The Mrs Beeton's of Sewing (Singer Sewing Book - Mary Picken)

Member Name: shroud

Product:	Singer Sewing Book - Mary Picken
Date:	05/03/08 (84 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: tell all, show all, easy to follwo guide on how to sew

Disadvantages: only available second hand. They should do a reprint!

Despite the impression given by my sewing machine reviews, I am not a top notch seamstress who turns out perfectly polished results. I have indeed sewn on many machines, but until recently, my actual sewing projects were few and far between. I started out in school, and made a chicken shaped throw pillow and an apron, and in 1990 made a few simple baby rompers and dreses for my son and a friend's daughter. I also did a bit of embellishment type projects on ready made sweatshirts and what have you. Having to go from SAHM to working mum, and then single working mum, meant my time was at a premium and the sewing went to the wayside. It was not until I was remarried and now a SAHM to a new baby that the sewing bug hit again, and as I had long ago given my old machine to a relative who had time to sewfor her own children, I began my quest for a new machine. I tried many, and settled on the Singers as my perfect choice.

Not having really taken any sewing lessons of note, this time around I was determined to learn properly. Sadly, Singer no longer has the high street stores with free lessons, and most sewing machine shops are small, and if they offer lessons, charge a fortune for them. I decided to do it myself, and armed myself with a few books. This book was one of the books I chose, as it covers what the Singer lessons would have, and is by a woman whose resume includes oodles of other books on the topic, including several for the W.I.

First off, yes, it IS a vintage sewing book. This actually works to my advantage, as it assumes I NEED a book to explain it all, in order to have clothes and soft furnishings about the house! Upon opening the book, I am greeted by the dedication, and then the table of contents. A good look at it confirms it will indeed show me just about everything I need to know, and possibly more. It covers literally every topic from proper use of a sewing machine, knowing my equipment, all about fabrics, figure types, pattern adjustments, to techniques such as darts, tucks, buttonholes, shirring, and finishing techniques including hems, bindings, and using fashion stitches to topstitch decoratively. Hand sewing and zigzag machines are also covered, as are how to's on window dressings, slipcovering, bed dressings, mending, and special topics such as sewing for children so the garments have grow room and reinforcements for the rigours of play.

Each section is well laid out, and the writing is easy to floow. There are clear illustrations that are large enough to see clearly at a glance while sewing if need be, and colour photograph plates as apprpritate, such as the colour fan chart that goes by hair and skin tone in order to help plan colour schemes for a wardrobe.

The back of the book contains an index, so you can also look up the particular part of garment construction or sewing technique you wish to get help with. I have made extensive use of this fact, and it is with the help of this book that I went from easy projects such as aprons, onto dresses, pyjamas, and many other projects, all of which completed themselves to an increasingly high standard.So simple were the instructions that I also completed the projects in the time to the patterns said they would take. Gone are the days of "1 hour, easy to sew" patterns taking me 4 hours or more, and onto an actual hour from layout, cutting, to finish.

While written for Singer, and with mid 1950's machines in mind, this book is excellent to use even with modern machines of any brand. These newer machines may have fancier in built stitch patterns and have computerised bits on, but the techniques for contruction remain the same and truth be told, most stitches used in sewing tend to be the straight ones. Those on a budget who have purchased a vintage machine or inherited one will find the information extra helpful, as the pictures will depict a machine and its attachments (such as the buttonholer) similar to what they own and show that the effects are down to technique, and not any built in capabilities of the more modern machine.

All in all, I find this book indispenable. I learned to sew proficiently with it without a huge struggle, gaining confidence with each project, as well as skill. As an intermediately skilled seamstress, I now find it just as indispensable for learning the more advanced techniques as well as checking I have things right, especially when adjusting a pattern, or making something without a pattern (I just made a cot bumper and blanket using the methods for measuring I learned from this book). It is simply brilliant and takes all the mystery and fear out of sewing.

I obtained my copy from eBay, and it is also available from Abe Books and Amazon Marketplace and other second hand book dealers. You can expect to pay anywhere from 99p to £5 plus postage for a copy. The book was in print from the erly 50's to the 60's, merely being updated with decor and clothing styles, so it does not matter which edition you get. If you want to sew, or to improve your sewing, just get it.

Summary: If you only buy one sewing book, this should be it