Easy Guide to Sewing Tops & T-Shirts (Sewing Companion Library)

Rating:
Summary: A very valuable sewing reference book
Review: This is a very helpful handbook for home sewers who want to learn appropriate techniques for creating quality women's tops. There are many good illustrations, and the text is clearly written. As a skilled seamstress who has sewed for many years, I can tell you that the methods in this book are really good, and as the title indicates they are also quite easy. If you are learning to sew and have trouble understanding the guide sheets that come with commercial patterns, this books will teach you sound sewing techniques that will get you off to a good start.

Although much of the content of this book may already be familiar to advanced sewers, you may still learn something new or find things that you knew but had forgotten. I browse through this book frequently when planning a new sewing project. It is nice to have so much pertinent information in one handy little paperback.

If you are looking for a sewing book that deals with very fitted or tailored garments, this is not the book you want. It does not cover making collars, or the methods used in making menswear type shirts. The author's introduction specifies that she is only dealing with t-shirts made from knit fabrics, or with unstructured pullover tops in woven fabrics. The emphasis of the book is on fashion sewing. The examples in the book are dressy tops, rather than casual t-shirts or unisex activewear. The author shows how to take very basic designs and add value and quality by using designer methods. She also gives good advice about appropriate fabric choices.

Although much of the content of this book may already be familiar to advanced sewers, you may still learn something new or find things that you knew but had forgotten. I browse through this book frequently when planning a new sewing project. It is nice to have so much pertinent information in one handy little paperback.


Rating:
Summary: Excellent -- very thorough and easy to understand.
Review: You wouldn't think there would be enough to say about t-shirts to fill a whole book, would you? Well, there is! This is another terrific book from the people at Threads. If you want to make really beautiful, professional, classy tops and t-shirts this is the book for you. Marcy Tilton has taken her many years of sewing and teaching experience and distilled it into a guide that helps with fitting, tweaking the pattern, choosing fabrics, new ways with facings and neck bindings, etc. There's a good beginner section on painting and stencilling your tops too. I bought this book after hearing Marcy lecture at a sewing convention on the topic "The $200 T-Shirt" and have found it to be very useful in my sewing. There are some small tables on measurements and interfacings that are great for photocopying and putting on your bulletin board in your sewing room. I would highly recommend this book if you're looking for a way to spruce up that Casual Friday wardrobe.