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$14.95 (CANADA$22.95) CRAFTS/HOBBIES THE
THE
Learn how to make
S
beautiful clothes,
E
gifts, and
W
decorations!
I
SEWING
N ®
G
As you know, handmade clothes, gifts, Learn to make:
and decorations have a special charm •Appliquéd tote bags
that can’t be found on an assembly line.
•Curtains and tablecloths
B BOOK
With The Everything® Sewing Book, you can
•Dresses and skirts
now create your own one-of-a-kind fashions,
• Pillows and wall hangings
keepsakes, and home accents that will be O
cherished for years to come. • Shirts and vests
This step-by-step guide walks you through
O
the basics while providing instructions for Also featuring dozens of detailed illustrations,
completing various projects with a minimum tips and tricks for making alterations and
of fuss. From selecting the right needle and repairs, and simple instructions for dressing K
thread to choosing fabrics, reading patterns, up your old clothes, The Everything® Sewing
From threading
and working with a machine, The Everything® Book helps you piece together projects with a
Sewing Book provides you with all you need to personal touch!
the needle to basting
learn this rewarding craft.
the hem, all you
Sandra Detrixhe is the author of The Everything®
Quilting Bookand Zen and the Art of Quilting. Ms.
Detrixhe has been needleworking for more than THE need to alter and create beautiful
twenty years and has shown her creations at county
fairs and contests. She lives in Concordia, KS.
clothes, gifts, and decorations
SEWING ® DETRIXHE
www.everything.com
BOOK
Sandra Detrixhe
Cover design by Barry Littmann
Illustrations by Eulala Connor
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The
Sewing Book
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The Series
®
Editorial
Publishing Director Gary M. Krebs
Managing Editor Kate McBride
Copy Chief Laura MacLaughlin
Acquisitions Editor Eric M. Hall
Development Editor Karen Johnson Jacot
Production Editor Jamie Wielgus
Production
Production Director Susan Beale
Production Manager Michelle Roy Kelly
Series Designers Daria Perreault
Colleen Cunningham
Cover Design Paul Beatrice
Frank Rivera
Layout and Graphics Colleen Cunningham
Rachael Eiben
Michelle Roy Kelly
John Paulhus
Daria Perreault
Erin Ring
Cover Artist Eulala Conner
Interior Illustrator Eric Andrews
Visit the entire Everything®Series at www.everything.com
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THE
S E W I N G
BOOK
From threading the needle to
basting the hem, all you need to
alter and create beautiful clothes,
gifts, and decorations
Sandra Detrixhe
Adams Media
Avon, Massachusetts
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To my first reader and darling daughter Eden
Copyright ©2004, F+W Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced
in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions
are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.
An Everything® Series Book.
Everything® and everything.com® are registered trademarks of F+W Publications, Inc.
Published by Adams Media, an F+W Publications Company
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com
ISBN: 1-59337-052-0
Printed in the United States of America.
J I H G F E D C
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Detrixhe, Sandra.
The everything sewing book / Sandra Detrixhe.
p. cm.
(An everything series book)
ISBN 1-59337-052-0
1. Sewing. 2. Dressmaking. I. Title. II. Everything series.
TT705.D48 2004
646.2--dc22 2003026251
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with
regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the pub-
lisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If
legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent pro-
fessional person should be sought.
—From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the
American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their
products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book
and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been
printed with initial capital letters.
This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, call 1-800-872-5627.
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Contents
Top Ten Reasons to Learn to Sew / x
Introduction / xi
1
Sewing Machines / 1
Choosing a Machine 2 • Knowing Your Machine 4 • Understanding Attach-
ments 7 • The Necessary Needle 9 • Threading Your Machine 10 • Cleaning
and Maintenance 11 • Using the Machine 13
2
Sewing Tools and Notions / 17
Choosing Shears and Scissors 18 • Knowing Your Needles and Pins 19 •
Learning about Thread 21 • Choosing Measuring Tapes and Gauges 22 •
Choosing Marking Tools 22 • Considering Pressing Tools 23 • Learning about
Interfacing 24 • Understanding Trims and Bindings 24 • Understanding Elastic
and Fasteners 26
3
Fabric Facts / 29
Comments on Cotton 30 • A Look at Linen 31 • A Word about Wool 32 •
Studying Silks 32•Selecting Synthetics 33•Knowing Your Knits 34•Choosing
Wisely 34 • Preparing Your Fabric 37
