jaX Makerspace: Sewing Resources

A century ago Sears, Roebuck & Co was like Amazon and Walmart combined. If you needed something, clothing, furniture, jewelry, kitchen utensils, and more, you bought mail order. This facsimile offers a unique peek into the America of 1908, fascinating for historians, designers, screenwriters, antique dealers, and more. The Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog was the Amazon.com of its day, giving American families across the country access to thousands of items from clothing and furniture to buggies and hair tonic. Whether they could buy it or not, people would pour over the massive volume that represented an icon in American retail. The 1908 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalogue offers an amazing look at life in early twentieth-century America. Sears, Roebuck & Co. have defined and innovated American retail for years, As the company grew from humble beginnings, its catalog selection exploded to include almost every item a home would need: Work clothes Dress clothes Pianos and other musical instruments Fishing and hunting gear Cookware Furniture Bedding Wall art And much much more With merchandise ranging from ordinary to fantastical (and almost all of it priced at the pennies-on-the-dollar rate of the time), browsing through this vintage collection is fun, inspiring, and educational.

Fabric collage is a new method of quilting that gives every sewer the ability to express personal creativity while learning innovative sewing techniques. In The Art of Fabric Collage, designer Rosemary Eichorn uses a friendly, personal approach to show how to move beyond traditional quilting into a fascinating area she herself pioneered. Eichorn gives readers tips on experimenting with color, design, and fabric in creating their own distinctive fabric collages. Instructions are included for a variety of surface design techniques, from free-motion stitching and soft-edge applique to continuous-strip prairie points and intriguing closures. She shows step by step how to use fabric collage to create artful vests, jackets, quilts, wall hangings, and more. Advice on how to adapt garment patterns for a variety of figure-flattering styles and construction techniques is also included.

Eliminates the need to search through multiple sewing guides for answers. Thoroughly updated, with the addition of 225 color photos and a fabric and fiber dictionary. "Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide" is your one-stop sewing resource, with answers to the most common sewing questions and details about the latest advancements in sewing. This new full-color edition contains everything you need to know, and will surely be a reference you will review again and again. In addition to an extensive glossary with answers to the most common sewing questions, this must-have guide includes easy-to-read charts for needle sizes and thread and stabilizer types.

While there are costume and fashion dictionaries tied to specific countries or periods, none have been comprehensive. In The Complete Costume Dictionary, Elizabeth Lewandowski has collected from a variety of sources--including costume history texts, journal articles, historical publications, autobiographies, biographies, foreign language dictionaries, and contemporary publications--to create a resource that spans the globe, from the earliest record of fashion to the 21st century. Including more than 20,000 fashion and costume terms, this volume also features more than 300 illustrations. The first section of the book is an alphabetical listing of these words with their definitions, period, and country of origin. This volume also contains appendixes that list the terms by country of origin, period, and type of clothing. The book is not limited to the Western World and includes both archaic and current terms. Significantly greater in scope than anything currently available--online or in print--this one-of-a-kind publication is an invaluable resource for costume and fashion historians, textile preservationists, period re-enactors, and history and theatre scholars, as well as theatre professionals.

The world of haute couture is a place where only a privileged few can ever hope to reside, right? Wrong. Fashion historian Claire B. Shaeffer opened the door to this exclusive realm in her authoritative guide to the techniques that define couture sewing. And now, the industry bible, Couture Sewing Techniques, has been revised and updated throughout -- with new photos and a chapter on specialty fabrics. No one can unravel couture garment construction the way Shaeffer can, from the art of hand sewing to mastering edge finishes, from classic closures to shaping a garment for a perfect fit. Readers learn all the basics -- and more importantly: how to apply the techniques -- on skirts and sleeves, pockets and jackets, evening gowns, and more. Gorgeous photos, clear illustrations, and concise language combine to make this the most complete couture-sewing course available.

The world of haute couture is a place where only a privileged few can ever hope to reside, right? Wrong. Fashion historian Claire B. Shaeffer opened the door to this exclusive realm in her authoritative guide to the techniques that define couture sewing. And now, the industry bible, Couture Sewing Techniques, has been revised and updated throughout -- with new photos and a chapter on specialty fabrics. No one can unravel couture garment construction the way Shaeffer can, from the art of hand sewing to mastering edge finishes, from classic closures to shaping a garment for a perfect fit. Readers learn all the basics -- and more importantly: how to apply the techniques -- on skirts and sleeves, pockets and jackets, evening gowns, and more. Gorgeous photos, clear illustrations, and concise language combine to make this the most complete couture-sewing course available.

