Sewing For Dummies, 3rd Edition

The most complete guide to sewing basics People are always looking for ways to cut expenses and be creative and stylish at the same time. Learning to sew is a great way to arm yourself with the skills to repair and create clothing and furnishings for yourself and your family for little to no cost. But learning how to sew and how to choose the tools and supplies to begin sewing can be confusing. Now, you can turn to this hands-on, friendly guide for the most up-to-date information, the best techniques, and fun projects for learning (or brushing up on) the art of sewing. Easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step illustrations make it easier to learn Fresh new patterns, projects, stitches, and techniques for fashion and the home Budget-conscious tips for breathing new life into existing garments Complete with a section on common sewing mistakes and how to avoid them, Sewing For Dummies , 3rd edition gives you the confidence and know-how to sew like a pro. Sewing For Dummies®, 3rd Edition......Page 1 About the Author......Page 7 Author’s Acknowledgments......Page 9 Contents at a Glance......Page 11 Table of Contents......Page 13 About This Book......Page 23 How This Book Is Organized......Page 24 Where to Go from Here......Page 26 Part I: Getting Ready to Sew......Page 27 Chapter 1: The World of Sewing......Page 29 Figuring Out What Comes First: The Idea or the Tools?......Page 30 Sizing Up the Sewing Process......Page 33 Moving On to the Needle and Thread......Page 35 Sewing for the Home Is Where the Saving Is......Page 37 Doing Your Part for the Planet with a Sustainable Wardrobe......Page 38 Chapter 2: Assembling Your Sewing Kit......Page 39 Making Sure Your Sewing Measures Up......Page 40 Cutting Up (Without Cracking Up)......Page 42 Making Your Mark......Page 44 Getting to the Point with the Right Needles, Thimbles, and Seam Rippers......Page 45 Selecting Thread for Your Project......Page 47 Pressing Issues......Page 48 Real Machines: Sewing Machines and Sergers......Page 50 Choosing the Right Fabric for Your Project......Page 59 Getting Notions about Findings......Page 68 Investigating Interfacing......Page 74 Preshrinking Your Fabric......Page 75 Shopping for Patterns......Page 77 Sizing Things Up for Fashion Sewing......Page 78 Deciphering the Pattern and Its Parts......Page 80 Laying Out the Pattern......Page 85 Pinning and Cutting Out the Pieces......Page 92 Making Your Mark......Page 93 Part II: Mastering Basic Sewing Skills......Page 97 Threading the Needle......Page 99 Tying a Sewing Knot......Page 102 Choosing and Using the Right Hand Stitches......Page 104 Working with Machine Stitches......Page 109 Starting and Stopping......Page 114 Basting Projects for a Better Fit......Page 116 Pressing Matters......Page 118 Repurposed Shirt Pillow......Page 120 Finishing the Edges First......Page 125 Securing Your Seams......Page 127 Fleece Throw with Colorful Fringe......Page 129 Seaming Fabrics......Page 133 Ripping into Seam Mistakes......Page 138 Shaping Up the Seams......Page 140 Chapter 7: Fast and Easy Hems by Hand and Machine......Page 147 Marking the Hem’s Placement......Page 148 Deciding on the Hem Allowance......Page 149 Finishing the Raw Edges of the Hem......Page 150 Securing the Hem......Page 153 Sewing Tapered Hems......Page 157 Hemming Knits with Twin Needles......Page 158 Part III: Fashion Sewing Fun-damentals......Page 161 Darting Around......Page 163 Gathering Fabric from One Piece into Another......Page 167 Ruffled Apron......Page 170 Completing Pleats......Page 176 Adding Stretch and Comfort with Elastic......Page 178 Cuffed Pajama Pants......Page 185 Welcoming Easy Ways to Put in Zippers......Page 193 Mastering Buttonhole Basics......Page 202 Checking Out Other Fasteners......Page 213 Fold-Over Clutch with Button Closure......Page 214 Finishing Sleeveless Armholes......Page 219 Rarin’ to Sew Raglan Sleeves......Page 225 Taking On Set-In Sleeves......Page 228 Protective Laptop Sleeve......Page 234 Putting Together Patch Pockets......Page 237 Using Your Own Pocket Patterns......Page 244 Coordinating Pocket-Collage Shirt......Page 246 Part IV: Sewing for Your Home......Page 247 Overcoming Décoraphobia......Page 249 Homing In on Home Décor Fabric......Page 252 Tackling Trim......Page 253 Attaching Piping, Cording, and Fringe......Page 257 Reversible Table Runner......Page 267 Selecting Fabric for Table Toppers......Page 269 Making Easy Napkins......Page 270 Party-Ready Lapkins......Page 275 Hip to Be Square Tablecloth......Page 277 Selecting Materials for Pillows......Page 279 A Basic Cover Fit for a Pillow Form......Page 280 The Easiest Reversible Pillow Cover Ever......Page 284 15-Minute Flanged Pillow Cover......Page 286 Plush Pet Bed......Page 287 Box-Edged Pillow......Page 292 The Wide World of Window Treatments......Page 295 Determining Window Treatment Dimensions......Page 300 Custom Draperies......Page 304 Saving Money by Crafting a Bedding Set......Page 311 Pleated Bed Skirt......Page 312 Custom Duvet Cover......Page 320 Part V: Making Alterations and Quick Fixes for a Sustainable Wardrobe......Page 325 When It’s Too Short......Page 327 When It’s Too Long......Page 332 When It’s Too Tight......Page 337 When It’s Too Loose......Page 339 Crossover Belt......Page 340 Repairing a Split Seam......Page 343 Patching Holes and Rips......Page 345 Mending Tears in Fabric......Page 348 Replacing a Fly-Front Zipper......Page 349 Chapter 19: Eco Fashion: Giving Existing Garments New Life......Page 353 Felted Wool Hat......Page 354 (Almost) Instant Party Dress......Page 361 Part VI: The Part of Tens......Page 367 Run a Background Check......Page 369 Weigh the Scales......Page 370 Rely on a Collection......Page 371 Consult a Pro......Page 372 Attempting a Project Beyond Your Skill Level......Page 373 Using the Wrong Fabric for the Pattern......Page 374 Using an Old, Beat-Up Sewing Machine......Page 375 Refusing to Cut Yourself Some Slack......Page 376 Buy the Best Fabric You Can Afford......Page 377 Know the Difference between Right and Wrong......Page 378 Stop and Start Sewing the Right Way......Page 379 Test-Stitch First......Page 380 Press Seams Together and then Open or to One Side......Page 381 Clip with the Tips of Your Scissors......Page 382 Sewing Publications......Page 383 Sewing Machine Manufacturers......Page 384 National Fabric Stores......Page 385 Regional Fabric Stores......Page 386 Notion Companies......Page 387 Thread Manufacturers......Page 388 Index......Page 389 Photo Insert......Page 411 Learning how to sew and how to choose the tools and supplies to begin sewing can be confusing, but Sewing For Dummies, 3rd Edition guides readers through the process. This book provides 25% new and revised content including updated projects, more step-by-step illustrations, a refreshed colour insert and additional how-to graphics. The most complete guide to sewing basics, this hands-on, friendly resource contains the most up-to-date information, the best techniques, and fun projects for learning (or brushing up on) the art of sewing