If you’ve been following my blog, you have probably read some of my DIY costuming books devoted to Middle Eastern belly dance costumes. However, I find that many novice seamstresses purchase my products and find they need advice on basic construction. Fortunately, there are already numerous books on general sewing technique available today. But which one to choose?
When you are making costumes, having a good quality sewing book or two on the shelf makes a lot of sense. Sewing books are reference tools that can introduce a novice to basic techniques or help an experienced seamstress figure out challenging sewing problems. So, here’s my round-up of recommended sewing reference books that I keep on hand in my collection, and use as texts when I teach my classes and workshops.
Readers Digest Guide to Sewing
I feel that this is an indispensable book for anyone who sews! With clear, easy to follow directions and beautifully drawn illustrations, this book is a dependable workhorse. I use this title as a text when I teach construction classes at the local community college. Everything is in here, from hand sewing stitches to installing zippers, from threading a sewing machine to complex tailoring techniques. This book is an encyclopedia of tips, instructions and helpful hints for dealing with all aspects of sewing. This book has been around a long time, so if you are on a budget, you may be able to find a copy in your favorite used book store. Find it on Amazon
Vogue/Butterick Step-By-Step Guide to Sewing Technique
What every library needs is a good dictionary and this is the one for every costumer. In this book, sewing techniques are arranged alphabetically for ease of searching. This book is the perfect companion to the Vogue/Butteric k Guide to Sewing (see above.) It is much more comprehensive filling in the gaps, providing a reference that has everything from basic to advance techniques. The illustrations are easy to follow and understand. This book is also fairly inexpensive, making it an excellent value. Find it on Amazon
Singer Guide to Sewing
This book is but one title in the large Singer Sewing series. There are many excellent volumes in this library and this book does a great job of introducing basic sewing technique. It is filled with big beautiful full-color pictures that are eye catchy and clearly illustrate the sewing techniques discussed. However, this book is not comprehensive. Unlike the other titles listed above, you would need to buy several books in the Singer series to put together to match up to the more comprehensive titles. But if you prefer photographs rather than illustrations, this is an excellent alternative. Find it on Amazon