Essential Sewing: A Manual for Learning to Sew With 25 Projects

For those inspired to start sewing or dressmaking, Essential Sewing is a definitive collection of projects. Whether you want to create Roman blinds for your home, or sew a stylish summer dress, you'll find the project--and the skills--here. In addition to explaining how to choose the best fabric and tips for getting the most from your sewing machine, there are 28 beautiful projects that teach you step-by-step how to turn a piece of flat fabric into a stunning creation.

Garment projects are stylish enough that you will love wearing them, and achievable enough that you'll be amazed you made them. Work your way from the simple elegance of the camisole and tea dress, to the stylish button-back blouse and pencil skirt. In no time, you'll be tackling the boyfriend shirt and hacking jacket. All sewing patterns are included as tiled PDFs on the CD-rom, in multiple sizes, making it simple to print, and then reprint, so you can make as many different versions of your favorite pattern as you like. (Unlike tissue patterns that are either used once and done, or need to be tediously re-traced.)

And if you need more than garments, there are aprons and window treatments, cushions and even a patchwork throw.

Shaping, contouring, sewing buttons and buttonholes, finishing seams, inserting a zipper, all of the skills will be yours in no time with a gorgeous finished piece at the end.

Includes:

• CD-rom includes PDF patterns for garments in sizes 4-12
• More than 25 projects: 15 garments, 8 home decor projects, 5 accessories
• Includes a fabric dictionary, sewing glossary, a photographed guide to sewing techniques and an orientation to sewing (including information on tools and deciphering sewing patterns)

Tessa Evelegh is a sewing expert and the author of more than 30 craft and lifestyle titles. She lives in London.