Product Description

Sewers who have ever longed to create clothing with the distinctive look of haute couture will love this book. They'll learn the finer points of hand sewing, shaping, and finishing for a high-end, professional look. This book is for all sewing enthusiasts who appreciate fine workmanship.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7168 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-31
• Released on: 2001-02-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 217 pages

From School Library Journal
From the workrooms of world fashion, including Dior, Chanel, and Givenchy, the secrets of couture craft are detailed, enabling home sewers to refine their skills. Shaeffer, author of many sewing titles, focuses on the fine construction techniques of haute couture and reviews hand stitching, making pleats or finished pockets, shaping a perfect fit, producing flawless finishing, and creating beautiful embellishments and closures. Special attention is given to creating couture jackets, coats, and evening wear. Photographs of fashions and drawings of techniques accompany the text. Not for beginning sewers, this title is for libraries serving those interested in studying and re-creating the art and science of haute couture. (Glossary, bibliography, sources of supply, index, and metric conversion chart not seen.)-Judith Yankielun Lind, Roseland Free P.L., N.J.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Like a text book of information
The introduction is interesting and basically explains why Shaffer is qualified to give you this information. The rest reads like a text book, which, for me, is much easier. When I reach a road block with sewing, I simply refer to the applicable section and determine what stitch, seam, technique would best solve the issue. There are decent diagrams/pictures to walk you through each step. It discusses each type of seam, tools and their purpose, threads, needles, etc. It's a sewing dictionary.

Chapters include:
PART I
1. Inside the world of haute couture
2. The art of hand sewing
3. Shaping the garment: seams, darts, and pressing techniques
4. Edge finishes: hems, facings, and bindings
5. Closures
PART II
6. Skirts and pants
7. Blouses and dresses
8. Sleeves
9. Pockes
10. Jackets and coats
11. Evening wear

Draping was mentioned briefly, and in the little that was there, I was able to apply the information and successfully created/altered patterns.

Hope that helps, and good luck on your future projects!

Great couture sewing instruction
Excellent book. Recommended by my couture sewing instructor at the London School of Fashion. It provides an excellent overview of couture sewing technique.

Not much of illustration
actually this book is a complete...
the flaw is the illustration is not much...and the words are like written all in sub-chapter...it's not like a handbook...

i think for sewing books, illustration is important...