Fine Machine Sewing Revised Edition: Easy Ways to Get the Look of Hand Finishing and Embellishing

by Carol Laflin Ahles

Book Overview

This beautiful reference book makes advanced finishing styles accessible to all levels of sewers. Hundreds of color photos and illustrations demonstrate tools, techniques, and tips, as well as... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561585866
• ISBN13: 9781561585861
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: Taunton Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.5" x 10.8"

Customer Reviews

Terrific sewing techniques book.

This book is actually just the book I have been looking for. There are many, many things the newer digital sewing machines can do - you see pictures of the finished items in all of the sewing magazines. The Elna Heirloom Edition I had and sold was capable of many of these lovely techniques, but I couldn't figure them out with the minimal instructions that came with the machine. Nobody tells you how to accomplish things like hemstitching and fagoting in any of the user guides or even the instructional videos. I was about to just give up on my Husqvarna Designer II when I got this book, and now it just sings! I just needed somebody to show me how and this book did it, did it well in an easy to understand, concise format. Highly recommended for the experienced and novice sewer.

The best book about sewing technique

This is an incredible book. It is clearly written with profusely illustrated with excellent quality photos. It has greatly expanded my ideas about what is possible on a sewing machine. I read it from cover to cover even though I don't actually plan to use many of the techniques. However, I have already put the author's advice on blind hemming and narrow hemming into practice. I am also intrigued by the possibilities of hemstitching (stitching hems and hemstitching are totally different things). I love this book.

i improved the first time i used it

I shied away from getting this book at first, i wasn't sure if it was for me, so many books are written with the husqvarna or elna in mind (i have a babylock) but i finally bought it, because it really is for any type of sewing machine (although it does use the hemstitches that are on the computerized machines) In a bout of insomnia i took this book out and started reading cover to cover, and i realized that i have been using the wrong presser foot!! No wonder my fabric has been puckering and getting crammed into the needle plate, i had been using my zig-zag satin foot when i should have been using my regular foot (ya there is a difference!) There are little things like that as well as techniques like corded buttonholes, scallops, pin tucks, hem stitching (point of paris, venitian, you'll even find out what to do with that daisy stitch) Sewing heirloom laces together is discussed, and there are beautiful blouses for you to try. As a tatter, i really liked the one with the column of tatted insertion.Besides sewing techniques and stitches, this book discusses optional presser feet, and also how to choose a sewing machine, something very valuable if you are thinking of geting into heirloom sewing and are in the market to get a computerized machine. Bring it with you to a trusted dealer!

Comprehensive study of heirloom sewing techniques.

Excellent chapeters on hemstitching, fagotting, pintucking and more. Everyone should read this book before they purchase a new machine. The photographs are inspiring and beautiful. Even if you don't do heirloom sewing, the book has an outstanding chapter on precision sewing which will increase your skill tenfold.

Add this one to your must have list.

Carol Ahles has done a wonderful job of making the reader comfortable with the practical use of many of the decorative stitches on today's newer sewing machines. The color pictures are beautiful and inspirational. I especially liked the reference sections with machine settings to assist in achieving the perfect results every time. This book is easy to read and an absolute must for anyone contemplating a new sewing machine or trying to master the one they already own.