Resources

As a novice sewer (I do hate that word. It looks like another word for the tunnel Andy used to escape Shawshank), I am finding that having plenty of resources are important not only for learning new skills, but also for improving technique.  As I mentioned last time, I have been taking lessons from CP. She's an experienced seamstress, but that also means she has TNT (tried and true) methods that she uses consistently. What that means for me is that I could miss out on another method that works better for me. The good news is that CP is fully aware of this, and encourages me to try different methods (including following the written directions) when I try something new so that I can figure out what technique I like best for a particular project.

For the past few weeks, I took a few lessons on altering tops with bust darts from another friend, Kate. Kate is a newer sewer, but she has a different sort of experience than CP. She has done extensive quilting, and also has taken some courses on bra-making (really! Very cool!) and swimsuits. She took a Palmer/Pletsch course last year and wanted to try fitting me with a decidedly unfitted knit top. Her quilting skills really come out with her precision with rules and lines, in contrast to CP who is more of the "make it work" school of thought. It was a good lesson for me to see how different people approach fitting.  It made me put a Palmer/Pletsch fitting book and class on my wish list for the future!

I have also mentioned that I'm taking classes at Craftsy.com. If you are interested in trying a class, sometimes there are free courses you can take that will let you see how the courses work. Right now, there is a Chocolates class being offered, and who doesn't like chocolate? (Look for "Dipped, Dusted, and Rolled: Handmade Chocolates" to sign up.) The courses are frequently on sale, and there are a good variety of crafting projects. I definitely like the format, and when the classes are on sale, they are within my price-point. I'm currently taking Gertie (aka Gretchen Hirsch)'s class called "Sew Retro," was well as a class by Susan Khalje, "The Couture Dress." The class members seem to be at all levels, the courses never expire, and you have access to the teachers for questions and for garment evaluation (by sharing photos.)

In addition to courses and private lessons, I have a few books in my arsenal that I am enjoying. First and foremost, I really like "Vogue Easy Sewing", by Vogue Knitting Magazine. This book covers an extensive range of topics, and while it doesn't have much in the way of photos, I find that it's a good starting point on what to do if everything seems to be going wrong.  It's pretty easy to find, and as a paperback book, the price-point is reasonable for most people (I paid less than $20 dollars for this book, new.) Just the other day, I was having dart issues, so I referred to this book to make sure that I was headed in the right direction (and it helped me realize that, yes, I was doing it right, and no, a dart was not a good technique for this garment.)

The next book I recommend is a Reader's Digest book called "The New Complete Guide to Sewing."  This is a book I got on the recommendation of Gertie, from Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing. True confession time: I did not buy this book new. I found an older version (mine has a different cover photo) at a used-book store. I paid 4 dollars, although I've since learned I might have to only pay a dollar in the future, as this type of book is considered a "trade" book. In any case, the contents of the book, as far as I can tell, is the same, except the photos are updated to reflect current fashion trends and newer technology (in terms of machines.) However, a dart is a dart, a hem is a hem, and the methods involved have not changed.

The next set of books I like can be harder to find: The Singer Reference Library. I got "The Perfect Fit" (which has been republished by "Creative Publishing") as a Kindle book (but as I am Kindle-free, it resides on my laptop.) I found "Tailoring" at the aforementioned used-book store for a dollar. (Score!) I'm told you can sometimes find these as a set in used-book stores, but a few are still available on Amazon. The new ones may be labeled as being edited by "Creative Publishing, so be sure to search in both places if you look online.

The last book I'm going to talk about today is one that Gertie also recommends is "Make Your Own Dress Patterns," by Adele Margolis. I know you will all be shocked when I share that I found an older version of this book at the local used-book store. It was a 3 dollar bargain. The book hasn't changed that much except that photos are updated, as far as I can tell. This is a great book for looking at how you can change a pattern that you bought into something that is customized for you. I almost always want to change patterns so this is a great find for me.

I hope that you fine a resource here that is helpful for you and where you are in your sewing process. I am no expert, so this is the voice of a relative novice and I hope that more experienced seamstresses will speak up if there is a "must have" that should be in my arsenal!