Reddit mentions: The best sewing books

Oh, I understood.

As for resources, here's what I suggest:

A good sewing class at a community college. I took classes at a fashion-oriented one and in under four months I had learned how to sew on an industrial machine and done several seams and seam finishes, basic hand stitches, two types of zippers, facings, a skirt with zipper, darts, waistband, and closures and a fairly complex woman's blouse (it had 14 pieces). At the end, I didn't do any of these things as well I would have liked, but I knew the fundamentals and what I had to improve on. All projects were in some kind of cotton because it is easy to work with.

In the second sewing class, I learned welt pockets, made corduroy pants with a waistband and fly, and sewed a wool jacket with patch pockets and a bagged lining. Again, I learned a lot, but there was still plenty of room for improvement. Then I took tailoring and couture classes and menswear classes.

A community college setting is good because there's a curriculum into which they have put some thought and by law, they have to make sure you do the work. It's also usually cheaper than private classes if you qualify for the in-state rate.

If you can afford it and want to do things on your own schedule, private classes are great. I would have a teacher show me how to fit and modify a pattern and teach me to sew it. One source for teachers is the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals.

Online, I recommend the University of Fashion because the teaching, in general, is very good. For pattern making and draping, they tell you the sequence of videos to watch. I think that the sewing videos aren't organized that way, but if you need to look up a technique, it's very easy.

If you want a complex project, I recommend Susan Khalje's The Couture Dress on Craftsy. Even if you don't use the pattern that comes with the course, she teaches very good methods. Couture-style sewing is actually good for beginners because there are many more steps that give the sewer more control. It was only after a basic couture class that I really began to improve because I needed to break down the process more. Khalje also teaches a lace skirt class, but the lace used is pretty expensive. As you may know, Craftsy offers frequent sales.

There are many good sewing books, but any edition of The Reader's Digest Guide to Sewing is decent. It's a really encyclopedic home sewing book. If you ever look into tailoring, Tailoring: The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket and these books for men and women are very helpful.

Elizabeth Liechty's Fitting and Pattern Alteration is usually considered the most comprehensive book on that subject.

All these books are available in the library if too expensive to buy.

1. The SCA is fairly welcoming, however, it's a large group of people and can have all the same problems as any group of people. A lot of people are here to hang out and party as much as anything else.
   
   
2. The SCA has nowhere near the standards you're probably used to for CW/WWII reenacting. It sounds like you'll manage the garb side of things pretty easily. There are some oddities about the tailoring/fit of some of the medieval stuff, but probably nothing you can't handle. There are a few books I recommend (links at the bottom of the post). Plastic armor is fine, but it is generally best to cover it with clothing or similar. Helmets must be steel for safety purposes. Most of the well put-together kits are the result of years of work. There's far less of an expectation that you'll have everything 100% ready to go on day 1 than is typical of reenacting groups.
   
   
3. You need your armor ready to go, but after that, you just need to pass a safety test called an "authorization" to fight. It's pretty much about knowing what targets count, making sure you're safe, etc. You won't become a "knight" in our game for a long time (It's one of the highest awards).
   
   
4. Women are welcome to fight and to wear men's clothing if they like. There are no rules about that.
   
   
5. Armor-wise, the Indian made stuff is generally poorly fitting (as in not made to fit a human body) and too thin to use. There are some decent Czech and Ukrainian armories though. That being said, most people are getting their reproduction shoes from a company in Pakistan (usually indirectly) and a lot of the decent chain mail is coming from India IIRC. It's a mixed bag. It is best to go to practices, find some people who you trust to provide guidance, etc. Unfortunately the result of our far less strict standards on gear/equipment and far wider historical scope also means that we don't have a good set of unit standards or the like to help provide guidance.
   
   Costuming books:
   http://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Tailors-Assistant-2nd-1100-1480/dp/0896762955
   http://www.amazon.com/Tudor-Tailor-Reconstructing-Sixteenth-Century-Dress/dp/0896762556
   http://www.amazon.com/Patterns-Fashion-Construction-Clothes-1560-1620/dp/0896760839
   http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Maker-Mens-Century-Doublets/dp/0692264841
   
   Shoes:
   http://www.vikingleathercrafts.com/
   http://boots-by-bohemond.myshopify.com/
   
   Armour:
   http://armourarchive.org/

This is a fun challenge! And I can't stay away from this thread, apparently. I went back and looked for some more matches. I hope you make some of these and post pics! :)

Simplicity (also McCall's and Butterick) have great sales but I love the aesthetic and design of Colette patterns--you should check out her book if you haven't already; includes a bunch of dress patterns along with sewing guidance. A great deal. Colette Macaron might be a good starting point for Fury and Coulson (maybe better not to do strapless dresses for a work wardrobe but the contrast/sheer top could be acceptable?) Hazel would be perfect for Captain America--the seaming may not be obvious from the main pic, but click on the one with stripes and you'll see what I mean.

