Alterations & Repairs: 200 Questions Answered - Softcover

Nan Ides

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844487598 ISBN 13: 9781844487592

Publisher: Search Press Ltd, 2011

Synopsis

Got an alterations problem you can't solve? Curious to know more about a specific technique? Want to know how to repair both by hand and using a sewing machine? Alterations and Repairs 200 Q&A will come to your rescue, answering 200 questions on a vast range of alteration topics.

About this title

About the Author

Nan L. Ides comes from family of sewers and teaches hand mending for several community groups in the Philadelphia area. She is an avid sewer, clothing designer, instructor and author.

Review

A 'chunky' little book. Useful advice and reference on mending clothes, soft furnishings and making alterations, in a straightforward question-and-answer format. Also gives ideas on revamping clothes, including simple ways to alter a garment's style; adding finishing touches and adjusting the size of ready-to-wear clothes. Includes mending techniques including re-stitching unravelled sewing, fixing holes and tears, darning woollens and replacing worn or stained cloth.-Sew Today The subtitle of this book is '200 Questions Answered' and that is exactly what it does. Each page of the book covers a different Frequently Asked Question from tools and equipment, basic sewing techniques such as top stitching, sewing buttons, etc through to adapting and embellishing garments. The book also contains a lot of useful information as a beginner's guide to sewing, explaining basic techniques before finally giving some handy tips on what to look for when buying clothes to recycle and embellish.-Sew Hip Learn the essential skills to repair and alter clothing and save a fortune in the process! This handy little book is designed to teach the simple sewing skills that our grandmothers grew up with that have somehow been lost along the way. Readers will learn how to do common repairs such as sewing on buttons, mending seams and repairing zips in addition to raising or lowering hemlines, customising garments or improving the fit. Covering both hand and machine stitching, there are lots of useful tips and techniques for all areas from shortening jeans to adjusting sleeves plus quick and easy customising ideas to revitalise tired garments with pretty trims. This super title is a must for those who love to recycle, and absolutely anyone with children!-Sewing World This is the perfect book for these cash strapped and boot tightening times. It sets out to, and succeeds in, replacing those boring sewing lessons that I had to sit through in school. The first questions are to do with what the book is about: The difference between mending and altering a garment, what kind of mending you will learn, the cost benefits of doing it yourself, what are good projects to start children on. Chapter 2 covers basic tools and techniques and even what might appear to be obvious questions; such as How long should the thread be for hand sewing? The answer is 45-50cm (18- 20ins long). You will have to read the book yourself to find out why. As someone who would always rather sew a zip in by hand then machine, the chapter on buttons zips and closures was of particular interest. There are questions on zip types, knowing what is wrong with a zip and how to stop the teeth catching. There are not instructions on sewing a zip in using a machine. Choosing and using a sewing machine are covered, as is mending knitted garments and altering those found in second hand shops. Scattered through out with expert tips this is a very good source book for those starting out, and those who wish to pick up professional tips from an expert. The author answers the questions very clearly and I think this is a really good source book. However, the 200 questions format, limits the amount of knowledge that the author can impart on any one subject to her readers. Great value at GBP9.99.-Sewingdirectory.co.uk

Edition details

• Publisher: Search Press Ltd
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1844487598
• ISBN 13: 9781844487592
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 224