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Rating: 
Summary: If you're looking for a basic instruction book - this is it!
Review: I am an experienced professional sewer and have an older edition of this book. I refer back to it often. If you need basic instruction - get this book! It covers patterns, fabrics, fitting, contruction, finishing, tailoring and much, much more!
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as the older version
Review: I borrowed an older copy of this book from the library to help me with my curtain-sewing projects (I haven't sewed anything since grade 8 which was a while back and figured I needed some guidance). the book seemed so helpful that I decided to buy my own copy. This updated version is nowhere near as helpful as the old. In the old version, there is information about how to thread a machine, what the different settings are for, a more comprehensive section on curtains etc.... The pictures are decent and the instructions seem easy to follow though.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not the best sewing book
Review: I borrowed the 1995 edition of this book from the library, and ordered it hoping the latest 2002 edition would resemble the impressive volume of instructions and references that appeared the the earlier versions. I was very disappointed in the 2002 edition. There are 384 pages in the 2002 edition and 431 pages in the 1995 edition. In another library, the pre-1995 editions are even better with 500+ pages. They include everything you'd want to know about sewing. Unfortunately each newer edition is becoming smaller with less reference material. The section on sewing for the home such as draperies, shades, bedcovers has been replaced by a project on how to sew one type of curtain. The section on sewing for Men and Children is replaced by instructions on how to sew a shirt for a boy, and one skirt for a girl. They give details on doing different patterns instead of a reference section for Men and Children's clothing, sewing techniques. The same applied for sewing for the home. If I was interested in doing projects with patterns, I would have bought a pattern from one of many companies with far greater style selections. In a book, I expect references that the pattern cannot detail on many different parts and types of clothing. I expected the 2002 edition to be larger with even more reference on style alterations and sewing methods for different materials, garments, and interior home decor. In this century there is more variety of materials available and styles that a sewer needs to make reference to. I am debating whether I should return the latest edition, since my expectations were much more than what the book provided.
Rating:
Summary: Nice overview of sewing techniques
Review: I purchased this book when I had a general understanding of sewing and wanted to improve my skills without having to take sewing classes. I refer to this book when I have a slight understanding of what I'm doing and need to see the details about how it's done step by step. This book does just that - no skipped steps, illustrations for every step. There are few photos, but the drawings actually serve you better because you can see the seams more clearly. The book covers a very wide range of assembly techniques, which is quite helpful if you've got a blouse all done but are stuck on sewing the collar. I have bought a lot of sewing books and find that any that include "complete guide to..." in the title try to cover too many topics and lack the detailed content many of us are searching for. If you are really lost on how to do pattern alterations or working with knits etc., you will be much happier with a book that only deals with that topic and has the space to give you in-depth instructions. Overall, it is a very good book to have for reference when the pattern you are working with does not give you the extra help you need.
Rating:
Summary: Nice overview of sewing techniques
Review: I purchased this book when I had a general understanding of sewing and wanted to improve my skills without having to take sewing classes. I refer to this book when I have a slight understanding of what I'm doing and need to see the details about how it's done step by step. This book does just that - no skipped steps, illustrations for every step. There are few photos, but the drawings actually serve you better because you can see the seams more clearly. The book covers a very wide range of assembly techniques, which is quite helpful if you've got a blouse all done but are stuck on sewing the collar. I have bought a lot of sewing books and find that any that include "complete guide to..." in the title try to cover too many topics and lack the detailed content many of us are searching for. If you are really lost on how to do pattern alterations or working with knits etc., you will be much happier with a book that only deals with that topic and has the space to give you in-depth instructions. Overall, it is a very good book to have for reference when the pattern you are working with does not give you the extra help you need.
Rating:
Summary: A Must for all Sewers
Review: If you're new to sewing or just want a bit of a refresher, this is one book I'd recommend. This book covers everything you need to know about sewing. The New Complete Guide to Sewing gives you everything you need to know to create the wardrobe of your dreams and fill your home with original decorative accents. Clear, simple instructions throughout, written by Reader's Digest sewing experts tell you what to do and how to do it throughout. Plus, thousands of illustrations and diagrams illustrate each stage of the sewing process. Sewing will become fun and easy to do.
Rating:
Summary: A Must for all Sewers
Review: If you're new to sewing or just want a bit of a refresher, this is one book I'd recommend. This book covers everything you need to know about sewing. The New Complete Guide to Sewing gives you everything you need to know to create the wardrobe of your dreams and fill your home with original decorative accents. Clear, simple instructions throughout, written by Reader's Digest sewing experts tell you what to do and how to do it throughout. Plus, thousands of illustrations and diagrams illustrate each stage of the sewing process. Sewing will become fun and easy to do.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for beginners
Review: The book is too advanced for beginners. The book starts off assuming you know how to read and cut patterns, piece together parts, and construct clothing. It also assumes that you are very comfortable with using a sewing machine. The photographs are beautiful, but it hasn't served as a how-to manual that I had hoped. For the same retail price, you can buy at least two other better books.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not the best sewing book
Review: This book is comprehensive, but I recommend instead "The Complete Book of Sewing," by DK Publishing, August 1996. I found that many things only partly explained in this book were fully explained with better and more detailed pictures in "The Complete Book of Sewing." If I had to do it all over again I would not have purchased this book and bought instead "The Complete Book of Sewing" because "The Complete Book of Sewing" is a much better book that has pushed this book to the back of my bookshelf.
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