I think for Loki you could probably make a dress with a green top (maybe start from Colette Pastille from the Sewing Handbook, which has the little cap sleeves) and then sort of a belt/corset overlay out of strips of black fabric--sew three strips with finished edges (fold in half, sew along long end, turn inside out, press) then fold them into a V-shape, overlap them, and topstitch everything with matching thread to hold them in place in the desired shape. Trim the edges straight and finish with bias tape. After fitting the regular bodice, attach the corset dealy to the regular dress top with hand stitching or stitching in the ditch of the existing overlay seams.

I'm working on a dress using McCall's 5800 that would be perfect for Hulk--just sew some decorative buttons up the front. You could start with the same basic pattern for Hawkeye and draw in a square neckline instead of a V-neck, and just sew ribbon or something over the seams to make the contrast stripes.

It depends on what you mean by make your own sweater. Do you mean the knitting, or the sewing? Some sweaters involve no sewing whatsoever, as you can knit from one fabric to the other.

IMO it is substantially easier to sew than it is to knit. Not because knitting is difficult, but because it is time consuming. Purchasing knit material and sewing it together is not that difficult. You just need to find a good pattern that fits you. Or, if you're up for it, drafting a pattern from scratch based on your measurements.

I've been teaching myself how to sew for the last ~4 months, and it's definitely useful. Making something from scratch is intensely satisfying, as is self-tailoring items you already own. I definitely think everyone should at least understand the principles of clothing design and creation, if only so they have a better idea of what to ask for when they go to a tailor, and they can better understand how it works.

If you want to learn the basics of pattern drafting, this is a good book How to make Sewing Patterns. If you'd like to learn how to sew, look up some classes in your area, or scour the internet for tutorials. The most important thing is going to be practice.

Edit: To add on to this. Making clothes yourself is a huge investment of time, and money. You need the right machines, and you need knowledge, practice, and skill. If you want to take it up long term, you'll eventually be able to make button up shirts for ~$2-8, blazers for $10-20, and pants for ~$5-10, but in order to get there you'll be dropping a lot of money and enormous amounts of time.

Often times, just knowing how everything is made will help you determine the manufacturing quality, and will allow you to make frugal purchases of items that will last a very long time.

Books

These are a few of the books I used to get started.

May Martins Sewing Bible This one is new out this year, but I have a copy and it's really good.

The Great British Sewing Bee

The Great British Sewing Bee: Sew Your Own Wardrobe

The Sewing Book

The Sewing Book Not sure but I think this is an updated version of the above book.

Sew: Step by Step

Dressmaking: Step by Step

I actually borrowed most of these from the library, but I did find them all incredibly helpful.

I'm not sure where OP is based so I have used amazon.com rather than co.uk.


Videos


I would also recommend checking out youtube for sewing tutorials as well, deoending what you are interested in sewing the following Channels are quite good for basic skills and techniques:

All Free Sewing

Easy Sewing For Begginners

Missouri Star Quilt Company

Projects

The normal beginner projects tend to be along the lines of

• Pillow Case
  
• Cushion Covers
  
• Quilted Blanket
  
• Pajama Pants
  
• T-shirts etc
  
  Hope this helps a little
  

A great project is some sort of bag or another -- it gives you ample opportunity to practice some core sewing skills without the stress of "fitting" anything. A nice tote bag with properly bound seams, a closure (velcro, buttons, etc) and strap gives you some great experience (adding hardware to the strap, mixing materials, finishing seams, etc.)

Just a side note: if you know any photographers/videographers, I can pass on a great sandbag how-to. The project is simple to make, but includes a lot of what I just mentioned and will be VERY useful to them. Whenever I'm feeling bored and the sewing machine is in reach, I find myself whipping one together just to keep my skills keen.

Good luck!

EDIT: I have a book recommendation! When I was in my first year Costuming class in university, our professor -- a world renowned seamstress -- told us to go buy this!, referring to it as "The Sewing Bible." She was right, it's an AWESOME resource and very inexpensive. Have fun!

You're very welcome.

There have been many threads in this subreddit on the necessary supplies. If you click on my name and go to the "Submitted" tab, at the bottom are three posts I did on how to develop control on a sewing machine, how to press garments, and some basic suggestions for beginners.

I see you live in Japan. It has a lot of interesting sewing notions (small tools) that aren't available in the U.S. Clover, a huge maker of notions, is based in Japan.

Japan also has a tradition of pattern books. They're not to everyone's taste, but I love the simplicity of the garments and the way they're styled. They're also relatively thrifty. You buy the book, and trace off the patterns. They make a number for children's clothes. I assume they're less expensive in Japan. Many are still in Japanese, but there are guides on the web on how to use them if you don't read Japanese. Another advantage is that the pattern-book aesthetic is usually relaxed so advanced sewing skills aren't necessary to pull off the clothes.

If your wife wants to sew for herself, she may want to buy a dress form down the road. If she becomes a serious sewer and is altering or making clothes, in time she might want an industrial sewing machine. One of the best brands is Juki, a Japanese brand. I'm pretty sure Janome is Japanese as well.

