piece would have been helpful.It is a technique that's very hard to find material on and I thought this book would have filled that gap to an extent.Rouleau faggotting was a surprise treat and seems easy to recreate.The overall quality of the book is what I'd expect from Taunton press and worth buying.I just wish there was more 'eye candy'.This book could have easily been 200+ pages without tiring the reader with its lovely examples and well written instructions.

Gorgeous clothes are but a needle and thread away...
and possibly some good trim and beads or pretty buttons.This book is very good, illustrating all techniques with very nice drawings, and showing potential projects for different clothes, also with drawings and some photographs.The book is very comprehensive, covering pretty much anything you would want to do with your clothing.Directions are extremely clear, and she includes material lists, tips, and important things to know (especially if you are a beginning sewer) in separate colored boxes within the text.I found this book quite useful, but I think it might overwhelm someone who didn't have at least a little experience with sewing.

Excellent reference
Exactly what I was looking for.Excellent reference although not really for first time sewers.Gives good detail with pictures.Would have liked to see more styles discussed but there is enough detail to use for any dress style.Definitely an asset to anyone making gowns.Construction detail is very specific.Lots of tips and guides to get that perfect fit. For evening/wedding gowns - a must have book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Applique    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Fashion    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Sewing    7. Crafts & Hobbies / Sewing    8. Needlework & fabric crafts   

Reviews (2)

Betcha can't make just one!
I have made fabric wrapped baskets and sewn them by hand, like rug braiding, in the past but doing them on the machine is awesome.My first one was the oval basket using 2 fat quarters.The bottom is red and stitched in black and the upper area and handles are green, to mimic watermelon.From the left over green I made two mug coasters.I bought a box of tea and placed that in the basket with the coasters and included 2 mugs and gave the whole thing as a gift.The recipient loved them and the basket sits on the counter with her tea bags at the ready.Now I know what to do with all those odd "why did I buy that fat quarter" and any outdated fabrics.What a great way to use up old stash.This is fast becoming my favorite book.I am making the large purse now and want to attempt the covered baskets next.They sure are addicting!
A Craft for the Craft Imparied
I don't ordinarily do crafts, but I was intrigued by the beauty of the finished projects and also the fact that this is a craft that is not just using a pattern created by someone else, but it shows one how to add one's own individuality to each project.The book is well written with easy to follow instructions.I would recommend it if you're looking for a way to create something that relects you.These bowls and baskets, and purses would make cherished gifts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts And Crafts    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Decorating    5. Fashion    6. Hobbies/Crafts    7. Needlework - General    8. Sewing    9. Needlework & fabric crafts   

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Decorating - General    3. Fashion    4. Material Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Technology & Industrial Arts    7. Textile Fabrics    8. Textile fibers    9. Textile industry    10. Textiles & Polymers    11. Art / Design / General    12. Fashion design    13. Industrial chemistry    14. Personal appearance & beauty care   

Reviews (5)

Well..
This book is really nice if you don't have a lot of money and skill to handmake the costumes yourself. Doesn't really give a lot of inspiration to costume designers though.

It need color pictures so badly!
If you think this book would be a good inspiring source for your Halloween costume or for your kids' school show, think again. A Great Book For The Beginning Costumer
I had my doubts at first when the author said she could assemble a costume with just glue,some seam ripping and little to no sewing. ThenI saw the costumes. Wow! I just wish the pics were IN COLOR(hint,hint) so I could fully appreciate them. Now were's my glue gun?;-) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Clothing and dress    2. Costume    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Design - Textile & Costume    5. Fashion    6. Hobbies/Crafts    7. Performing Arts    8. Remaking    9. Theater - Stagecraft    10. Vintage clothing    11. Fashion design    12. Handicrafts    13. Hobbies, Quizzes & Games    14. Personal appearance & beauty care    15. Wardrobe & makeup   

Reviews (17)

Exquisite
The published description doesn't do justice to the projects and materials.Great for the experienced knitter.

Exquisite
This is a wonderful book-nice photography. I can't wait to get started on some of the projects, howerver, I'm having a hard time finding some of the yarns listed.

