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Giveaway: The Complete Photo Guide to Clothing Instruction
I’m happy to be taking part in the blog tour for my friend Christine Haynes‘ brand new book, The Complete Photo Guide To Clothing Construction. Today, we’re offering one lucky reader a free copy of the book (see details below).
First, I wanted to share a few pages of this fantastic book with you, to give you a sense of what’s inside.
Personally, I am a big believer in photo-heavy instructional books. I’m a visual learner, and I tend to think that clear color photographs are one of the absolute best ways to demonstrate any sort of needlecraft technique.
And the sheer number of photos in this book means that Christine has fit a huge abundance of information into this slender and beautiful book. There are over 600 full color photos, demonstrating everything from how to install zippers to sewing with knits.
This book is like a an extended class in garment sewing, only in book form. With a wonderful teacher like Christine at your side, you can basically learn anything.
Here’s a preview of the kind of clear, quality instruction you’ll see in this book:
I highly encourage you to pick up a copy, and I say that not only as Christine’s friend and admirer, but as a collector of fabulous sewing books. This is the sort of book you will find yourself turning to again and again.
Giveaway
To enter to win a free copy of this book, leave a comment below telling me one sewing technique you’d like to learn or get better at.
I will choose a lucky winner by random number generator after Friday, March 7 at midnight Pacific time. You have until then to enter.
International entries are welcome, and we will pay for shipping (though if you are outside the US, you are responsible for any local duties that may be charged).
Good luck, and be sure to pick up a copy!
PS: Tomorrow, the blog tour will move to another friend’s blog, Erin of Miss Crayola Creepy fame. Be sure to visit Erin too!
UPDATE: The winner of this book is Stella, who answered our question with: “How to use my serger/overlocker and whip those stretchy fabrics into shape!” Congrats, Stella!
Comments
Dena
March 3, 2014 #
Collars
Amber
March 3, 2014 #
This book looks amazing! Sleeves for me…they scare me :oP
Holli
March 3, 2014 #
Zippers and finishing techniques!
This book looks awesome!
Nicola
March 3, 2014 #
I would love to master zips and finishing techniques using the different machine feet so it’s not so clumsy! Thanks!
Meghan
March 3, 2014 #
What I’d like to learn? Everything!! I’m a complete novice when it comes to clothes, which is why I love the look of this book! We novices need lots of pictures!
Jenna Hilb
March 3, 2014 #
I’d like to get better at finishing my seams… it seems no matter what I do they turn out looking less than awesome… thanks! :)
Leilani
March 3, 2014 #
How to sew for two minutes at a time. Hahaha. How about finishing seams – I’m always so haphazard.
Sarah
March 3, 2014 #
I have the worst time with sleeves. I would love to learn how to sew sleeves that fit comfortably.
Torey
March 3, 2014 #
Oh man. Darts! I am so intrigued and so intimidated. This book looks gorgeous.
Lindsay
March 3, 2014 #
I’m struggling with collar stands… I could really use picture tutorials!
Sanne
March 3, 2014 #
Seam finishes, sleeves, zippers and collars… okay, that’s more than one sewing technique ;)
Taiise
March 3, 2014 #
I’d like to learn how to adjust a pattern to fit my hips and to adjust the waistband to fit my waist. I would also like to learn how to sew a french seam.
Adriene
March 3, 2014 #
Zippers and knits!
Geri
March 3, 2014 #
I would love to learn how to handle knits.
melissa
March 3, 2014 #
I would love to learn more about sewing with knits.
Claudia
March 3, 2014 #
I’d love to learn professional finishing techniques especially for necklines and facings. My facings always flip outwards!
Tara
March 3, 2014 #
I would love to learn how to work with lightweight and slippery fabrics.
Jenifer
March 3, 2014 #
Wow! There’s so many things I haven’t learned! I guess I’d say customizing patterns … Thanks!,
marissa
March 3, 2014 #
I’d like to do a collar stand that actually looks professional!
chibidani
March 3, 2014 #
I still need to improve turning seams.
Zuri
March 3, 2014 #
I want to learn how to line, underline or both better. I also want to learn how to do foundations on garments.
Gabrielle
March 3, 2014 #
I am a beginner sewer and would love to learn how to use an overlocker.
Hep Kara
March 3, 2014 #
I really need to review lapped zippers. Lately I’ve done a lot of fly zippers and invisibles, but not many lapped. (And yesterday’s attempt at a lapped zipper was moderately terrible. )
anastasia
March 3, 2014 #
I’d love to get better at lined garments.
What a great idea for a book. Going from an avid sewer to a sporadic one (at best) I have forgotten many things. I know this will be a great reference to have.
