The Complete Idiot's Guide to Sewing Illustrated

by Camp, Carole Ann

• ISBN13: 9781592571543
• ISBN10: 1592571549
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-04-05
• Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.

Summary

Sewing 101 - a complete guide that gets readers sewing in no time - from hand - sew no sew projects without patterns to easy home decorating projects like pillows and table runners, placemats, and simple drapes to a basic wardrobe - tops, skirts, pants, and a three - hour dress!

Author Biography

Carole Ann Camp started sewing costumes for her grandmother-'s costume shop when she was in middle school. Three of her academic degrees are in science education, and her hobbies include all the fiber and fabric arts. In addition to sewing and quilting, she knits, crochets, needlepoints, embroiders, and tap dances.

Table of Contents

Part 1: What Your Home Economics Teacher Didn't Teach You	2	(34)
Why Sew?	4	(6)
Sewing Is Part of the Human Story	5	(1)
Sewing Is Fun and Practical	6	(1)
Sewing Is Creative and Inventive	7	(1)
Sewing Is Meditative	8	(1)
No One Else Has Anything Like It	8	(1)
What Do You Want to Create?	9	(1)
A Paper of Pins and Other Necessities	10	(16)
Your Sewing Basket	11	(2)
On Pins and Needles	13	(3)
Pins and Their Uses	13	(1)
Needles and Their Uses	14	(1)
Through the Eye of the Needle	15	(1)
Pincushions	15	(1)
Thimbles	16	(1)
A Cut Above	16	(2)
Shears and Scissors	17	(1)
Rotary Cutters and Cutting Mats	17	(1)
Seam Rippers	18	(1)
All Snarled Up: Thread	18	(1)
Measuring Up	19	(1)
Measuring Tools	19	(1)
Seam Gauges	20	(1)
See-Through Rulers	20	(1)
On the Mark	20	(1)
All Steamed Up	20	(1)
Irons and Pressing	21	(1)
Pressing Cloths	21	(1)
Ironing Boards	21	(1)
Hamming It Up!	21	(1)
What a Notion!	21	(5)
Tapes and Trims	22	(1)
Fasten Up!	23	(1)
Hooks and Eyes	23	(1)
Snaps	24	(1)
Hook and Loop Tape	24	(1)
Zippers	24	(2)
It's All Material	26	(10)
Fabric Facts	27	(5)
Warps, Wefts, and Weaves	28	(3)
Nonwoven Fabrics	31	(1)
Knits	31	(1)
Reading Bolt Ends	32	(1)
Finishes	33	(1)
Special Fabric Considerations	34	(2)
Having a Nap	34	(1)
Border Designs	35	(1)
Stripes and Plaids	35	(1)
Part 2: Starting Simply--Simply Starting	36	(72)
In Stitches	38	(12)
The Ancient Art of Hand-Sewing	39	(3)
Needles and Thread	40	(1)
Tying a Knot	40	(2)
Back-Tacking	42	(1)
Running Stitch	42	(2)
Basting Stitch	43	(1)
Gathering Stitch	43	(1)
Backstitch	44	(1)
Overcast/Overhand/Whip Stitch	44	(1)
Blind Hem Stitch	45	(1)
Fixing a Seam	45	(1)
Sewing on Buttons, Snaps, Hooks and Eyes, and Hook and Loop Tape	46	(4)
Buttons	46	(2)
Hooks and Eyes	48	(1)
Snaps	48	(1)
Hook and Loop Tape	49	(1)
Quick and Easy Hand-Sewn Projects	50	(10)
The All-Purpose Lace Tablecloth	51	(1)
Spiffing Up an Old Blouse	52	(1)
Pillow Talk	53	(1)
Drooly Bibs	54	(1)
Seasonal Apron	55	(2)
No-Sew Cafe Curtains	57	(1)
No-Sew Table Runner	58	(1)
No-Sew Blanket	59	(1)
Sewing Machines	60	(10)
Where to Start?	61	(1)
The Basic Machine	62	(4)
Using the Correct Needle	63	(1)
Filling the Bobbin	63	(2)
Threading the Machine	65	(1)
Starting Out on the Right Foot	65	(1)
Tension Headaches	66	(2)
Stitch Length	66	(1)
Tension Control	67	(1)