Little Things to Sew is a lovely book by an American clothing designer who has her own line of kid's patterns.

Definitely sounds like you would benefit from creating your own patterns. Yay! I'm wading through a couple pattern drafting books myself right now, and while developing your own basic patterns can be slow, meticulous, and immensely frustrating, it's also hugely rewarding.

There are a ton of textbooks out there, largely written to accompany pattern making classes. This is a bit hard on the person who's trying to learn this in isolation, since so many of the books assume you'll have the extra resource of a teacher. (Might be worth seeing if there's a local sewing studio or community college that teaches patternmaking-- in-person instruction would be nice.) Don't be discouraged, though-- it IS possible to get there alone!

The standard text seems to be Helen Joseph-Armstrong's 'Patternmaking for Fashion Design.'. Connie Crawford, Donald McCunn, and Winifred Aldrich also come highly recommended.

Since all of these books are textbooks, they can be pretty expensive. To try a book before you buy it, see if your public library (or local university library, if you have access) can use Interlibrary Loan to get you a copy of any of the above. Depending on their rules about renewing, you might be able to get your basic pattern made before you have to give the text back. :)

You could also go the draping route. Since I'm completely ignorant on this subject, I'll only leave a link to Kathleen Fasanella's Saran Wrap Patternmaking Method, which produces a sloper without having to do any measuring. (Everything in Fashion-Incubator's 'tutorials' section is brilliant. If you enjoy painfully/beautifully methodical sewing and patterning instruction, you can lose yourself there for days. But I lose my train of thought. Ahem.)

No matter how you produce your sloper, you'll still want a real textbook to help you manipulate your first pattern into real shirts you would want to wear. The sloper is very basic-- it doesn't have buttons, fastenings, interesting seams, or even much extra room for moving. All that comes later.

It's also useful to have a helper on hand for the first projects in the book. Getting accurate measurements of your body is crucial, so you'll need to recruit someone who can be trusted with a tape measure. It's also useful to have a friend help pin and fit the bodice sloper. Ideally you would team up with a sewing buddy who also wanted her own patterns-- I just bully my husband into helping. ;)

Good luck! It sounds like a ton of work, and it is, but I'm a complete novice and I already have the freedom to look at commercial patterns, shrug, and say, "no, I would rather make my own-- I KNOW it will fit better."

First I'll list what I bought and then I'll discuss what I have or what I'd have done differently.

Not listed are an xacto blade/utility knife, cork-backed ruler, and steel square. These were purchased at Harbor Freight.

Awl Haft

Diamond Awl Blade

The awl haft and diamond blade (E42) are great. I like the combo I bought. The handle has a chuck instead of some I saw which need the blade pressed in to the chuck.

Channel Groover

The channel groover I bought is nice. The chuck, similar to the awl haft, is very convenient for quick adjustments.

Overstitch Wheel

Doing it again, I probably would have bought some diamond chisels over the overstitch wheel, but so far it's worked alright. I will be buying the chisels eventually.

Edge Beveling Kit

I had no idea what edge beveler to buy with so many sizes and never having touched leather, so I'm really happy with the one I bought. It comes with 5 sizes.

Harness Needles

I bought 3 sizes of harness needles. Probably overkill but they were $3 a pack and I didn't know what size I needed. I've been using the medium ones and they are working well with the thread I got.

Cutting Mat

The cutting mat is nice. It's a bit thicker than the ones I found locally at Michaels.

Lacing Pony

The lacing pony is probably my biggest regret that I was forced to buy. I don't have access to any woodworking tools so I was stuck purchasing one. I should have had a coworker do it for me in his shop at 1/5 of the cost. It comes in two pieces and the holes in mine didn't line up at all. I ended up having to drill a hole for the screw.

Art of Hand Sewing

The book comes highly recommended from everyone. I've flipped through it but I learned my basic technique from youtube videos. As I try to do more I'm sure I'll reference it.

Thread

I bought .035" waxed cord from Maine Thread. I have nothing to compare it to but it seems to work okay.

Leather

And finally the leather. I'm still not sure if I made the right purchase, although buying a shoulder of leather seems to be a popular beginner suggestion. Already I'd like to have more variety, but I think I'm going to a Tandy Leather this weekend so maybe I'll pick up some other random stuff.

Things I didn't buy that I should have:

Contact Cement

Gum Trag

Burnishing Tool

Hammer/Maul

Leather finish


I actually made a decent stitch I was happy with on my second try. I didn't buy these items because I planned on doing lots of practice on scraps but because I feel good about my initial work I'd like to try to make something. Without those few items I'm kinda stuck for the moment.

I'm not familiar with the Lo book, so I can't say. Read the reviews. You will find that every pattern making book has similarities and differences. I'm taking a pattern making class now taught by a professional pattern maker and while some aspects are quite familiar I can't use a book as a reference because her method differs in certain respects and if I followed a book it would throw me off. I hope that after the end of the class I'll be able to use any book. But it is important to understand one method first, and there are lots of subtleties that I would have missed but for having taken a class. I showed the teacher a sloper book I own but never used and she said it was good. It has a companion book for developing patterns, but she liked the sloper book better.

