Andy’s grandmother surprised me with these three new sewing books for my birthday. She spent more money on shipping than the cost of the books themselves, sending them all the way from the U.S. I’m so thrilled to have finally gotten these books that had been on my wish list for a while!
The Colette Sewing Handbook by Sarai Mitnick
First off, The Colette book! Who doesn’t know about this book in the home sewing world? If you don’t you have to check out the Colette blog, which is full of tutorials and inspirations. This book is full of pretty pictures and illustrations, and I think it’s great for beginners. It comes with a couple of patterns, and I’m excited to get my hands busy working on them. These patterns seem perfect for the upcoming warm seasons.
Next up is Make Your Own Dress Patterns by Adele P. Margolis. If you are interested in drafting your own patterns, this is a great reference book. Even if you are not particularly interested in pattern making, knowing about pattern drafting basics will transform your sewing experience! This is kind of like a text book for me, where I sit down with highlighter and make notes like the good old college days. I’ve read one amazon review that said “the illustration of the book is old”, but I love the retro feel of the illustrations! There are no pictures, but plenty of vintage-ish illustrations through out the book.
The last one of the 3 is Design-It-Yourself Clothes Patternmaking Simplified by Cal Patch. This is last on my reading list just because the book seems very basic and the contents might overlap with the Colette book and BurdaStyle book. The book includes a section on sewing pants, so that’s a plus!
Besides these sewing books, I recently finished the last Steig Larsson book, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest. I was relieved to finish it. It was long. Right now I’m reading The Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. It is a rather sad book, but I’m really enjoying learning about the lives of women in Afganistan.
What are in your reading list? Any recommendation for both sewing and non-sewing books?
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Emily says
What a great surprise! I have the Make Your Own Dress Patterns by Adele P. Margolis book too, I found it in an old book bin at the library. I got it for free (even if some of the pages are bent/folded), but it’s so inspirational. Once I figure out a good basic sloper I want to try some of the alterations!
Chie says
Hi Emily, oh lucky you! That’s so cool that you found it for free:p
I know, reading through the book, I feel like the possibilities are endless. Once you have a good basic sloper that fits you perfectly, then you can do all sorts of fun stuff!!
Ginger says
How nice! I’m so glad you reviewed “Make Your Own Dress Patterns”. I’ve been interested in that– it sounds lovely! I’m hoping to get into pattern drafting this summer.
Chie says
Ginger, it’s easy to read and I feel like it transformed my attitude toward a good sloper! It’s funny I feel like the book makes your brain switch to “pattern brain” because whatever clothes I see I think about how it is constructed!
tiza says
Such a lovely birthday present!:) The Colette book has been on my wish list for quiet sometime, too! I’m a beginner and I just finished Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp. Online reviews said it’s the sewing bible for beginners. I also just bought Burda Style’s May issue – can wait to get my hands on those fabrics and scissors. Last week, I just finished my first (real – yes, I’ve been altering old and new clothes but haven’t started on a real project) sewing project: a cinched-waist skirt from the book, Sewing in a Straight Line by Brett Bara. 😉
Chie says
Hi Tiza, I love cinched waist skirts! They are not only easy to sew but also comfortable to wear! I’m envious that you get an access to Burda mags. They don’t sell in Japan. I wish they did!
Ruth says
Hello Chie!
I’ve just finished reading “Bringing up bébé” by Pamela Druckerman. She’s an American who went to live in Paris, she started to notice how French children behaved very differently from the American/English speaking kids. So she went on “investigate” why is that so. Really interesting read! 🙂
For some non mumsy reads, try “Unbearable Lightness of Being” by Milan Kundera. Great read too 🙂
Chie says
Hi Ruth! Both sounds interesting! Im going to add them to “to-read” list! I just finished a Thousand Splendid Suns. It was very good. Now I downloaded the “kite runner” by the same author!
Ruth says
Hi Chie,
I’ve yet to read the book “Kite Runner” yet but I’ve watched movie. Heart-wrenching and moving movie, perhaps you can watch it after you’re done with the book?
And on a side note, Kiko is so KAWAII 🙂
Inna says
Such a sweet present! Does Andy’s grandma sew or craft?
I own both Colette sewing handbook and Do-it-yourself clothes! So far I made only the Meringue skinrt but more is on my list.
I often refer to Claire Shaeffer’s “Couture Sewing Technique” and VOGUE Sewing. I also like Garment Design Texbooks by BUNKA.
From the fiction book-list I would recommend Michael Chabon, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (easy and fascinating read), Mishima Yukio Hōjō no Umi (that’s my best 2011 book), The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger (if you have not read it yet)