My Sewing Book Collection + Guide

BOOKED MENTIONED
Me and My Sewing Machine | Kate Haxell
Casual Sweet Clothes | Noriko Sasahara
Feminine Wardrobe | Jinko Matsumoto
Vogue Sewing
The Colette Sewing Handbook | Sarai Mitnick
BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook | Nora Abousteit & Alison Kelly
Handsewn | Margaret Rowan

[@plaidgirl107]

just got my first sewing book. thanks for sharing your collection

[@heyitsdave9484]

Love your sewing videos, very interesting hobby!

[@karendoran6148]

I just found your channel this morning and am enjoying your talks as I work on a sewing project. You've inspired me to check out the Burda and Collette books. I wanted to suggest one additional books for both beginners and advanced sewers: More Fabric Savvy by Sandra Betzina. It is a reference book that tells you at a glance how to handle different fabrics -- tells you the proper needle size, stitch length, cutting technique, even finishing technique. I use it all of the time.

[@silversagapatterns]

Thank you, I loved the Vouge Sewing book!

[@fareedachewae]

Love the 2 last books

[@Biblioconto]

Hi! How nice that you took the time to show each book, is very helpful for people like me - I don't have access to these books in a library or store, as I live in another country, so I buy everything online. So this was really really helpful. I'm very new to sewing, having just made a few items and only one piece of clothing, so I ordered the Tilly and the Buttons book, as I find the blog posts really in depth and easy to follow. The Colette one you showed seems really nice too. I fell completely in love with the japanese books, but I'll go through these beginners friendly patterns first. Can't wait to try the japanese ones though! ;)

[@dungotaaja]

What a nostalgia. Me & My sewing machine was my very first sewing book, and Im glad it was my first. :) It was very easy to read without any confusion. I went through the projects very smothly one by one and by the end I felt already much more confident and I decided to purchase my next sewing book wich was Burda style sewing book. Although the book was very inspiring and I have done I think 3 projects from that book... I must agree it was quite hard to read and I remember spending a lot of time staring at the instructions trying to understand them.

[@602redroses]

Thank you for this video...very helpful. I like the first 2 books. I think they will be very helpful.

[@WLYeung1]

very informative video. Really enjoyed watching it & thanks for sharing.

[@dare2bdifferentdiy17]

I need these books, thanks so much for the information.

[@monikita777]

Hi there. Great video about book resources. I have a few of them myself. I wanted to say thanks for showing "Handsewn" That looks like an excellent book to add to the home sewing library. :)

[@MykiWms]

Just the video I've been wanting. I did barrow the Colette sewing handbook from the library as a preview.

[@AdirondackRuby]

Thank you so much. I've been wanting to buy some sewing books, but it's hard to know what books will be best for me without seeing inside. Now I can more confidently buy online.

[@deborahwiles6158]

I appreciate your tutorial review~ I am teaching my Granddaughter and Daughter in law to enjoy sewing. I showed my Granddaughter a lot of ways sewing can go wrong, and taught her not to become frustrated first.. we had a lot of flub up laughs on purpose and she has become quite an seamstress of hand sewing already. Thank you for loving sewing. I was wondering about two of the books you reviewed and I will definitely purchase Me and My Sewing Machine & Handsewn.

[@WeekendsWithG]

That's so wonderful. In some unexpected ways, sewing has revealed many things about myself not to mention the endless options of amazing fabrics. At the moment, my skills haven't caught up with my appetite for beautiful materials but I'm hoping to get there some day. Sewing is a life long learning journey!

[@erinholliday1034]

I love fashion sewing videos, and I'm also a sewing book collector. High five! :)

[@WeekendsWithG]

woohoo!

[@Aurora-uh9nk]

THANK YOU , just found yr channel and will subscribe . I like yr detailed simple explanations and I love the Japanese patter books . I never saw one before . I live in Europe so it was really interesting to learn about these books . Tks

[@WeekendsWithG]

The Japanese books are a lot of fun and they certainly have a distinct style that's very different from western patterns. One thing to not though is that their sizing runs very very small!

[@fionasoftley78]

Hi! I just found your channel and find your videos extremely useful. I am particularly interested in vintage style/techniques so started by watching your videos about the 3piece suit. I also really need to get organised so loved your videos about notebook planning, and how to plan and organise an individual project...I definitely need to do this! Can't wait to see your other videos! :) Thanks!

[@WeekendsWithG]

So happy you're able to join me Fiona! Have you been sewing long? Love to hear about what kind of projects you are into making.

[@fionasoftley78]

I've been sewing on and off for a few years, but have only cecome really into it in the last few months. I'm an intermediate sewer I would say. I love collecting vintage patterns, vintage fabric, and just fabric in general! I love dresses, particularly 40s/50s/60s styles, but also modern garments too. :-)

[@lisasnaidero9545]

Thank you! I have had some of these books sitting in my book shopping cart and haven't bought them as I wasn't sure what was in them. Thank you for sharing a view inside these books. I love the minimal style of the Japanese books but I am 5'6" and not so sure now as I will have to make quite a few adjustments. Thanks again. Lisa

[@WeekendsWithG]

Glad you enjoyed it Lisa!

[@WoollyChats]

Thank you so much for sharing this video! I am just learning to sew, this was really helpful! =)

[@WeekendsWithG]

You're welcome, it's such a wonderful thing!

[@Sewn]

Love this video! Some lovely books, I will definitely be looking at the Colette book. Thank you! X

[@WeekendsWithG]

+Sewn Such a nice surprise to see your comment here Rosa! I just started watching your videos a month or so ago and I think we have some similar classic style preferences so it's been a real treat to see your recommendations. I've actually been meaning to ask you some questions about pattern fitting - whats the best way to get in touch?