Getting the sloper right is essential. It's the foundation for the patterns you develop from it. In my once-a-week basic class, we spent about five weeks measuring the form, drafting the back and front bodice and skirt slopers and the sleeve sloper, fitting, correcting, re-fitting, etc. It's a big class and first the teacher does a demonstration but my point is you shouldn't think that you should be able to bang out a perfectly fitting sloper in two hours.

We next did dart manipulation exercises using the pivot and slash and spread methods, then princess style line conversions, then facings. Now we're doing collars.

Most methods use letters to refer to points. They are completely arbitrary: Point "J" in one system is not going to be the same point in another.

If you're interested in pattern making, I recommend Kathleen Fasanella's Fashion-Incubator blog. She's a pattern maker who advises small sewing businesses and bought a small factory. Here's a post in which she explains how she reviews pattern making books.

For a high-level introduction, you might want to read How Patterns Work. It's more the general theory of pattern making, not the nitty-gritty of how to true lines.

I bought this book a while ago and have never used it. I've read it's not that good because the author does not have formal pattern making training.

If it were I and taking a class was impossible, I would try the University of Fashion videos on pattern making. There's a free trial video on drafting a straight sleeve sloper. The tools are listed, every step is shown, and there's a transcript on the site. I think the method shown is very clear and it's similar to others I've seen but it wasn't the method my teacher used. For one thing, we didn't use a chart with standard measurements: we took the measurements from the armscye (armhole) of the drafted bodice. Our elbow line measurement was taken from the waist of our bodice because the elbow of a well-proportioned person falls at the waist. We drew a center line with an L square as a starting point, not a fold. Just these three little things can result in a different sleeve, which is why it's important to use a consistent method at least until you have a lot of experience and understand which parts are transferrable.

Not really recent, but I really love sewing and I'm constantly drawing up other projects to sew and learning a lot about it. :) this book would be super great to learn more about sewing plush! I only have a basic understanding so far but I love practicing and making plush for other people as well as myself. :B

3.14

thanks for the contest!

I like all of the answers so far- my only other recommendation would be a good fabric chalk set or marker. As far as thread, I've found for me that most of the thread I buy depends on the fabric I'm using, with the exception of white and black. I still have some pink and green thread I bought to start with but have never used since I haven't made anything with matching fabric.

If you're interested in any books, Sew Everything Workshop is super helpful.

Anyways, good luck and have fun!

(edited for grammar and formatting)

A belt is a great project for a beginner. In regards to your tool list I would swap out a few things.

Leather

If you are wanting a dress belt then I would go with a lighter weight of leather. I've got a belt on the bench right now using two layers of 4/5 oz leather. Personally I think that is a good for a casual belt.

What I do is cut the inside liner slightly wider than the actual belt. Then once it is glued I come back and trim it to match the outside.

Thread
That thread looks a little fine. It is recommend for 8 stitches per inch. I would suggest you start with 6 stitches per inch. Something like this would probably be more approiate.

Chisel
I personally don't use chisels for several reasons. First, good ones are expensive. I would rather spend my money on other tools. Secondly with a little practice a over stitch wheel and awl will give you great results. I also don't have to buy new chisels for different stitches per inch.

Awl
I have the awl set you linked to. I don't care for it at all. After a few projects I upgraded it. For a inexpensive awl I would reccomend this haft and this blade. The nice thing about that haft is that it has a flat sides. This allows you to always have the same angle when using the awl.

No matter what awl blade you get you will need to sharpen it. Nigel Armitage has a good video on how to do that.

Glue
Anything will work just fine. I worked in a saddle shop that used barges cement so that is what I use. That is mainly just habit. I've heard of people using wood glue before. As long as it holds while you do your sewing you are good.

The one thing you don't have on your list that I think every leatherworker should have is The Art of Hand Sewing Leather.

I would definitely recommend getting some beginner sewing books to start too. It will set you up so much better, so you're making beautiful things from the beginning, and will help you build skills. A lot of times I think beginners get over ambitious, try to make a fancy dress with a difficult (or inappropriate - quilting cottons are for quilting not dressmaking) fabric, get frustrated with fit issues and complicated techniques, and then give up. I think the Colette Sewing Handbook is great, although I think a lot of people on this sub don't like it for whatever reason. Tilly & the Button is more popular and is also fine. Both have blogs and sell patterns which you can use in addition to what's in the books. There are also tons of how-to's online, fitting books, other blogs, and more advanced books once you get into it.

Edit to add: I'm sure you can find these books or similar at the library too, and estate and garage sales are an excellent place to find cheap sewing machines, patterns, fabric, and things like thread and zippers.

