High-Fashion Sewing Secrets from the World's Best Designers: Step-By-Step Guide to Sewing Stylish Seams, Buttonholes, Pockets, Collars, Hems and More

by Claire B. Shaeffer

Book Overview

In High Fashion Sewing Secrets from the World's Best Designers internationally known sewing expert Claire Schaeffer reveals the secrets of high-fashion legends such as Geoffrey Beene, Ralph Lauren,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0875967175
• ISBN13: 9780875967172
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Rodale Books
• Length: 245 Pages
• Weight: 1.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.6" x 11.2"

Customer Reviews

Fabulous Book!

I have been struggling with sewing for years. Understanding the proper construction techniques "from the ground up" has made an enormous change in how I view the entire process. This book is the best I have ever read and should be required reading for any sewer!

transformed me from a beginner to a confident sewer

I bought this book about 6 months ago and read it from cover to cover. I was fascinated, but I didn't want to write a review until I had actually tried some of the techniques.Well, I've done the piped pockets, the bias cvered seams, and I'm working on the flounce collar (which happens to be fashionable again), and they look pretty good!!But worth all the money, are the pages on manipulating patterns. With commercial patterns costing well over $10 today, this book enables you to play with what is already in your collection. Before this, I was a slave to the pattern companies, but now, I know how to make what I want. I eliminated a waist seam on a jumper for my daughter, and created an unusual skirt by combining two patterns.My confidence in my ability to construct a garment, and have it look professional, has increased mani-fold.

A Must Have like all of Claire's other books

All sewing books I buy should be able to teach me at least 1 new-to-me technique before I rate them. This one is a winner. Worth its weight in gold for the information you get.'I rate myself an intermediate sewist with patternmaking skills. It is a must for intermediate and advanced sewing enthuasiasts and if you are a beginner then you will need this book to inspire and guide you to becoming an advanced sewist. My friend's daughter wanted a dress made with a cowl neckline. I had never made this style before and had no idea how to. I drafted the pattern, fitted the muslin, corrected the pattern and was raring to sew! I went through all of my sewing books looking for information on sewing cowls. I have just about all sewing books....Claire's book not only showed me how to sew this but also how to "stay" the cowl. It was the best piece of information ever. The neckline was perfect and I could see without the "stay" how the neckline kept misbehaving!Another bit of information was on lining a wrap skirt....cutting the back lining on the cross grain....wonderful information. How would I ever have the know-how without the experience? Claire's books are winners.

Great, but NOT for beginners.

This is NOT a book for beginners--you must know what you're doing before attempting some of these things. You at least have to know basics and have some experience first. But when you get the experience, you will like this book! I used this book to trim a rather blah-looking two piece light blue suit, consisting of a skirt and short-sleeved, princess seamed top that comes down to the hipline. (One of those "See and Sew" patterns for $1.97.) The cut was great, the style looked great--on paper. I don't know what it was, but despite my best hopes and efforts to pick the right fabric, it just didn't look good. I wore it twice but still didn't like it. (Everybody else did--go figure.) Flipped through this book, and decided to give the Chanel-style trim a try. If I ruined it, so what? Worked like a charm. Okay, my stitches aren't perfect, but it looks infinitely better than it did before. I also tried that YSL trick of edgestitching the binding after topstitching it down--WOW. I may try a black suit with white trim next time. THAT will be great. I have tried, but unsuccessfully, the slanted welt pockets for skirts and pants from Calvin Klein. Guess I'm just a math dummy--I couldn't make it work for anything! Next up: try to duplicate that Christian Doir top that's done up in orange. I guess if I'd actually READ the book instead of flipping through it like a reference book I'd get more use out of it!

the best sewing book around for intermediate ++ sewers

I have been sewing all of my life, and have studied under some of the most qualified teachers, but this book goes further than any other in its context and pictures. Claire shows some of the many techniques High Couture achieves its name. A must for any serious sewer, especially one who wants a beautiful finish as well as fit in her/his garments. It is a very technical book, which might be a bit frustrating for a beginner, but it will definitely inspire everyone. It has replaced my old Vogue sewing book of the early 60's. Bobbie Carr's book is also excellent, but this one is much more inclusive in its techniques. I think it is a must. Sharon O. Carte