Sewing Basics for Every Body: 20 step-by-step essential pieces for modern living

Follow Wendy Ward’s tutorials to make a capsule wardrobe of 20 classic garments, suitable for any body regardless of gender, age, or body shape.

Wendy’s style is functional but beautiful basics, and you will learn the skills to make clothes out of both woven and knitted fabrics that are a joy to wear. There are five styles of button-down shirts, sweatshirts, and t-shirts, and three different styles of trousers, jackets, and jumpsuits, all made in versatile fabrics that can be dressed up or down. These are core basics that you'll turn to time and again and all these garments can be worn by any body, regardless of gender, age, and body shape. Suitable for both beginners and those more experienced in dressmaking, each project has multiple versions from easy to more technically challenging. Plus, there is a comprehensive techniques section covering everything from sewing a fly zipper to making a traditional shirt collar, alongside the fundamentals such as different seam and hem finishes. Patterns for the five basic garments and all the variations to make 20 different designs are included in the book on three pull-out, full-scale, multi-sized pattern sheets. Each pattern covers 10 sizes and there’s no need for downloading or scaling-up patterns, just trace off the pieces that you need and off you go!

Wendy Ward has worked as a designer in the fashion industry since 2000, for a range of companies from niche retailers to large chain stores. In 2007 Wendy started teaching dressmaking, pattern cutting, and textiles for adults. She has a degree in Fashion Design, an MA in Design, and is a fully qualified teacher. In 2012 Wendy launched her own range of sewing patterns called MIY Collection. Wendy is a regular contributor to Love Sewing magazine and her previous books are A Beginner’s Guide to Sewing with Knitted Fabrics, A Beginner’s Guide to Making Skirts (both published by CICO Books), and The Beginner’s Guide to Dressmaking.