I love the energy! Very ambitious, and they actually came out nicely. If I may suggest, there are two sewing books that made all the difference for me:

Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp. Enthusiastic, gorgeous pictures, clear instructions and lots of included patterns perfect for beginning sewers. Seriously can't say enough good things, and I still refer to it all the time. http://www.amazon.com/Sew-Everything-Workshop-Step-Step/dp/0761139737

Colette's Sewing Handbook by Sarai Mitnick. This one is all about the little things that make a big difference. Not as good a resource for getting started, but shows how to really plan your project well and make it a success. And I LOVE the patterns she includes. https://www.colettepatterns.com/books/colette-sewing-handbook

Yeah, it's pretty easy to alter. I have this book which is pretty good, but it's a little low on pictures. This is the Burda tutorial and it links to a bunch of ways to modify the block - this one on converting it to princess seams will probably be useful. I totally thought that they had a halter top tutorial but they apparently don't. I also have this Google book bookmarked because it's nicely laid out.

I'd also recommend making your base bodice block out of cardboard and then tracing it onto paper to alter your patterns - it'll save you time in the long run. Good luck! Sundresses were my first introduction to patternmaking too :)

I have dreamed about making my own wedding dress for a long time and the day finally came! I had so much fun in the process and learned a lot of new techniques.

Pattern - McCall's M7050Drop-Waist Dress

Around the point where it transitions into the secondary fabric, I altered the pattern to flow into an A-line shape continuously. I also merged the two front panels.

Petticoat - Petticoat Tutorial from This Blog is Not for You


Fabric

Fashion fabric - silk crêpe de chine

Interlining - cotton batiste (2 layers on the bust)

Lining - silk crêpe at the bust, poly blend at the skirt

Petticoat - about 70 yds of tulle

Leaves - silk organza

Lace - lace patches from Couture Lace + beaded trim from Lace Fun (for veil)

Veil - Illusion net tulle

​

Resources

I had made several dresses before but never anything "fancy" and I didn't have a great grasp of skills like fitting, finishing details, etc. I thought Susan Khalje's Couture Dress course was amazing! I seriously watched it over and over before and as I worked on the dress to learn all the parts that go into the process. I also bought her Bridal Couture book, which I thought was helpful as well.

​

Process

This dress took me about a year and a half, although there were definitely a lot of other projects going on at the time. I finished with two months to spare! I spent about 150 hours on the dress and another 150 embroidering all of the leaves. I'm not really sure the leaves add much and they look kind of messy, but I decided to leave them in.

​

Thanks to everyone who has left such kind words and given me confidence about wearing my dress in front of friends, family, and strangers on my wedding day! And thank you for the gold and silver!

New Complete Guide to Sewing for general sewing techniques.

For tailoring men's clothes, Classic Tailoring Techniques (and women's.)

For pattern drafting, Winnifred Aldrich has a great line of books.
There's also Fundamentals of Men's Fashion Design, casual and tailored. As well as Patternmaking for Fashion Design.

For corsets, Waisted Efforts and The Basics of Corset Building are good.

For making shirts, Shirtmaking.

For learning to sew stretch/knit fabrics, Sew U: Home Stretch is pretty good.

And for just having a bunch of fun with patterns, the Pattern Magic series is plain awesome. I think there's three of them out now.

Edit: thought of more!

The Art of Manipulating Fabric is great. And www.threadsmagazine.com as well as the corresponding print publication.

The best way to learn is to try :) I can highly recommend the Colette Sewing Handbook for lots of information and some great beginner patterns! And if there's anything you need a hand with, I'm happy to help out :)

Gown sewing has a lot of internal stuff going on that is really important to the finished project, like how the weight of this will be carried at the waist, so you have incorporate a waist stay along with the boning. Plus the various technigues needed for various laces. I recommend you get yourself a copy of Bridal Couture by Susan Khajle. The styles are extremely dated but the info is great. It's how I learned to sew gowns. It was a great experience and with 18 months you should have time.

Secondly, if you have an independent fabric store in your area (not just quilting) they often have people on staff who are very experienced and can teach you loads of what you need. Many even over classes (Joann's sometimes has these people so you can ask there too). Makerspaces are also good for that and often offer "come and work" times, even if you aren't a member. I know a woman who did an entire replica of this gown at the local maker space because it was the only place big enough. :)

This book on Stuffed Animal construction is something that would help me greatly.

I've been working on a project for a few years that I've affectionately named Stitch n Ditch, which involves making and donating stuffed animals to poor urban areas. The actual concept is to eventually "craft bomb" a local innercity area that is run down and falling apart with cute stuffed animals tagged with positive messages. Anything that can improve my skill and speed, give me new pattern ideas, or just new tools/materials would be insanely helpful. I'd say 90% of wishlist is actually dedicated to this project now. So really, pretty much anything from my WL related to that would be super helpful.

Double sided belts are usually just 2 pieces of leather, 8-9oz sewn back to back. Adding a third layer would add bulk, but almost no strength, and it might cause unsightly buckling as the outside leathers aren't as thick. If all you need is a belt, single thickness belts of 12oz+ would be much easier, and you can still opt to sew up the working end for some practice. Generally, it's advised to start with smaller projects like card holders, so you can get the practice and it's not a big deal if you screw up. Backed belts are hundreds of stitches, so unless you're really determined, it's not a starter project.