Pressure Regulator	67	(1)
Zigzagging	68	(1)
More Foot Options	68	(1)
Zipper Feet	68	(1)
Walking Foot or Even Feed Foot	69	(1)
What to Do If ...	69	(1)
Variations on a Seam	70	(16)
Practice Makes Perfect	71	(1)
Straight Seams	72	(5)
Plain Seam	72	(2)
Flat-Fell Seam	74	(1)
French Seam	75	(1)
Self-Bound Seams	76	(1)
Curved Seams	77	(1)
Finishing a Seam	78	(1)
Selvage Finish	78	(1)
Pinked Finish	78	(1)
Turned and Stitched Finish	79	(1)
Zigzag	79	(1)
Topstitching	79	(1)
Darts	79	(2)
Single-Pointed Dart	80	(1)
Wide Darts	81	(1)
Shaped Dart	81	(1)
Gathers	81	(3)
Two Stitching Line	82	(1)
Zigzag	83	(1)
Elastic in Casing	83	(1)
Elastic Not in Casing	84	(1)
Pleats	84	(2)
Getting to the Bottom Line: Hems	86	(8)
On Straight Edges	87	(2)
Turned Hems	88	(1)
Double Turned Hems	88	(1)
On Curved Edges	89	(1)
Very Narrow Hems	90	(1)
Rolled Hems	90	(1)
Variation on a Rolled Hem	90	(1)
Fused	91	(1)
Machine Blind Stitched	91	(1)
Hem Finishes	92	(1)
Seam Binding	92	(1)
Pinked	92	(1)
Bound	92	(1)
Zigzag	92	(1)
Decorative Hem Stitches	92	(2)
Up and Down: Changing a Hem	94	(6)
Letting Down a Hem	95	(2)
On a Hem with Enough Fabric to Let Down	95	(1)
On a Hem Without Enough Fabric to Let Down	96	(1)
Raising a Hem on Skirts and Dresses	97	(1)
On Straight Skirts	97	(1)
On Skirts with Curved Hems	97	(1)
Raising a Hem on Pants	97	(2)
On Straight Pants	98	(1)
On Flared Pants	98	(1)
On Tapered Pants	98	(1)
On Jeans	99	(1)
Putting Up Hems on Lined Pants and Skirts	99	(1)
In Case of Emergency	99	(1)
No-Stress Zippers	100	(8)
The Right Zipper for the Job	101	(1)
Regular Zippers	102	(3)
Centered Zippers	102	(2)
Lapped Zippers	104	(1)
Fly Zippers	105	(1)
Separating Zippers	105	(1)
Invisible Zippers	106	(2)
Part 3: Easy Home Projects	108	(46)
Pick a Peck of Pillows	110	(18)
Personalizing Your Pillows	111	(2)
Shape, Color, and Fabric	111	(1)
Stuffing	112	(1)
Knife-Edge Pillows	113	(9)
Flange Pillows	115	(3)
Corded, Welted, or Piped-Edge Pillows	118	(3)
Ruffled-Edge Pillows	121	(1)
Box-Edge Pillows	122	(2)
Fitted Box-Edge Pillows	122	(1)
Contemporary Box-Edge Pillows	123	(1)
Rolls or Bolsters	124	(1)
Removable Pillow Covers	124	(4)
Envelope Openings	125	(1)
Fastener Openings	125	(1)
Zipper Openings	126	(2)
Adorning Your Table	128	(8)
Getting Your Table's Measurements	129	(1)
Selecting Fabric	130	(2)
Widening the Fabric	132	(1)
Going Around in Circles	133	(1)
Oval Tablecloths	133	(1)
Hemming	134	(1)
Napkins	134	(1)
Preshrinking	134	(2)
Table Runners and Place Mats	136	(8)
Table Runners	137	(2)
Place Mats	139	(1)
Seasonal Runners and Place Mats	139	(1)
Quilted Table Runners and Place Mats	140	(3)
Faux Quilted Runners and Place Mats	140	(1)
Easy Mock Quilted Runners and Place Mats	141	(2)
Other Finishing Methods	143	(1)
Hot Mats	143	(1)
Think Rectangles: From Valances to Drapes	144	(10)
Drapes, Valances, or Curtains?	145	(1)
Defining Your Curtain Style	146	(1)
Deciding on the Hardware	146	(1)
Traverse Rods	146	(1)
Curtain Rods	147	(1)
Measuring the Windows	147	(1)
Calculating Cutting Lengths	148	(3)
Hems	148	(1)
Casings	148	(1)
Headers	148	(1)
Ruffles	149	(1)
Tiebacks	149	(1)
Top Edges	149	(1)
Side Edges	150	(1)
Fullness	150	(1)
