Product Description

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 completed garments. Fine Machine Sewing provides methods for mastering decorative "hand" finishes on any sewing machine, and new techniques such as creating scalloped edges and replicating vintage lace will give confidence and inspiration to home sewers looking to expand their repertoire.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #109841 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-09
• Released on: 2003-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781561585861
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Library Journal
Decorative hand stitchery, applique, fine finishing?all these techniques of heirloom sewing can make both handmade and purchased garments into unique expressions of individual creativity. Handwork, however, demands a large time commitment. Ahles, a frequent teacher at machine-sewing seminars and a former sewing retailer, argues that almost any fine handsewing technique can be duplicated in a fraction of the time by home sewers at any skill level using almost any home sewing machine. This book proves her point. A trouble-shooting guide, tips, and a question-and-answer section supplement detailed instructions and illustrations. A good selection for most public libraries.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

Customer Reviews

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.

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.