A how-to guide for beginner sewers, or experienced sewers starting to sew their own garments for the first time, How To Sew Clothes takes readers through the steps without overcomplicating the process.
How To Sew Clothes includes beautiful photographs throughout. The overall aesthetic is very clean, simple, and appealing with minimalistic vibes in both the images and the words.
Amelia Greenhall and Amy Bornman are the authors of this book, and co-owners of an indie pattern company, All Well. They have turned their experiences and knowledge into a very thorough how-to guide for beginners.
The overall tone stays simple, not overwhelming the reader with extra fluff, advanced techniques, or unfamiliar terminology to a beginner. This results in an attainable manual guiding beginners to start the satisfying craft of sewing their own garments.
“… Now it’s time to sew! In some ways, this is the least tiring or confusing part. Most of the big decisions are already made, and what is left is a string of small tasks, one at a time.”
The author’s views on pattern hacking is also very interesting. The book includes many examples to transform a seemingly simple pattern into something else that may appeal to the individual even better.
A handful of paper patterns are enclosed in the back of the book. Instructions inside the book take the reader through the construction of each garment step-by-step. Patterns include a boxy top with short or long sleeves, cardigans with varying closures and fronts, and also bags of many sizes.
Sewing the Box Top pattern
I made the “Box Top” pattern from the book, using a yard of left over fabric my sister gave me. Being a library book, I first traced the pattern onto paper before transferring to my fabric. Although I tend to trace patterns in any case, instead of cutting into paper patterns.
The instructions are easy to follow, explains each step thoroughly, and the pattern comes together easily. It took me an afternoon to sew, with breaks in between to amuse the cat away from my sewing tools. I did have to unpick and resew the neckline once, but overall I am happy with my finished garment.
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