The Dressmaker's Companion: A practical guide to sewing clothes

Patternmaker and sewing expert Elizabeth Haywood offers you a comprehensive sewing reference like no other. Are you comfortable with a sewing machine? Moved beyond the sewing basics? Here's the book you'll refer to again and again for reliable, practical, easy-to-follow advice.

Among the many techniques included, you'll learn how to...

Install any type of zip

Sew a perfect dart, first time

Make a concealed front

Fit sleeves to large upper arms

Pleat perfectly

Sew a men's waistband

Cuff a pair of trousers

Make a pattern for a jacket lining (and then sew it)

Develop your sewing skills, master new techniques and discover the answer to your sewing questions. With over 3,000 detailed illustrations, step-by-step instructions, clever ideas, troubleshooting and fitting advice all arranged in 41 chapters, The Dressmaker's Companion will enable you to sew with confidence.

Winner of the 30th Benjamin Franklin Award for best craft book and silver medal winner for best large format cover.

Elizabeth Haywood always loved making clothes. She trained as a clothing patternmaker and worked in many interesting areas of the fashion industry in Australia and overseas for 20 years. Her experience includes ladies wear, bridal gowns, formal and race wear, swimwear, corporate and school uniforms, sports uniforms and assorted theatre costumes. For several years she taught sewing to students ranging from beginners to advanced. She also worked as a knitting pattern writer, technical editor and technical feature writer. She is passionate about beautiful fitting clothes, great cut, understanding garment construction and developing sewing skills. Elizabeth now lives in the country with her young family, where she writes the fashion and sewing blog The Craft of Clothes at www.lizhaywood.com.au