Sunday, July 21, 2019

Weekend Review: Reader's Digest Guide to Sewing

Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing, Rev. Ed.
Montreal: Reader's Digest Canada, c1995.   432 p.

Well, when I start talking about compendiums of tips and tricks for sewing, I'd be remiss not to include this one. 

The Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing -- this is the revised edition from 1995 -- is one of the first books I relied on when I began to sew. This copy was bought for me by my lovely husband, before he was my husband, way back when it was newly released. I can't say it had any direct influence on the outcome of our relationship, but.... ;) 

I use this book a lot. It is always in the handiest spot on my sewing bookshelf where it won't get lost behind fabric or other sewing room stuff. It always falls open easily to the section on invisible zips now. Even if it has only been a month or so since I've put one in, I often have to reassure myself on the process!

The book is broken into sections -- starting with the necessary equipment, then on to pattern and fabric selection including cutting tips, a short section on basic functional pattern alterations, and on to the heart of the book -- 234 pages of construction techniques moving from general techniques to specific areas like collars, pockets or fastenings. There are a couple more brief sections at the end: sewing for men and children (16 p) and home sewing (17 p). It's clear that the audience for this book is women, and the assumption is that they'll be sewing for themselves and then maybe for their husbands, children and homes (because everyone has all of those). It is a bit dated in this way, and in some of the illustrations which also show its age. 

However, it includes every bit of random sewing information that you're likely to need in a pinch, even if you are already a practiced sewist and just need some reminders. There are some elements to the book that I've never tried like smocking, or some of the many seam finishes discussed. It's handy when it talks about parts of a pattern and how to recognize fit issues, and alterations to adjust for them. This might be especially interesting for a newer sewist -- I still like going over some of it as well. 

Like any Reader's Digest book, it's heavily illustrated both with photos and drawings. There are plenty of step by step diagrams to guide you through specific techniques, and the tone is very clear and concise. RD might not be so good at publishing fiction, but they put out great non-fiction and reference books!

Basically this is my sewing info standard, and although I also own a few of the vintage books like the Vogue sewing book and Simplicity sewing guide, this RD one is the one I use most. I'd recommend it to everyone since I think it's a standard for any sewing library. Lots of fun to browse for enlightenment, as well as rely on the complete index for specific needs. I'm sure more people than I have used this book heavily.


6 comments:

  1. Am I weird? I don't have a sewing library, never bothered...

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    1. To each their own! I love my sewing books even just to flip through more than once just to enjoy the physical item. I love books :)

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  2. I recently got the 1976 edition at a thrift store for $1.00. I haven't had a thorough look through it, but I did notice that V-necks aren't addressed. I always get a little pucker when I sew them.

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    1. Hmm, I never noticed that. I'm not good at v-necks either, but if you clip the V right up the edge of your stitching on the facing & fabric, before turning the facing back in, that helps with the wrinkles.

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  3. It makes total sense that you would check instructions for a hidden zip. Some things just need a quick review no matter how often you have done it. I have made miles of bias binding in my life, but I never do it without getting out my Fons and Porter Complete Quilters Guide to double check the directions.

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    1. It's strange how some things just need rechecking each time! Thank goodness a quick look suffices now, but I can't seem to get started without it ;)

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