[@Sewn]

I agree I love your style! I think the best way to contact me is by email: [e-mail] x

[@Rosie-lm6po]

Thank u a lot ❤️

[@Juliapak]

Cool. I love sewing books too. I only have text books from when I went to college. I took fashion design.

[@JayYoungblood369]

Julia pak me too. For a lot of good it did me. Hope you got more from a fashion degree than I did. 😂

[@pigsandneedles197]

I have Casual Sweet Clothes! I'm really looking forward to making the light jacket with the plaited edges. Thank you for showing Feminine Wardrobe! It's been sitting in my Kinokuniya online basket for a while, but I just haven't committed yet. I think now I'll be able to make a decision!

[@WeekendsWithG]

I love going to Kinokuniya but we don't go all the way into the Seattle very often. They have some great drawing and sewing and beauty books/magazines.

[@pattin5411]

Wonderful video..thank you

[@WeekendsWithG]

Thanks for stopping by Patti.

[@ValeriaSpeck]

Thank you for showing and talking about each book, it really gives a full idea about a book!👍😊 When I started sewing I passed some work find out if I need a book and which one I need, I wish I could watched this video then! Can you make a video about other books you have? Would love to see it!💓😘

[@WeekendsWithG]

I'm not too much of a reader nowadays so most of my books are instructional/non-fiction plus a few classics but I'm glad you enjoyed this video!

[@quiltygal6981]

Thanks for this I already have the Japanese Feminine Wardrobe but have just gone to order Handsewn after seeing it here. I use Book Depository as it is free postage here to Australia. I think I will like the hand finishing techniques as I am primarily a Quilter and I love hand applique and quilting, I even love hand sewing the binding down :) I am starting to sew clothes again after about 15 years away from it so have started off slowly on a couple of tops to get my confidence up especially with getting the fit right. One of my favourite books with patterns is Tilly and the Buttons book Love at first stitch.

[@WeekendsWithG]

I'm quite the opposite, it's taken some real perseverance to hand finish my items but I try and push through knowing it will come together better than just a rushed zip through the machine. Currently practicing on hand binding the hems of my skirts that I'm working on :)

[@heatherr9201]

I have the Colette and burda.... want the casual sweet clothes

[@ZoeAnne511]

I need the hand sewing book :) I dont own a sewing machine so that book would do wonders for me!

[@WeekendsWithG]

yes definitely! If you're just doing some small crafts or embroidery etc that books is perfect. I managed to find it on sale on Amazon and I think it was only around 13 dollars. Great reference with clear photos.

[@totallynot_allan3408]

hi miss g my this is helpful for my mom to make stuff btw 1 comment

[@StayStitching]

I've been wanting the Colette book for about a year now, but the patterns didn't go up to my size. I've lost a lot of weight, so I'm going to take my measurements again and see if I can use those patterns yet. I think I will fit in them now!

[@lindsaystroz2593]

Wow that's amazing

[@WeekendsWithG]

Congratulations on all the hard work! Fingers crossed it all works out, Colette has some beautiful designs.

[@axerxes3981]

Bunnie....I really enjoyed your discussion of books, especially the beginners level ones. Can you recommend any that would be suitable for a beginning guy?? I understand the techniques are basically the same, however I would like to work on jackets or pants rather than dresses and blouses. I know most of the books out there are for ladies, but perhaps you know of a few that would be good for beginning men... maybe?? Your help is muchly appreciated.

[@WeekendsWithG]

Great question and yes, you'd want to get some kind of reference book for techniques because that doesn't change regardless of the type of clothing (except for suits/tailoring but I don't think you'll want to do that right away as a beginner). Japanese sewing books have ones for mens sewing but there's that language problem. There are older vintage books for mens sewing in English (probably 70s) thats worth researching. Otherwise, pick up a simple commercial mens pattern and start on it with your reference book in hand. Also recommend you ask/check out these men who sew and ask for info: Male Pattern Boldness and Taylor Tailor.

[@VeroniqueDeMink]

I have english translations of Yoshiko Tsukiori pattern books- love it!!

[@WeekendsWithG]

They are definitely a whole another world on their own, the styles are so casually chic but the instructions..oh man, i'm glad my Mother brought me up on those or else I'd have absolutely no clue.

[@ekemayes]

have you checked out Rosa on the SEWN channel? I think you would like her style and fabric choices.

[@WeekendsWithG]

Just subbed to Rosa about a month ago and ADORE her!

[@abdulrokib786]

Is there any books in men's seeing such as shirts, suits, t shirts jeans etc.. Would be really good or any books that include male tailoring. Would be really helpful if you help me please

[@WeekendsWithG]

There's not too many of them to be honest, Japanese books do them more often but I don't know any particular book names. The Great British Sewing Bee book has a few in there and Threaded Theory produces mostly mens patterns. If you want to do tailoring that's a whole another realm and you're going to be delving into more technical books. "Pattern making for menswear" by Gareth Kershaw is a starting option for mens clothes in general.

[@tamaradede1107]

Please how can I get any of them

[@WeekendsWithG]

I suggest putting the names of the books into Google and see if any bookstores near you carry them. Amazon is often a good option as well.

[@JayYoungblood369]

I heard that the Japanese patterns do not include seam allowance. Is this true?

[@WeekendsWithG]

Yes, that seems to be the case with all the ones I have. In the books I've shown (for example), there are actually layout diagrams that tell you how much seam allowance they recommend - sometimes it might be more/less in different parts of the pattern but the diagram will list it pretty clearly.

[@JayYoungblood369]

PBunnieP thanks so much for the clarification. About size. Are there many? And how large? I'm concerned that even though I'm average by American standards that the largest pattern size still might be too small.