Whip up a fresh batch of amigurumi! Crochet Cafe features over 30 adorable and appetizing food-inspired amigurumi patterns. Lauren Espy, author of 2019's No. 1 best-selling amigurumi book in the United States, Whimsical Stitches, gives you the ingredients and recipes you need to crochet your favorite meals and treats. Easy-to-follow patterns, detailed photographs, and helpful tips make this book perfect for novice and experienced crocheters alike. Enjoy: Brunch with eggs benedict or avocado toast Lunch on the go with a bento box or burrito A traditional Italian spaghetti dinner, complete with meatballs, red wine, and cannoli These simple and darling patterns are sure to bring a smile to your face. So, pick up a hook and have fun playing with your food!

If you’ve ever watched Project Runway and wished you were a contestant, or you’re simply ready to take your sewing to a new level, Design-It-Yourself Clothes teaches you the fundamentals of modern patternmaking so that you, too, can create your own inspired clothing. Until now, the aspiring DIY fashionista has been hard-pressed to find self-teaching tools other than dry textbooks or books with outdated looks. Finally, in Design-It-Yourself Clothes, former Urban Outfitters designer Cal Patch brings her youthful aesthetic to a how-to book. If you want to wear something you can’t find on store racks and make clothes that express your individual style, or if you’ve reached a sewing plateau and want to add pattern drafting to your repertoire, Design-It-Yourself Clothes is the book you have been waiting for. In five key projects (each with four variations)–a perfect-fitting dress, T-shirt, button-down shirt, A-line skirt, and pants–Patch shares the art of patternmaking. At its core, it’s much simpler than you think. Patch covers everything an intermediate sewer needs to know in order to become a fabulous fashion designer, from designing the patterns, taking your own measurements, and choosing fabrics to actually sewing the clothing. You will also learn how to stylize patterns by using darts, waistbands, patch pockets, and ruffles. Patch offers tips, explanations, options, and exercises throughout that will make the design process that much easier. But besides showing you how to create clothing from scratch, she also teaches you how to rub off patterns from existing clothing–so if you have a pair of pants that you love but are worn out, or you have your eye on a piece in the store with a prohibitive price tag, you can figure out how to get the looks you want by using your own two hands.

Packed with professional techniques and tips, The Dressmaker's Handbook of Couture Sewing Techniques takes the mystery out of the sewing and finishing techniques that many dressmakers assume are either extremely difficult or are only for professional fashion designers. Fashion designer and expert sewist Lynda Maynard tackles each professional technique with clear instructions in simple step-by-step stages. Once these skills are understood, sewists will embrace their dressmaking projects with more confidence and the ability to create chic, refined looks. The Dressmaker's Handbook of Couture Sewing Techniques unlocks the door to stunning results with better shaping, simpler construction methods, and professional finishing touches. Lynda also explains several seemingly difficult "secrets," from making bindings and finishing for hems, armholes, and necklines to underpinnings and structuring techniques. Plus, she teaches how to master finishing touches from textured stitches to couching and applique. A complete guide to the fabrics suited to each technique and inspirational fashion photography are also included.

The newest addition to Barron's 200 Q&A series for needlecraft enthusiasts employs the easy-reference Q&A format as it provides practical solutions to the 200 most frequent problems do-it-yourself dressmakers encounter. Typical questions with answers and instructions include-- How do I sew a zipper into a seam? Can I shorten a zipper? What scissors should I use when cutting out fabric? What is a seam ripper? What is a raglan sleeve? Other questions deal with machine stitching, hand-sewing, measuring and fitting, waistbands and belts, tucks and pleats, collars and necklines, and sleeves and pockets. More than 200 color illustrations supplement most answers with visual demonstrations.