Michelle Fuller
March 3, 2014 #
I would love to learn how to use boning, or how to shire.
Shanni Snyder
March 3, 2014 #
I’d like to learn how to better work with slippery fabrics like silk and also knits! Thanks for the chance to win.
Toni
March 3, 2014 #
Invisible zippers.
Andrea
March 3, 2014 #
I need help in shortening a zipper and making the ends look nice
abby @ thingsforboys
March 3, 2014 #
I really need to work on my zip fly technique. I’ve only done one and it was terrible!
Amanda Renea
March 3, 2014 #
Sleeves, for sure! I swear I get a wrinkle and have to re-do at least one sleeve every garment!
Kimi
March 3, 2014 #
Buttons and button holes!
JF Brown
March 3, 2014 #
I want to be comfortable doing clean, beautiful closures by machine; after sewing for more than 50 years, I still cringe at at inserting a zipper or making a buttonhole by machine, and would rather do them by hand. It would be freeing to learn to trust in doing those things as part of a machine construction.
Diane Gargya
March 3, 2014 #
I would love to learn zippers and closures! I have been dreaming of being able to make clothes since my grade school class. At 28 years old, my husband surprise me with a sewing machine and have encourage and supported since then. Two Christmas ago he gave me the Colette sewing handbook- Loved it! Honing my skills slowly but surely. And zippers is a challenge to be conquered!
Rebecca
March 3, 2014 #
I’d love to learn how to set sleeves properly :)
raquel
March 3, 2014 #
Would love to learn to make garments!
Sophie B.
March 3, 2014 #
I really struggle with easing set-in sleeves and princess seams — I’d love to see some advice on that!
Clothilde
March 3, 2014 #
Ugh, I hate to admit it, but I still ask my mom to put my invisible zippers in place… :P
Joanna
March 3, 2014 #
I would like to learn more about shirt making, like inserting a collar proper buttonhole placement.
Melania
March 3, 2014 #
zippers and waistbands.
Carol
March 3, 2014 #
Collar construction and sewing it to a garment.
Eleanor
March 3, 2014 #
Collars for sure. I just cannot seem to wrap my head around them!
christy coy
March 3, 2014 #
Fitting. That is my big goal… get good at fitting.
Janet spratt-burch
March 3, 2014 #
Collars!
Mary
March 3, 2014 #
Zips for me as well (although I suspect I just need to take more time, by that stage I’m usually impatient to finish so I can wear what I’m making!)
Erika
March 3, 2014 #
I’d really like to improve in installing zippers of any kind, as well as fitting clothes.
Mirella Marini
March 3, 2014 #
Definitely welt pockets and bound buttonholes! I would really like to make something that doesn’t immediately look homemade…
rose
March 3, 2014 #
I would love to get better with anything having to do with zippers. And I would also like some good info on piping. Ambrerose at aol dot com
Kezia
March 3, 2014 #
I’d like to get better at set in sleeves and sewing with knits, and I’d love to learn smocking and pattern drafting.
Laura
March 3, 2014 #
Um, everything. I try but I’m a bit hopeless at sewing.
Maureen Marian
March 3, 2014 #
Button Holes!
Joanna
March 3, 2014 #
I would love to get better at adding zippers. I am so intimidated by them I just resort to buttons.
Laura
March 3, 2014 #
Wow – what a good looking book! My mission this year is to master the lapped zipper. :) It’s been interesting so far!
Lillemor
March 3, 2014 #
I’m going to sew a pair of 40’s style high waist jeans. But it seems scary and difficult so I haven’t started yet. Maybe this book could give me a helping hand!
Sewcial Warrior
March 3, 2014 #
I’d like to learn how to do bound button holes. I’m working on a pattern at the moment that has them, it’s my second time making this top but the first time I chickened out and did machine button holes. I need to conquer my fear.
julia
March 3, 2014 #
I want to know more about sleeves and how to sew it into garment perfectly.
Learn more about fitting would be also great.
Hadas
March 3, 2014 #
I would love to learn how to make collars!
Clare
March 3, 2014 #
Invisible zippers. Just. Can’t. Work. It. Out.
Oh… and working with silk and other slippery but oh so lovely fabrics.
Sheryl
March 3, 2014 #
I would like to get better at fitting the clothes I make and also set in sleeves…sometimes they make me weep!!
Nicky
March 3, 2014 #
The mystery of sleeves!
Angela Weir
March 3, 2014 #
Accurate cutting out, and therefore accurate seam allowance too! I have sewed for most if my life (well almost!) and I still have edges that don’t quite align, or one wonky edge. I know my garments must suffer for it so I am trying hard to take more care. There must be some tips and tricks….