A Wonderful Book
Exquisite Little Knits is a truly inspiring book, after looking over a copy I had to buy it. The projects are well written, easy to understand and the pictures are very well done. I only wish I had enough time to make more of them. There is a lot of variety, projects for many different interests and skill levels. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Fashion    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Knitting    6. Needlework - Knitting    7. Patterns    8. Crafts & Hobbies / Knitting    9. HOME REFERENCE - HOUSE PLANS TRD PB    10. Needlework & fabric crafts   

Reviews (27)

My Shopping Bible
I bought this book, because I had a baby, haven't lost all the weight yet, and am having a hard time dressing my new body.This book was a Godsend!For one thing, even though it is packed with a ton of useful info, I read it in one day!I was so excited to get all these tips.What I really love is that Sam actually tells you what to buy.That's what I need - directions for shopping.I've been going to the mall wasting time and money buying things that look awful on me.I have a closet FULL of nothing to wear.Sam's book actually gives you a checklist of the essentials you must have to create a wardrobe.And I know now that I really need to embrace my tailor.Most of the clothes on the rack are just not going to fit me perfectly - but I now know that doesn't mean I have to settle for ill-fitting clothes.I just can't stress enough how much this book has helped me.I'm packing away my sweat pants and oversized shirts once and for all!This book is a most for all the women like me who wake up every day with nothing to wear.Whether you are a career woman, stay at home mom, college student, artist - WHATEVER!This book truly is written for EVERY WOMAN.

Loved it
This is a really helpful read as a consultant for a women's line of clothing. I've also given it as gifts.

Not many new ideas or examples
Really not sure why this book received such good reviews, because it had nothing new.Expected from the cover some reviews of outfits worn by different individuals pictured.
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Subjects:  1. Beauty & Grooming - Fashion    2. Beauty, Personal    3. Consumer Health    4. Crafts & Hobbies    5. Crafts / Hobbies    6. Fashion    7. Hobbies/Crafts    8. Women's clothing    9. Health & Fitness / Beauty & Grooming   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (14)

Good book for knitting baby sweaters!
Well use of yarn (Debbie Bliss) to make the final sweater look high quality and attractive on the babies in the photos.
A variety of classic-looking projects
I really admire that this book doesn't try to cram in a "how to knit" chapter in the very beginning.Those hurried instructions never do justice to someone who's never knitted.Therefore, don't buy this book hoping that it will contain a chapter teaching you how to knit, because it doesn't.After two pages devoted to general knitting considerations, the patterns begin.Unlike Debbie Bliss's "Quick baby knits", which features mainly long-sleeved sweaters, this book has a variety of projects including hats, a scarf, blankets, a vest, sweaters (of course), pants, booties, a stuffed toy, three little dresses, and a little bag.Patterns look simple, classic, elegant, not too gaudy, and the skills used include cables, Fair Isle, beads, stripes, and embroidery.My impression of the projects is that they are for an intermediate knitter.Items presented are for newborn-3 year olds, and most can be used for either boys or girls.

Recycled
She does beautiful baby clothes, traditional and delicate. But the pictures are more enchanting than the garments themselves. They are recycled, a habit with her. I love the pictures, but maybe I should frame and hang them instead of try to make them. It seems to me she should stop putting out books with overly similar patterns and fix the issues she's having with her instructions. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's clothing    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Fashion    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Infants' clothing    7. Knitting    8. Needlework - Knitting    9. Patterns    10. Crafts & Hobbies / Knitting   

Reviews (6)

Felted Crochet
Easy to follow instructions.Complete instructions for felting by machine and by hand.I have had the book for 2 weeks and have made 3 items with total success. Thanks for a fine pattern and insturction book.

Variety of crochet projects
I bought this book for mainly one project and then was pleasantly surprised with the variety of projects.Great accessories, baby items, household items etc.NOTE:Unfortunately the one project I was interested in had a whole section of instruction omitted.

incomplete directions
While the projects in the book may be nice and there is a pleasing variety, I was very disappointed when I went to crochet my first project and the instructions were incomplete.The leaf embroidered tassel bags has directions for the front and back but none to be found for the strap. It mentions attaching the straps but no directions on how to make.Also due to a very obvious typo with the project mesurements it is almost impossible to guess the strap instructions. Per the book the strap on the bag before felting is 25" and AFTER feltingwhich should shrink the project the strap grows to 35".
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Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Crocheting    4. Fashion    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Needlework - Crocheting   

Reviews (7)

Worst purse making book ever
I don't know who the folks are who've posted the lavish comments about this book, but at the risk of being witchy I have to wonder if they actually used the patterns and instructions in this book.
Bags With Style and Then Some
I purchased both "Bags With Style" and "Bags and Accessories With Style". I just have to say that the titles are an understatement.They should have been entitled "Bags of Elegance and Sumptuous Opulence", or something along those lines.I knew just by looking at the covers of these books that Ms. Kimura was an incredibly talentedwoman.However, I did not expect to find each and every page exploding with such gorgeous and innovative pieces.I found myself reading (and re-reading) each book cover to cover.I then proceeded to methodically go through the resource list in the back of each book, while online, to determine just what I needed to get to work, creating my own "bags with style"!I look forward to future publications by Ms. Kimura with great anticipation.Thank you Stephanie for sharing your creativity and extensive knowledge!I'll never look at a purse the same way again.
Great Book!
This is a great book for the handbag enthusiast.The designs are sophisticated and elegant.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Fashion    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Sewing   

Reviews (1)

The Wrap-Up: many pretty and wonderful knit or crochet projects
Lion Brand makes yarns that are widely available in the US. Their yarns range from bulky, decorator yarns to funky furry wild stuff.
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Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Crocheting    4. Fashion    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Knitting    7. Needlework - Crocheting    8. Needlework - Knitting    9. Crafts & Hobbies / Knitting   

Reviews (15)

Wonderful!
I bought this for the purpose of learning some new dye techniques and fell in love with the sock patterns at the same time! This book is fantastic and really well organized.