When it comes to stitching, Al Stohlman's Art of Hand Sewing Leather has all you need to know about western saddle stitch. No chisels, just 2 needles and an awl. You'll get decent results just fine with a bit of practice.

Other things you'll need:

• Diamond awl
  
• Groover
  
• Oversticher/ spacemarker
  
• Harness Needles
  
• Thread
  
• Beeswax
  
• Contact cement
  
  SLC has a decent starter kit, but other recommendations are out there too. For thread, I use Barbours Linen 6 Cord and wax it myself. You'll need a pony or sewing clam, but I made mine, so I can't help you there. I only use a punch when I'm hand sewing very thin or flimsy leathers.
  

I'd like to start by saying you don't have to be aware of all the technical aspects of fashion design to show her you're supportive and interested in what she's going to do with her life. Listening to her when she tells you about a project, commenting insightfully on her work when she shares it with you, and being there for her when the work load is particularly overwhelming (because, trust me, it will be at some point or another) are the most important things you could ever do to show you care.

As for technical terms, pick up a beginner's sewing book, like Singer's The New Sewing Essentials. Since fashion design has been getting more attention as a glamorous career, there are a wealth of small "crash course" type books that can teach you the basics about textiles, fashion history, marketing, creative direction, etc.

These are very basic suggestions:

Colette's Beginner Book
Very nice, focuses on sewing clothing, comes with patterns.

[Fabric Reference] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/089689536X/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00)
Tons of information on fabrics.

Reader's Digest Guide
Lots of sewing techniques and information. You can get the new edition but the old ones are cheap!

Gertie's suggestions
Most, if not all, of these books came from Gertie. Just Google "building a sewing library" or something along those lines and you will get great information. Don't neglect blogs! The internet is a vast sewing resource. Good luck. :)

I haven't had the chance to start my own project yet, but I purchased this book and think it's an AWESOME reference. The internet is a great resource, but I'm a really visual person and like to flip through a book instead of clicking on a screen when I'm working on a project. This one is very useful too, though it has more details on working with fur.

I just said this to someone else in another thread, but the beginner sewing books have exhaustive lists of all supplies needed complete with pictures. I mostly sew apparel, so I don't have a great recommendation for a beginner book that covers kids clothes and decor, but maybe something like this would work http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Sewing-Fast-Projects-Beginners/dp/1462112889/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1418697253&sr=8-5&keywords=beginner+sewing
You can literally buy everything listed in the beginning supplies section and I bet she will use everything.

If you want the best quality scissors, get Gingher. In my opinion a rotary cutter is a bit too advanced for a beginner but that's up to you. Also, a magnetic pincushion is a lifesaver. For marking a clover chaco pen liner is awesome. http://www.amazon.com/Clover-Style-Chaco-Liner-White/dp/B0016ZZOEK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418697586&sr=8-1&keywords=chaco+pen+liner The biggest expense in sewing aside from a machine is probably fabric so you might give her a certificate for somewhere where she can choose some fabric once she's a little more familiar with sewing.

I think part of it is that I’m not aware of this being taught in trade schools. Take this with a grain of salt, because my experience is with theater costuming in middle, high school, and college (including designing costumes for a play), home sewing, and historical re-enactment, but my major was neuroscience in college, so my knowledge is less extensive than a fashion major.

I have been sewing; however, for more than two decades.

That being said, Rosika Parker’s The Subversive Stitch makes a pretty good argument for the historic devaluing of sewing during the Middle Ages with concurrent social movements to restrict female power.

Here’s my perception of the hierarchies in the different careers and the education requirements (see further down)

1. fashion designer
   
2. line/season/show manager
   
3. higher level seamstress (might manage a couple outfits)
   
4. likely more layers of hierarchy
   
5. underlings (actually sewing the outfit parts)
   
   .
   
   
6. costume designer
   
7. levels of hierarchy (sorry)
   
8. underlings (actually doing most of the sewing)
   
   Here’s what I’m aware of for schooling (skewed because my experience is at a four year university)
   
   

• four year universities have majors in fashion design (which includes flat and dress model pattern drafting as well as rendering the patterns and concept art online), costuming (similar to fashion design but with more of a theater focus), and theater management (which includes designing concept art for plays, choosing and altering costumes, hair, and makeup)
  
  
• whatever the name for the fashion design seamstresses who manage an outfit for a fashion designer’s show is a one year masters program after four year university (for more info check out Zoe Hong on YouTube)
  
  
• theater set work (including costume making and alteration; not management) and (less sure for this) the actual sewing and embroidery work for fashion design is more of an apprenticeship area of work. You get hired already knowing how to sew and then receive on the job training to meet the costume designer’s standard (for theater and fashion design)
  
  
• and then there’s the tangential stuff like preserving and repairing historical garments for museums (likely masters maybe grad school) or working at historical sites like Jamestown, Williamsburg, etc. which from my understanding are also more of an apprenticeship (William & Mary undergrads are allowed to do this for the summer, so a college degree is not required)
  
  You might have better luck hunting down your local theater (you might be able to do this with fashion designer houses too; no idea) and asking for the required qualifications to be hired.
  