Sue Deere
March 3, 2014 #
Another request for sleeves please
sara
March 3, 2014 #
perfect shirt collars !
Sharon pickles
March 3, 2014 #
French seams!
G
March 3, 2014 #
I’d love to try my handf at tailoring, it intimidates me.
Lindsay
March 3, 2014 #
Zips… I am ok but they never look right.
Ebony
March 3, 2014 #
I’ve been avoiding buttonholes like the plague. I’d like to master them for the three shirtwaist dress patterns I own if nothing else.
Joy T
March 3, 2014 #
Set in sleeves and how to sew in lining that doesn’t suck.
Kate Hampshire
March 3, 2014 #
I need to be more precise around necklines. I often find they either gape or are slightly off centre. Although maybe it’s my body that slightly off centre!
Bronwyn
March 3, 2014 #
I’d love some help with sleeve plackets, and inserting a collar with a stand neatly (shirtmaking in progress!)
carol
March 3, 2014 #
as a newish sewer I would think everything but I think invisible zippers seem to one to master!
Joule
March 3, 2014 #
Finishing necklines;)
Ariel Tubbins
March 3, 2014 #
Oh my god! zippers i can manage, but turning Sleeves makes me CRY!
Helen Wilson
March 3, 2014 #
I struggle to get even darts and sleeves – help would be sooooo welcome.
Beatriz Andrada
March 3, 2014 #
Invisible zippers and sleeves!
willow
March 3, 2014 #
Two techniques please, set in sleeves and buttonholes (my machine means I have to do them in stages). I would love to own this book
Laura
March 3, 2014 #
I’d like to get better at inserting zips, but I’m happy to pick up tips for any area. This book looks fantastic!
Nina
March 3, 2014 #
For me it’s for to be inserting a lapped zipper, last one went on upside down and spent a very long time unpicking it! Whoops! The book looks great!
Anna
March 3, 2014 #
Better flatter sharper collars – and the confidence to try again!
Sox
March 3, 2014 #
welt pockets and invisible zippers. Whoops, that’s two!
Katja
March 3, 2014 #
I would love to learn more about bound button holes, ever since I lost my fear of sewing button holes.
Karen
March 3, 2014 #
At the beginning year I wrote a list of techniques I want to try, and so far have lined a dress and a skirt and feel pretty confident doing both. Next on the list is to do a fly zip, pleats and a centred zip.
Alexandra P.
March 3, 2014 #
Fly front zippers, collars and certainly perfect fit!
Vanisha Griggs
March 3, 2014 #
To alter patterns to fit better.
Sheri
March 3, 2014 #
Bias binding on seams
Nina Holst
March 3, 2014 #
I would like to learn to sew nice pockets :-)
Adrienne
March 4, 2014 #
Peter pan collars!
Pia
March 4, 2014 #
Buttenhole-Variations!!!!
Terhi K
March 4, 2014 #
The book looks lovely, I’m as well a visual learner and the photos looks really good. I’d like to learn more about tailored collars, especially the ones in men’s suits.
Jo
March 4, 2014 #
I would like to get better at collars and fiddly bits like that also at fitting. I think some of this is that I am lazy but any help would push me along!!
sewlittletime
March 4, 2014 #
Another vote for fly fronts here!
Naheema
March 4, 2014 #
From the reviews I’ve seen, this seems like a very comprehensive guide to sewing using photos, which is perfect for me as I’m a visual learner. How to work with ‘slippery’ fabrics and cutting and matching pattern fabrics are my next goals.
Sandra-coupje
March 4, 2014 #
Its my b-day to day :-D. Can I win dis PLEASE :-)
Anne
March 4, 2014 #
That book looks lovely. I would really like to learn about making buttonholes
Sandra-coupje
March 4, 2014 #
Oops I forgot the most inportent part: how to putt a zipper in a pease off clothing :-).
Dianne
March 4, 2014 #
Definitely inserting zips!
Jen
March 4, 2014 #
This book looks great! I’m trying to improve my hand sewing so hopefully this book could help with that.
Laura
March 4, 2014 #
While I can insert an invisible zip no problem, I still have trouble with ordinary zip insertion. Maybe this book has the secret that will unlock this skill for me at last…
Gabi
March 4, 2014 #
This book looks fantastic. I too am very visual, I learn well that way. I’d like to learn how to do buttonholes. If I don’t win this book, I’m buying it!
Kathy Manning
March 4, 2014 #
My invisible zippers are definitely not invisible. I need lots more practice and help
Meriwether
March 4, 2014 #
Bound buttonholes, definitely!