Finding definitions for fashion is easier than ever. The Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion, 3rd Edition, defines more than 15,000 fashion terms, including apparel, accessories, and their components; historical and textile terms that relate to contemporary fashion; and the language of the fashion business. Its organization of 51 broad categories, such as activewear, blouses and tops, clothing, construction details, footwear, headwear, jewelry, laces, necklines, shirts, skirts, and waistlines, promotes comprehension of related terms. Categories are fully cross-referenced to the alphabetical listing. Includes terms not readily found in ordinary dictionaries and pronunciation guides for foreign words. An appendix of designers includes emerging leaders. Lavish illustrations by Bina Abling enhance definitions, capturing both the details and style of fashion. Labeled "anatomical" drawings show how the parts of fashion items fit together. Alphabetical page tabs add to the ease of use. This dictionary is the ideal reference for designers, fashion media, instructors, students, historians, and fashion enthusiasts.

Celebrating all that is elegant and classic about vintage clothing, this book shows how to embellish new garments to make them look as though they were crafted in a more glamorous era. Readers will learn they don't have to be experts to add embellishment techniques from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s to their wardrobes. They'll discover the possibilities of adding threadwork, beading, trims, piping, and more to garments. These projects are elegant and sophisticated and especially appealing to those who like glamour but not glitz. -- Features five categories of embellishment techniques. -- Includes detailed instructions and 70 color photographs. -- Offers design inspiration of all kinds -- from casual to evening wear.

In 1974, women in a feminist consciousness-raising group in Eugene, Oregon, formed a mock organization called the Ladies Sewing Circle and Terrorist Society. Emblazoning its logo onto t-shirts, the group wryly envisioned female collective textile making as a practice that could upend conventions, threaten state structures, and wreak political havoc. Elaborating on this example as a prehistory to the more recent phenomenon of "craftivism"--the politics and social practices associated with handmaking--Fray explores textiles and their role at the forefront of debates about process, materiality, gender, and race in times of economic upheaval. Closely examining how amateurs and fine artists in the United States and Chile turned to sewing, braiding, knotting, and quilting amid the rise of global manufacturing, Julia Bryan-Wilson argues that textiles unravel the high/low divide and urges us to think flexibly about what the politics of textiles might be. Her case studies from the 1970s through the 1990s--including the improvised costumes of the theater troupe the Cockettes, the braided rag rugs of US artist Harmony Hammond, the thread-based sculptures of Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuña, the small hand-sewn tapestries depicting Pinochet's torture, and the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt--are often taken as evidence of the inherently progressive nature of handcrafted textiles. Fray, however, shows that such methods are recruited to often ambivalent ends, leaving textiles very much "in the fray" of debates about feminized labor, protest cultures, and queer identities; the malleability of cloth and fiber means that textiles can be activated, or stretched, in many ideological directions. The first contemporary art history book to discuss both fine art and amateur registers of handmaking at such an expansive scale, Fray unveils crucial insights into how textiles inhabit the broad space between artistic and political poles--high and low, untrained and highly skilled, conformist and disobedient, craft and art.  

Step-by-step, illustrated instructions for duplicating design details made famous by the world's greatest designers.

For weavers, knitters, sewers, quilters, embroiderers, crocheters, or anyone who is interested in the textile arts, this compendium offers an extensive range of fabric finishes. From basic to esoteric, simple and elegant to highly decorative, these finishes can be applied to any fabric--woven, knitted, crocheted, handmade, or purchased. Each technique is clearly presented with text, illustrations, and photographs of examples.

The revised version of this established textbook provides a unique introduction for students and new entrants to the clothing industry. Profusely illustrated, it sets out a panoramic view of the day-to-day operation of a clothing factory, including management, design, marketing, finance and purchasing as well as quality control and production. The practical aspects of clothing manufacturing are explained, from the original design to deliveries to retail customers, and each of the basic planning and manufacturing technologies is described with many practical examples of their applications. The Authors Gerry Cooklin had over 30 years' experience in the British and Israeli clothing industries and for 12 years was deputy managing director of the Bagis Group in Israel where he was responsible for technology and development. Dr Steven G Hayes is Senior Lecturer in Fashion Technology at The Department of Clothing Design and Technology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester. John Mcloughlin is a Research Associate at the University of Manchester and an International Technical Consultant to the clothing industry. Also available from Blackwell Publishing Pattern Grading for Women's Clothes Gerry Cooklin 0 632 02295 7 Carr & Latham's Technology of Clothing Manufacture Third Edition David J Tyler 0 6320 5248 1 The Apparel Industry Richard Jones 0 632 05592 8 How Fashion Works Gavin Waddell 0 632 05752 1