Straightening and Matching	151	(1)
Linings	151	(1)
Wide Curtains	151	(1)
Plain Curtains	151	(1)
Lined Curtains with Pleater Tape	151	(1)
Unlined Tiered Ruffled Curtains	152	(2)
Part 4: Creating Your New Wardrobe	154	(38)
Measuring Up	156	(6)
What to Measure	157	(3)
Top Measurements	158	(1)
Bottom Measurements	158	(1)
Measuring Tips for Women	159	(1)
Misses' Petites, Half-Size, Women's, etc.	160	(1)
What Shape Are You?	160	(1)
When Your Body Changes	161	(1)
Picking a Pattern	162	(6)
Finding the Perfect Pattern	163	(1)
Reading Pattern Books	164	(1)
For the More Adventurous	165	(1)
What Size Do You Need?	165	(1)
Reading the Pattern Envelope	166	(1)
Don't Forget the Notions!	167	(1)
Reading and Working With a Pattern	168	(6)
Looking at the Pattern	169	(2)
Dots, Triangles, Squares: Reading the Pattern Marks	171	(1)
What Are These Triangles For?	172	(1)
Other Pattern Markings	172	(1)
Reading the Pattern Directions	172	(1)
Cutting the Pattern Pieces You Need	173	(1)
Custom-Fitting a Pattern	174	(6)
Adjusting to the Body's Lumps and Bumps	175	(2)
Locating Seams	176	(1)
Placing Darts	176	(1)
The Princess Seam Line	177	(1)
Fitting the Pattern to Your Body	177	(3)
Working With the Fabric	180	(6)
Preparing the Fabric	181	(1)
Laying Out the Pattern	182	(2)
Getting It Straight	183	(1)
Watch the Naps	183	(1)
Plaids and Stripes	184	(1)
Border Fabric	184	(1)
Cutting the Fabric	184	(1)
Transferring the Markings	184	(2)
Putting It All Together	186	(6)
First Things First	187	(1)
Following Instructions	188	(3)
Neck Facings	188	(1)
Armhole Facings or Sleeves	189	(2)
When to Not Follow Instructions	191	(1)
Zippers	191	(1)
Sleeves	191	(1)
Part 5: No Pattern? No Problem!	192	(24)
Sewing a Simple Top	194	(8)
Choosing a Neckline	195	(1)
Deciding on Armholes	196	(1)
Long or Short?	196	(1)
A Simple Top Without a Nap or One-Way Design	196	(1)
A Simple Top with a Nap or One-Way Design	197	(1)
Variations on a Theme	198	(4)
Changing the Neck	198	(2)
Working With Shoulders and Armholes	200	(1)
Playing With the Bottom Line	200	(1)
Adding Pockets	200	(2)
Sewing a Fun Skirt	202	(6)
Skirt Shapes	203	(2)
Straight	203	(1)
Circle	204	(1)
Flared	204	(1)
A-Line	204	(1)
Gathered	205	(1)
Tiered	205	(1)
The Long and Short of It	205	(1)
At the Waistband	205	(2)
Nonelastic Attached Waistbands	206	(1)
Cased, Elastic Waistbands	206	(1)
A Simple Straight Skirt	207	(1)
Sewing Easy Pull-On Pants	208	(4)
Basic Pants Styles	209	(1)
The Crotch Line	210	(1)
Baggy Pull-On Pants	210	(1)
Pant Variations	211	(1)
Sewing a Three-Hour Dress	212	(4)
A Simple Dress	213	(1)
Dress Variations	214	(2)
Part 6: The Joy of Giving	216	(31)
Gifts to Give to Friends and Family	218	(29)
Take-It-with-You Blanket	219	(1)
Autographed Wine Bag	220	(1)
Pocketed Tote Bag	221	(2)
Coordinated Napkin Set	223	(1)
Christmas Tree Skirt with Matching Doily	224	(1)
Lavender Sachets	225	(1)
Hooded Toddler Bath Towel	225	(1)
Tag Blanket	226	(1)
Teenager Pillow	226	(2)
Appendixes
A Glossary	228	(7)
B Practice Makes Perfect	235	(4)
C Tear-Out Sewing Machine Troubleshooting Chart	239	(2)
D Tear-Out Table Measurements Charts	241	(2)
E Tear-Out Window Measurements Chart	243	(2)
F Further Readings	245	(2)
Index	247