Sewing books

When I started again sewing seriously for myself last year I started to buy sewing books . In English, as in Dutch there are only basic sewing books. I do have the Knip book, and it's fine, but it doesn't tell you about advanced techniques, like inserting a sleeve head, or adjusting a pattern for example, or the little tricks for doing something.

A great inspiration was Power Sewing by Sandra Betzina. Great instructions for so many things that make your self-made clothes look better. I only wish that some pictures were clearer, as imho a print or dark fabric don't show very well in pictures with instructions, and in a book I expect that is taken into account. Fast fit by her is also great for adjusting patterns.

When Carolyn posted on her ten favorite sewing books I was triggered to find the book Decorative dressmaking which she mentioned and to find a few other books on my wish list.
I found the dressmaking book which really is a source of inspiration (thanks Carolyn).

The two other books I ordered were more about techniques and up till now I'm impressed by Claire Shaeffers book. So much details, and a great help with drawing the lining pattern for my coat.
The book by Susan Huxley must still proof itself to me, I lost my way in the bound button holes instructions, so I did not use those, but other instructions seem fine.



















This Burda book I still use regularly (it's a Dutch translation from a German original), I bought it in 1983, so it does not include new techniques as serging or working with knits and the pictures are really old-fashioned, but that's not important. For my coat I used the bound button hole technique from this book. The technique in Claire Shaeffers book was fine too.

I find it very helpful to have a few reference books near my sewing machine, and sometimes I just browse through them, as you easily forget