Never before have two fat quarters inspired so much fun. Pick two favorite fabrics and sew a clever ruffled pouch. Or an adorable fabric basket with ties. Or a handy drawstring ditty bag. Or . . . . Choose from six patterns for cute projects, each of which can be stitched from two fat quarters. They're all so fun to sew that designing sisters Barbara Groves and Mary Jacobson couldn't stop making them--and you won't be able to either! Flip through the pages for color combinations galore. From holiday prints to bright and cheerful candy colors to tried-and-true red, white, and blue, you'll find so many color variations to spark your creativity. Dip into your stash of fat quarters (or shop for more--we won't tell) to make gifts for just about everyone on your list--including yourself!

Simple, elegant, and a little groovy, Love at First Stitch is all you need to start making the dresses of your dreams--with 7 complete full-size patterns. Fancy making your own clothes but have no idea where to start? Tired of overwhelming sewing manuals and frumpy projects? Love at First Stitch offers a refreshing approach to dressmaking for modern makers, taking you from the basics of threading your sewing machine through creating gorgeous garments that you'll love to wear. Let Tilly Walnes inspire you with her jargon-busting tutorials, down-to-earth attitude, and adorable dressmaking style, showing you that making your own clothes is so much more enjoyable than buying them. * Build your skills and confidence one project at a time: new techniques are introduced when you need them. * Step-by-step photographs take the head-scratching out of sewing. * Includes 7 full-scale, multisize patterns, ready to be traced and used again and again. * Tilly's hints and tips for making sewing part of your lifestyle, adding your own special touch to any sewing project, and even how to polish your signature style. Tilly Walnes demystifies dressmaking for the generations that have never been taught to sew. Written for novice stitchers by the author of the popular sewing blog Tilly and the Buttons, this book presents the sewing basics in an informal style, with Tilly's friendly and encouraging voice cheering the reader on throughout. Instead of overwhelming the novice dressmaker with theory, this book is about learning by doing. Each chapter presents practical tips and inspiration to guide you through creating a made-to-measure garment from one of the seven versatile and adaptable patterns included with the book, which can then be personalized to suit your individual style. Peppered throughout the book are Tilly's top sewing tips, including everything from what to look out for when buying--or borrowing--your first sewing machine, to how to behave in a fabric shop so that you appear like an expert, to techniques for pressing perfection.

Over 1 million subscribers return to Bernadette Banner's popular YouTube channel for Victorian and Edwardian garment profiles, reconstructions and history lessons. Make, Sew and Mend is infused with her charming, informative voice to teach readers how to use historically proven sewing techniques to hem skirts, patch holes and sew gussets to add space to garments. As people learn the environmental and economic toll of fast fashion, they are turning toward more sustainable fashion practices like mending. From running and herringbone stitches to basting, pleats and buttonholes, Bernadette breaks down techniques with step-by-step photos to show people with any level of sewing skill how to achieve the most lasting results for every stitch. Whether readers are looking build and maintain a vintage wardrobe or merely want to phase out fast fashion in favor of more sustainable practices, Bernadette has the basics covered for every kind of seamster.

Discover your hidden talents for implementing your unique sewing ideas. Create your own neckline, sleeves, collars, pockets, hems, belts, and closures. More than 100 illustrations take you from pattern to finished product.

Wouldnt it be great to have an expert with you as you roam the aisles of your fabric store in search of the perfect fabric? Sandra Betzina does just that in More Fabric Savvy. Americas best-selling quick guide to selecting and sewing fabrics is now completely revised and updated, with over 100 new tips, all new photography, the latest new fabrics, and entirely new and useful features, such as a guide to stain removal. Sandra has taken the fear out of selecting and sewing fabrics by providing the essential information you need to create the perfect garment or home-decoration project. This indispensable and easy-to-use reference belongs on your shelf or, better yet, in your handbag. Includes 19 new fabrics not included in the original Fabric Savvy for a total of 100 fabrics Updated Glossary and Sources to provide up to the minute fabric information includes a handy stain-removal chart for tackling over 50 types of stains two new features include a lining chart, and a "burn test" chart to determine a fabrics content