  For historical costuming, try an apprenticeship or membership with your local re-enactment society or SCA
  
  For learning how to sew (may not include pattern drafting, rendering patterns digitally, or concept art generation) try your local sewing machine service shop (search vacuum service shops too because they overlap).
  
  Here are some books to recommend:
  
  Fashion:
  
  For someone who already sews
  
  Here are ones I feel I have to include, but they’re kind of impractical:
  
  
  
• Patternmaking for fashion design by Helen Joseph Armstrong (textbook; too expensive to just buy)
  
  
• Draping for Apparel Design by Helen Joseph Armstrong (textbook; too
  
  Here are cheaper options
  
  
• Transformative Reconstruction by Shingo Sato
  
  
• Pattern Magic by Tomoko Nakamichi
  
  For learning to sew
  
  
• The Singer Complete Photo Guide to Sewing
  
  
• I don’t recommend Gertie Sews books for beginners because several of the patterns are misdrafted, also ignore older (pre mid 2000s) Burda Patterns because the seam allowances are wrong or inconsistent between patterns
  
  Historical Reconstruction
  
  For someone who already sews:
  
  
• Patterns of Fashion series by Janet Arnold
  
  
• Copies of historical fashion magazines like La Mode Universelle Ilustree (in French) and Harpers Bazaar are sold on EBay. They are only in one size and therefore require pattern drafting and alteration knowledge to use.
  
  
• Reconstructing History
  
  
• Laughing Moon

I intend to get into making lingerie making myself. So far I have bought the Orange Lingerie book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C9QYV3U/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_BGS3Db9Z8AF0Q

And purchased some classes on Bluprint:

https://shop.mybluprint.com/sewing/classes/sewing-lingerie-essential-techniques/40540

https://shop.mybluprint.com/sewing/classes/lingerie-essentials-bralettes/499975

https://shop.mybluprint.com/sewing/classes/sewing-corsets-essential-techniques/49147

https://shop.mybluprint.com/search?query=beverly%20johnson&search=product

Some of them are available on DVD but not all.

I also saved this YTer making a popular bra: https://youtu.be/HRepyjHNcJg

This other vlogger makes a lot of lingerie: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJeFffabVXHZDQxz7Wqqg-g

And these two are pattern designers with interesting and useful info and sewalongs for their patterns:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfhqcf0bP2O5Essub9cBvrQ

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCytyGOJ46POjJasa9CUKklw

Good luck!

Actually I'm going to tell you NOT to start by altering your own clothes. It is actually easier to make something new than to alter clothing. I suggest you learn to sew from the following books: The Colette Sewing Handbook by Sarai Mitnik, the SEW Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp and Stitch by Stitch. All three of these books come with patterns for all sorts of projects. Once you graduate to some harder things, and especially if you are interested in sewing 1950s-inspired retro clothing, try Gerties New Book for Better Sewing By Gretchen Hirsch. This book has beautiful patterns and also helps with more couture techniques. Happy sewing!

I'm personally a fan of McCunn's How to Make Sewing Patterns and Aldrich's Metric Pattern Cutting series, but as /u/JBJeeves said, everyone has their own way of doing things. It's really a matter of experimenting to find out what you like best; personally I like having books in front of me to follow along, but some people thrive on the creativity that can be had in draping their own patterns from their imagination.

Youtube is your friend, at least it was mine when I was first getting familiarized with the basics. I started with getting a pretty basic Brother machine for quilting (that's what first got me interested in sewing). And then I went to the store and looked at patterns, picked out some I liked (and were way too advanced for me) and then kind of went from there. Anytime I would come to a part that I was confused on,I would look it up. I got all my basic items like pins, pincushion, tailors chalk, gauge etc...all from walmart or amazon

Edit: and I got this book, I got an old used version and its kind of outdated, but the instructions and techniques stay the same, was SUPER helpful http://www.amazon.com/Simplicity-Simply-Best-Sewing-Book/dp/073942100X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376504091&sr=8-2&keywords=Simplicity+sewing

I read The Art of Hand Stitching Leather and this saved me a ton of time. I built the horse mostly to the specifications in the book and it is really helpful. Hand stitching takes about a third of the time for me now. A good awl and good technique in punching the leather made a huge difference in the quality of my stitches as well.