4
Basic Mending and Altering / 41
Why Bother? 42 • Mending Hems and Seams 42 • Changing Hemlines 48 •
Taking In or Letting Out a Seam 52 • Mending Simple Tears 53 • Mending Holes
55 • Buttons and Buttonholes 56
5
Making Curtains / 59
Planning Your Curtains 60 • Estimating Yardage 60 • Choosing Curtain Fabrics
62 • Cutting Out Your Curtains 62 • Sewing Your Curtains 63 • Making Ruffles
65 • Making Valances and Flounces 69 • Tab Curtains 71 • Scalloped Topped
Curtains 72
v
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THE EVERYTHING SEWING BOOK
6
Tablecloths / 75
Measuring and Shopping 76 • Piecing Larger Cloths 76 • Cutting an
Oval Cloth 77• Cutting a Circle 78• Stitching the Hems 78 • Reversible
Tablecloths 83 • Decorating Ideas 84
7
Pillow Possibilities / 89
Learning the Basics 90 • Adding Ruffles and Piping 92 • Making an
Appliqué Top 94 • Making a Handkerchief Top 95 • Making a Quilt-Block
Top 97 • Making a Woven-Ribbon Top 100 • Making Chair Cushions 101
8
More Stuffed Fun / 105
Fashioning a Fabric Wreath 106 • Making Gingerbread Dolls 108 •
Making a Jingle Kitty 113 • Trying a Turtle Shape 113 • Stitching Block
and Box Shapes 115 • Making a Child’s Ball 118
9
Three-Piece Crib Set / 121
Taking the Measurements 122 • Buying Special Supplies 123 • Making
Fitted Corners 125 • Encasing the Elastic 127 • Making a Comforter 127
• Cutting and Stitching the Bumper Pads 129 • Adding Ties 130 •
Finishing 132
10
Appliquéd Tote Bag / 133
Designing the Bag for Your Needs 134 • Fabric Shopping 136 • Making
Patterns for Appliqué 137 • Cutting to Order 137 • Putting the Pieces
Together 138 • Making the Handles 139 • Sewing It All Together 140 •
Boxing the Corners 143
11
Fun-to-Make Gifts / 147
Trimming Infants’ T-shirts 148 • Easy Turned Appliqué 148 • Adding
Snaps to Toddler Overalls 149 • Learning Machine Monogramming 152
• Toddlers’ Quiet Books 154
vi
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CONTENTS
12
Lined Baskets and Pincushions / 159
Measuring Your Basket 160 • Cutting Pieces and Pockets 161 • Stitching
and Gluing 162 • Adding Trim 164 • Removable Lining 165 • Lining
the Lid 167 • Pincushion Basket 168
13
Hanging Caddies / 169
Planning for Specific Uses 170 • Pattern and Pieces 171 • Pockets and
Trim 173 • Attachments for Hanging 175 • Putting Front and Back
Together 176 • Binding the Edges 177 • Final Details 179
14
“Welcome Spring” Wall Hanging / 181
Reading the Pattern 182 • Planning the Message Blocks 184 • Cutting
the Pieces 184 • Piecing the Tulip 186 • Piecing the Butterfly 190 •
Learning Reverse Appliqué 192 • Assembling and Quilting 194 •
Preparing for Hanging 195 • Folded Binding 196
15
Making a Simple Dress from a Pattern / 199
Choosing a Pattern 200 • Reading the Envelope 200 • Fitting the Pat-
tern 202 • Laying Out the Pattern 203 • Cutting and Marking the Pieces
203 • Stitching Darts and Seams 206 • Inserting a Centered Zipper 206
• Sewing Facing and Interfacing 209 • Hem, and You’re Done 211
16
Infant’s Gown / 213
Making a Pattern 214 • Fabric and Notions 215 • Sewing the Sleeves
216 • Making Bias Binding 216 • Finishing the Neckline 218 • Front
Fasteners 221 • Making a Casing for the Bottom Tie 221 • Shirt Alter-
native 222
17
Making a Vest / 223
Making a Pattern 224 • Shopping and Cutting 225 • Decorating with
Crayons 225 • Adding a Slashed Pocket 226 • Adding Back Ties 229
•Constructing the Vest 229 • Reversible Alternative 231 • Sewing the
Shoulder Seams 231 • Adding Buttonholes 232
vii
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THE EVERYTHING SEWING BOOK
18
Making a Skirt from a Pattern / 233
Choosing a Pattern 234 • Shopping and Fitting 234 • Cutting and
Marking 235 • Sewing Darts and Seams 236 • Inserting a Lapped Zipper
236 • Possible Pockets 239 • Hidden Side Pockets 240 • Finishing the
Waistline 241 • Final Details 244
19
Little Girl’s Jumper / 245
Taking Measurements 246 • Choosing Material 247 • Making the Pat-
terns 247 • Cutting Pieces by Measure 249 • Constructing the Top 251
• Constructing the Skirt 252 • Attaching Skirt to Front 253 • Buttons,
Buttonholes, and Ties 254
20
Tailored Shirt from a Pattern / 257
Beginning as Usual 258 • Finishing the Front Edges 258 • Making Tai-
lored Pockets 259 • Sewing One- or Two-Piece Collars 260 • Making
Cuff Openings 263 • Adding the Cuffs 265 • Easing in the Sleeves 266
• Finishing with Buttons and Hem 267
21
Advanced Mending and Altering / 269
Appraising the Problem 270 • Darts and Shaping 270 • Shortening
Sleeves 271 • Adding Panels 272 • Frayed Cuffs and Collars 274 •
Replacing Worn-Out Lining 275•Replacing a Broken Zipper 277•Cam-
ouflaging Mended Areas or Stains 278 • Complete Makeover Ideas 279
Appendix A • Glossary / 281
Appendix B • Resources / 289
Index / 295
viii
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A
cknowledgments
Special thanks to Michael Wentz for letting me watch him clean my
sewing machine and Pat Gerhardt, County Extension Agent, for
information on crib safety, vest patterns, and other things.
