5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended

S.C. · 18 April 2019

I'm returning to sewing after decades, so I wanted something that would remind me of the basics. This book does that and much more – I'm delighted to see the very careful step-by-step approach, finishing up with quite a complex project. The illustrations are extremely clear and are giving me the confidence I need to start sewing again. This book would be suitable for anyone from complete beginners to readers like myself who need to be reminded of a range of techniques. I like the production qualities of this book, too – the overall design is very inviting, and when open it lies flat on the table, easy to reference. Nice work all round.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for beginners

T. · 21 March 2025

I bought 6+ books as each book as a different of explaining including the Sewing for Dummies book. Hands down, out of all of those, this was the most helpful book for a clueless beginner

4.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction.

S.S. · 27 December 2012

I bought this as a gift for my wife who's starting machine sewing for the first time and it's an excellent introduction for beginners. It explains from the basics how to thread, and to sew seams, and then expands into slightly more involved work. There are plenty of good illustrations, easy to follow instructions and particularly useful, a set of patterns for the first-time user.The patterns are more than the usual cushion-cover or scarf. There's an apron, blouse, skirt, even a pattern for a roller blind.My only gripe is, that like most sewing books I've seen, the clothes are all for women. Is there still a perception that only women sew and that they make only women's clothes? Men sew too and they wear men's clothes (yes they do) so the pattern for casual trousers could at least have been a unisex cut rather than just designed in women's sizes. Despite sitting behind a sewing machine, some of us don't feel that sewing diminishes our masculinity, so to even things up a bit, perhaps the next edition could include a manly rugby shirt or some men's shorts.A highly recommended book if this is your first foray into sewing. I spent a long time reading reviews and checking sample pages and of course, not everyone likes the same style of approach but I'm glad I bought this one. I think you will too, even if you're male.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic introduction to sewing

C. · 28 May 2020

I was a complete beginner before buying this book at the same time as a sewing machine. Long term, my plan was to alter curtains, make slip covers for furniture and fancy dress outfits for the kids. However, this book might make me expand those aspirations. I sat quite daunted before my machine and wondered if I’d done the right thing as I struggled to get it working and made some crap tester lines in some fabric!! Thankfully, it really is a simple and straightforward guide. The projects are carefully considered to expose you to many different types of stitches and hand/machine sewing. I bought a few meters of different remnant fabrics as well as a large dust sheet from screwfix to practice with. It’s given me such an appreciation of different fabrics already, eg by not using the suggested fabrics in the book I’ve probably made my jobs harder. That being said, I’m really enjoying it. I’m on workshop 3 (bound apron) and decided to adapt the pattern to make little aprons for each of my children and it’s working out much better than I’d thought hahah!I’ve just ordered the follow-up book I’m so pleased with this one. I wish I could go to a class but this is the next best thing. Thanks Jane!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent

G. · 19 November 2011

I bought this for my young niece who is getting her first sewing machine for xmas. I'm so impressed with it I'm going to keep it and buy two more copies as gifts. It starts at the very basics: how to thread a machine, the different machine feet, types of fabric and thread and works it way through to zippers and pattern cutting. There are 11 projects included ranging from a cushion to a pin tuck blouse but also including a scarf, an apron, a roman blind and a line skirt... so a nice range of things that are modern and usable. As the book goes on the level of detail given increases, for example the formula for working out how much fabric is needed for a blind/curtain where the fabric has pattern repeats, The difference between lining, interlining and underlining..... And best of all, at the back are full-sized patterns for all the projects. They do need tracing because they overlap one another, but they are full sized.I really think this is a good book for beginners and improvers alike.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book, not sure it’s aimed at real beginners

A.C. · 16 March 2025

Item delivered very quickly and in excellent condition. Book as described not sure I am going to benefit as a total beginner as seems a tad advanced for me, however I will work through it and see how I get on.Definitely well written and a bonus that some patterns are included.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book

A. · 20 July 2012

I'm not a beginner, but I am an entirely self-taught needlewoman and I fully realise that there are probably easier ways to go about things than the way I do them. This book was remarkable in that it covered every detail of my sewing machine and introduced me to things like the various feet that I'd never fully understood.After the "getting started" section, the book is divided into a series of workshops and each workshop ends with a project to make up, a cushion cover, an apron, a skirt and so on. Just about all the techniques you will ever need are used in these projects and the patterns included seem simple to use. I'm fairly certain I will use all of them - even the child's dress when I have no children, because it looks so pretty (and the charity shop will appreciate it).One of the most useful features is a chart showing different fabrics along with the most appropriate needles, thread and so on to use with them.So far I've had the book less than a week and my new sewing machine arrives tomorrow. My fingers are itching to get started.

Sewing book

P.B. · 5 August 2023

Good book with great information and illustrations. It's going to be helpful to me as I'm still learning.

Helpful

S. · 23 March 2012

This book is helpful for me. It gives basic informations of sewing and I just need to re-open when I forget :D

Three Stars

A. · 2 August 2015

The book is good but using more pictures could have made the book more easy

nozioni base per macchina da cucire

l.c. · 6 August 2018

non ho trovato recensioni buone per manuali italiani, così ho acquistato questo e sono soddisfatta: è fatto bene, con spiegazioni dettagliate proprio per principianti, spiegazioni anche dei punti base eseguiti a mano e alcune schede progetti semplici (cuscini/tende)

Muy muy básico.

P.E. · 27 September 2018

Es un poquito demasiado básico, y no explica todos los prensatelas que han venido con mi nueva maquina de coser. Viene con unos" projects" que no me son utíles. Para mi, es una devolucion.