Inspirational for the spinner and/or knitter!
I am an avid spinner and knitter, and this book just gets my creative juices flowing! Even just to sit down and browse, you'll want to own a copy. And even if you only knit, you'll love this creative book of how these ladies use color, and their explanation of the process of dying wool to spin into yarn. Fun book!

Practical inspiration for all fiber artists
The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook is a delight from beginning to end. It takes one subject, socks, and leads the reader through the process of creating them from unspun wool through dyeing and spinning to knitting. In the process, no standard knitting patterns are given. Instead, Lynne Vogel illustrates the techniques needed to create beautiful, hand-dyed yarns, and provides the basic patterns from which all socks are made. This is a book for those who work with fibers because they want to do the work of creating form and pattern with wool and color. By focussing just on socks, the author has offered techniques and ways of thinking that are inspirational to all aspects of dyeing, spinning, knitting, and weaving. (By the way, it also has the clearest instructions for knitting a basic pair of socks that I have ever seen.) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Dyes and dyeing    4. Fashion    5. Hand spinning    6. Hobbies/Crafts    7. Knitting    8. Needlework - Knitting    9. Patterns    10. Socks    11. Crafts & Hobbies / Knitting   

Reviews (7)

Patterns of Fashion:1660-1860
This book should be on the bookshelves of everybody who is interested in the history an construction of costumes - there are no books like Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion.

Patterns of old
Great Resource only better is "Queen Elizabeths Wardrobe"
Fabulous Resource for Construction & Inspiration
At 1 square to the inch, these grid patterns make up to size almost efforlessly.I would do patterns for 30 minute intervals and would have completed a whole dress pattern within three days, including seam allowance.It is important to add up to 1" seam allowances, and cut out a muslin to fit before attempting it in the fashion fabric.This book is absolutely priceless, and for the amount of gorgeous patterns you recieve, is worth every pretty penny.I reccomend at least an intermediate sewer and a knowledge of pattern construction and patternmaking if attempting these patterns since the directions are a bit hazy and you have to do some creative problem solving to get the patterns to go together the way illustrated.I wish she had published more! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Design - Textile & Costume    4. Fashion    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Sewing   

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Crocheting    4. Fashion    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Needlework - Crocheting    7. Needlework - Knitting    8. Crafts & Hobbies / Crocheting    9. Crochet    10. MILITARY HISTORY - WARFARE TRD PB   

Reviews (5)

Great resource to have as a sewer!
When you find an article of clothing which fits just right, who wouldn't love to be able to replace it when worn or even duplicate it?This gives you the tools to reproduce those items, generally without requiring that you deconstruct the item first, so that your original remains intact and wearable.I have previously had to take apart an item to make a pattern from it, or "guesstimate" and trace around it, adding on for seam allowances and such.The latter method proved faulty and left me with mismatched seams and other problems.I borrowed this book from the library first to get a feel for it, and decided it would be such a valuable resource in my sewing library that purchased a copy of my own.I look forward to utilizing these methods with future projects.Recommend!

Knock offs
This book gives you step by step illustrations of how to reconstruct your favorite fitting garment into paper patterns.It also details all the tools you will need to make a knock off pattern (including what to place the garment on).The reason I gave this book 3 stars, because I was expecting a little more, but for the price $5.95...it was worth it.

Make your own Patterns
Wow!This is a terrific book.The instructions are clear and concise.The photos are great and show you step-by-step what to do.If you have clothes that you absolutely love and want to reproduce, this book is a great aide.You get to recreate clothes that you know are going to fit you well.There is some work involved but the results are worth it (most of us spend time altering patterns anyways, which is also time consuming).Once you have recreated a pattern from a garment that you love, you already know that the end result is going to be an outfit that you love to wear and that fits you well.Buy this book!It's well worth the money! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Clothing and dress    2. Clothing and dress measurements    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Dressmaking    6. General    7. Hobbies/Crafts    8. Pattern design    9. Remaking    10. Sewing    11. Dressmaking & tailoring    12. Fashion design