Home sewing enthusiasts as well as fashion design students and professional pattern makers will want this book for their reference library. It's the ultimate information source for pattern makers, filled with how-to instruction on-- Basic tools and equipment Pattern symbols and fabric considerations Designing patterns from scratch, which includes measuring, drafting bodices, sleeves, and skirts, digital pattern creation, basic block techniques, and more Fitting and making pattern adjustments Adding volume with pleats, tucks, and other devices Combining and dividing pattern shapes Adding finishing details, such as collars, fastenings, linings, and more Going professional and setting up Online accounts Here in a single volume is the basic information that both amateur designers and fashion professionals need to know about making garment patterns. Approximately 300 diagrams and illustrations.

Good fit improves the comfort and appearance of any garment and is the reason many people sew their own clothes. However, it's common to worry about ruining a pattern when you cut it apart to make a fitting adjustment. The Perfect Fit makes pattern alterations easy with proven methods illustrated step-by-step. This complete guide includes analyzing a figure, measuring the body, customizing the pattern, and fine-tuning the fit with small adjustments like moving buttons and reshaping darts. The Perfect Fit shows how to change a commercial pattern sized for millions of women into a sewing blueprint sized to fit your figure alone. Altering patterns has never been easier, thanks to the help of 400 step-by-step photographs!

Quilts evoke the past - they stimulate our earliest memories of security and comfort and resonate with historical and cultural references challenging the assumption that stitching is simply 'women's work'. Using stunning new photography, this book explores the personal and social histories which reveal the maker's complex engagement with the wider world. The myths and narratives handed down with each intricately pieced patchwork and stitched whole cloth are as much a part of our heritage as the silks, velvets and cottons which document our textile history. Primary sources, such as inventories, diaries and letters add context to the personal narratives documented by the quilts, exploring responses to marriage, childbirth, love and loss. The book includes contemporary material to show how artists such as Grayson Perry and Tracey Emin respond to the tradition of quilt making.

Learning how to sew has never been simpler!

This is the only sewing book you'll ever need. Every tool and every technique you require for making your own home furnishings or clothing is closely and sharply photographed, carefully annotated, and clearly explained. The Tools section begins with the basic toolkit, opening up into everything you could possibly need - every type of cutting tool and machine foot is shown. This section also includes information on patterns - how to measure, how to use, and how to adjust them. Gallery spreads appear throughout the substantial Techniques section and showcase darts, zips, pleats etc, as well as showing key stitches. Plus, you can bring your acquired and refined skills to fruition as you make some of the 25 home decor and clothing projects at the back of the book. With The Sewing Book on your shelf, you've got every sewing question covered.

Tailoring is the complete photo guide to sewing jackets and coats. Written by sewing professionals, this book teaches the trusted, proven methods for sewing tailored jackets with impeccable details and perfect fit. Written for the intermediate sewer who wants to move on to more challenging projects, this book ensures success with detailed, step-by-step instructions, more than 400 photos, in-depth discussions about products and how to use them. Tailoring offers guidance for every aspect of tailoring a jacket: Fitting and pattern alteration Fabrics and tools Interfacings Interlinings Seams and finishes Hand stitches Collars Pressing Topstitching Shaping shoulders Setting in sleeves Sewing pockets Vents, and Making perfect buttonholes

*Contains exciting lessons in achieving elaborate embroidered and embellished looks with a simple sewing machine and a home computer and printerUsing the techniques in this guide you can create stunning custom fabric art featuring skillful touches of embroidery, all by using own sewing machine. Inside this inspiring guide to thread painting, you'll discover innovative techniques for integrating digital photography and computer software in creating custom fabrics. Plus, this book covers various threads, tension and bobbins, and troubleshooting tips. The book's 15+ projects include:*Wall hangings*Totes*Pillows*Artwork for the home

Readers who love to sew - especially those who know Threads magazine - will have to have this definitive sewing encyclopedia. An incomparable collection of the best sewing information available, Threads Sewing Guide promises to explain, with trademark thoroughness, the full range of garment sewing techniques. Threads Sewing Guide covers all the bases for anyone who delights in sewing: tools (from sewing machines and sergers to pins and needles); materials (fabrics and threads of all kinds); basic sewing (from seams and seam finishes to hand-sewn stitches); garment construction (top to bottom, inside and out); tailoring techniques (for a professional look); even lingerie techniques, pressing tips, embellishments, and much, much more. Without a doubt, this is the complete sewing answer book.

