Rating: 
Summary: Great Resource
Review: A colorful, useful guide to fabric and how to handle it. I only wish that swatches of fabric or large close-ups of the fabric were included, rather than the outfits pictured, as the outfits are often made out of more than one fabric. Morevoer, with eight kinds of wool, being able to see and touch them would make the information more available to me. Also, it would be nice to see how finished garments hang on a body instead of how they lay flat. Nonetheless, it is a very good book, very well organized, and very well constructed considering how it will be so heavily used.
Rating:
Summary: DAMN! You're Good!!!
Review: Anyone that sews should have this book!! This is a seamstress' BIBLE! I refer to this book everytime I change to a new fabric. This book is very detailed! This is a NECESSARY BUY!! Thanks Sandra!
Rating:
Summary: sewing reference essential
Review: Before acquiring this book I frequently had doubts and concerns about suitability, treatment and care of fabrics. Sandra's book is very easy to use, with clear photo of a garment made with the referenced fabric. What is the best needle to use? thread? style of pattern? method of cleaning? interfacing? This is not a sewing manual, but a very useful guide to fabric. Even when I assume I know my fabric, I check it's page and usually find a crucial tidbit of information. At the very least, I proceed with greater confidence on my project.
Rating:
Summary: Wanted to add an amen!
Review: I hadn't been pleased with Sandra Betzina's stuff generally: I found her Vogue patterns for "Today's Women" didn't fit this woman any better than yesterday's patterns, and Power Sewing was a big disappointment. But she gets a ringing endorsement for this one. Logical layout, all related information: foot to use, thread, suggested uses, and it's in alphabetical order. Wonderful reference book!
Rating:
Summary: Great Resource
Review: I have to say I love this book. Easy to use, you can get in get the information you need and get on with your project!!! Love it...Thanks Sandra Betzina.
Rating:
Summary: Belongs next to every sewing machine
Review: Let me state my one request for a change and then proceed with my sincere, gushing praise: In the next edition, I hope Ms. Betzina will include a phonetic pronounciation next to the name of every type of fabric she talks about.Now, let's get started on what's right about this book, which is EVERYTHING. The binding shows this book is a workhorse. It's vinyl coated hardbound, with a covered spiral binding. In other words, it opens flat and won't fall apart with use.The format: a generous lower margin allows you to prop it open (flat!) in a stand to refer to as you work. Each type fabric is presented in alphabetical order and on two facing pages--it's all there when you're working, you don't have to skip around. An photograph of the garment made of the fabric is included--so you can see the subtle difference between silk dupioni and shantung...and an appropriate garment for the fabric. Under bold, clear headings are listed the recommended needle, closure, layout, marking, cutting, interfacing, thread, presser foot, closures, stitch length, preshrink, pressing, hem for the fabric. There are also fascinating tips to improve your sewing and interesting facts about the fabric. I'll never use the same old needle and thread again, and now know what would make some of my garments look couture perfect rather than homemade. This truly is an essential guide for EVERY sewer.
Rating:
Summary: Love it!
Review: Thanks you, Sandra!! This is truly a seamstress BIBLE!!! I especially use this book when I go to the fabric store. This gives me an idea of what type of notions that I need to purchase or perhaps I already have!!! I truly love this book!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent reference
Review: This book clearly sets out the types of problems and techniques that can be associated with many different fabrics and fabric types. Especially good for the beginning sewer are the sections on thread, machine feet, needles to use and special techniques.My only real problem with the book is that several of the fabrics I wanted to look up weren't there. I am not sure whether this is because the missing fabrics are not treated in the book, or whether they go under a different name in America to what it does in Australia. The index would have been improved by a larger number of fabric names: for instance, poplin does not appear in the index, nor does Ultrasuede.
Rating: 
Summary: Good for reference, but not everyday
Review: This is a good reference book. I wish it had a glossary of sewing machine accessories, since I wasn't sure about some of the feet Betzina was recommending (my machine is older). I also wish she had more pages about the kind of fabric you find in the local fabric stores. There are many different kinds of cotton and poly-cotton blend fabrics. It is very handy, though, when you are unfamiliar with a fabric. I used the interfacing suggestions for voile for my daughter's Easter dress. All in all, a good book to have, but not one that I use constantly
Rating: 
Summary: Ok at best; get Shaeffer's guide instead
Review: This is a terse book, nice and colourful but really not indispensible. Get Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide instead which really is encyclopedic. Unfortunately both suffer from not having things like cross-names (parachute cloth = supplex) but Fabric Savvy is just a little too brief and does not totally handle all the problems in sewing for that particular fabric like Shaeffer's does (it's a 4th the size).
Also Fabric Savvy covers of course allot less different fabrics batching them together and ignoring the nuances.
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