Sewing doesn't have to be complicated, and you don't need lots of time to make your own clothes. While life is speeding up, this book will help you slow down and squeeze in time to get your creative fix. Tilly and the Buttons: Make It Simple features a collection of stylish and stress-free projects that you can stitch up in a few hours. It includes 6 full-scale dressmaking patterns, from which you can make 24 projects. All of the garments are quick to sew and easy to fit, with a short supply list and no fiddly fastenings - from a perfect t-shirt and stylish playsuit to a wear-with-everything pinafore dress and cosy cardigan. Make It Simple is for both beginners looking for easy projects and experienced stitchers wanting the instant gratification that comes with a speedy make. Whatever your level, you'll learn the secret of how to take sewing shortcuts while still getting a great-looking finish. With the help of clear step-by-step photographs and Tilly's award-winning instructions, this book will help you create a dream wardrobe in no time.

Tilly and the Buttons: Stretch! offers perfect proof that easy-to-wear clothes can be seriously stylish with a collection of outfits that combine the comfort of stretch fabrics with Tilly Walnes' signature look. The book includes complete, full-size patterns. Even experienced stitchers are often wary of working with stretch knit fabrics, but in this book Tilly demystifies the techniques needed and shows how to sew stretchy makes on a regular sewing machine - no need for a fancy overlocker. However, if you are already an overlocker owner, the book offers a user-friendly introduction to threading and stitching with this machine too. Aimed at dressmakers who have grasped the basics and want to expand their sewing horizons, Tilly's tried-and-tested, learn-as-you-make approach is structured around five made-to-measure, speedy-to-sew garments. Tilly's friendly instructions and the clear step-by-step photographs are accompanied by lots of tips and tricks to make your sewing a breeze, and the multiple variations and ideas will help you customise your garment to suit your own style. 

The history of the world can be read in textiles: the rise of civilizations and the fall of empires are woven into their warp and weft along with the great stories of conquest, religion, and trade. The legacy of textile design, form, and pattern that has resulted from this global endowment can be seen here in all its spectacular richness. Eight sections cover every aspect of materials and techniques, each giving a succinct summary of characteristics, production, and geographical distribution, accompanied by hundreds of color illustrations and drawings. Nonloom and loom-woven textiles, painted and printed, dyed, sewn, embroidered, and embellished techniques are all covered, as well as the materials themselves. From simplethe clothes made of skin or hide in prehistoric timesto complexmaterials elaborately embellished with tasselsworld textiles are both beautiful and beguiling. This unrivaled guide is completed by a glossary, further reading, and information on collections open to the public. 778 illustrations, 551 in color.

This brief and accessible guide introduces sewing as a relaxing and fun hobby to absolute beginners. It covers all aspects of sewing from the simplest sewing on of a button to designing a complete wardrobe.

The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing is the one reference every sewer needs. Its 320 pages and 1000 photographs cover every aspect of fashion and decor sewing. Sections include choosing the right tools and notions, using conventional machines and sergers, fashion sewing, tailoring, special-occasion sewing, and home decor projects. Included are step-by-step instructions for basic projects like pillows, tablecloths, and window treatments. Sewers from beginners to the skilled will turn to this book again and again.

Written for sewing enthusiasts of all skill levels, this book provides reference with advice on the latest sewing aids and creative sewing applications. It offers guidance on fabrics and techniques for projects, and easy ways to sew darts, gathers, buttonholes, zippers and hems.

Focusing on beginning serger users, this dynamic guide offers instructions for learning about sewing sergers. Beginning with explanations on stitches, tension settings, the importance of thread, and the ease of serger hems, seams, corners, and curves, this fun pattern book contains more than 50 easy-to-make projects. Chapters cover a wide range of projects, including clothes for babies and adults, decorations for around the house, and unique gift ideas.