I would think you don't need the buttons down the front, they will only make it more complicated/get lost in the gathers. I've never made a skirt like that but I would add enough fabric at the waist to be able to turn under the raw edge then fold it again to be able to encase an elastic. You may also want to research half circle and full circle skirts. Also, you can make a prototype out of cheap fabric or a light muslin to see what happens. I learn a lot through trial and error...Also you could add pockets if you're up for it...everybody loves pockets!
edit: half and full circle skirts won't have as much gathering at the waist so maybe your rectangle will work better
edit 2: sorry for getting long but it looks like the elastic might be stitched down a half inch from the top to give it that look:) I would really recommend this book for sewing: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Sewing-Step---Step/dp/1606522086/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449794192&sr=8-1&keywords=readers+digest+complete+guide+to+sewing (I have the old version)

When I got my first machine I got a book that had projects designed to help you learn techniques - so they get progressively more complicated as they go. There are many of these - the one I used was this one: http://www.amazon.com/Stitch-Learning-Sew-Project-Time/dp/1440211612

If you don't want to buy something, your library certainly has or can get you through interlibrary loan something like this. I did the first few projects and then felt comfortable enough to branch out on my own. It was really helpful! Also youtube and pinterest have a lot of great resources.

Have you tried making your own? Sewing is not that hard. I'm a guy and am in the process of learning.

There's a lot of youtube videos that show you the basics. It's also good if can take a crash course. I live in Austin and there's about five different places that offer sewing classes for around $60 to $90. All it takes is usually one class to learn how to setup your sewing machine and the basics on how to sew straight, backstitching, etc.

I recommend this book on how to make your own patters. It describes exactly how to custom make petterns for skirts. It shows you how to fit it so that it fits perfectly.

Good luck.

I don’t know what the poster above was talking about. This is a great machine. Go to the vintage sewing machine sub reddit if you’d like to find others with the same machine. It’s nice if you have specific questions.

Next, take a class or get a really good book. This is a great one.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Sewing-Step-Step/dp/1606522086/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=complete+sewing+guide&qid=1570288200&sprefix=complete+sewi&sr=8-1

I'd recommend picking up a sewing book that comes with patterns, like the Colette sewing Handbook or BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook

I have both. The Colette book is laid out kind of like a lesson plan where you sew all the projects in order, and they gradually introduce new techniques. They cover a lot on fitting, but not a ton on modifying the pattern to look different.

The BurdaStyle book is laid out in a more "traditional" way, so all the reference stuff is at the front, then they move onto the patterns. The book has great details and ideas on changing up the patterns to suit your preference.

I also picked up Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing recently, which if you're into vintage style clothing, I'd recommend you pickup later on. (it's a more intermediate-level book, so I would recommend working on other patterns first.)

I'm glad it's helpful. Here's another way to access the Hapgood book:

https://web.archive.org/web/20070102010111/http://www.vintagesewing.info/19th/1892-sn/sn-toc-long.html

Here's the lesson on how to sew on a button. But any good sewing reference should have similar information:

https://web.archive.org/web/20070102112741/http://www.vintagesewing.info/19th/1892-sn/sn-02.html#buttons

There's a more sophisticated book on hand sewing for tailors. It's good, but it's basically a pamphlet, and as such, is rather expensive. You may be able to borrow it from a library.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0991402715?m=A1GEAVJFUOE45S&ref_=v_sp_widget_detail_page

I looked on Amazon and here are some books that emphasize hand sewing:

https://www.amazon.com/Sewn-Hand-Projects-Stitched-Needle/dp/1600596681/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479252255&sr=8-1&keywords=hand+sewing+projects


Here's another book. It's for kids, but I'll bet some of the projects could be adapted for adults:

https://www.amazon.com/Sewing-School-Projects-Kids-Will/dp/1603425780/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1479252255&sr=8-2&keywords=hand+sewing+projects

You seem to have a lot of advice already about machines so I'll just say that a good place to get some basic knowledge is sewing.org. They have some free projects on there but check out their guidelines, there's 1-3 page synopses on how to do just about everything a beginning sewer needs to learn. It's a fantastic resource. I also recommend this book that has very clear diagrams and instructions on tons of techniques.

Both Vogue and Readers Digest have pretty good books that cover a majority of techniques. That will cover the basics, but if you think she would like something a little more fun and less textbook-y, you could try this and this. The authors both have blogs that I follow, and I really like them!

I bought myself a machine, some fabric, these two books, scissors, and some other miscellaneous supplies.

The Reader's Digest book is a really good idea since the back has a decent section on tailoring, and is full of useful information on everything else you'll need to know. There are probably also some books specifically on tailoring; check your local library.

Practice making straight lines on a piece of lined paper before you start on cloth. Getting your lines straight is super important.

Everything after that is just practicing.

I'm just beginning myself, but Al Stohlman's The Art of Hand Sewing Leather is pretty much the go-to resource for learning how to hand stitch.

Ooh, that is tough! TnkrbllThmbsckr has a good suggestion about having a friend or relative help you.

Another option is to learn how to alter or make your own bras. Here's a book I'm thinking about purchasing (maybe you can order it on Kindle?) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C9QYV3U/

Here's another DIY resource: https://www.bramakerssupply.com/site2009/cart/shopdisplaycategories.asp (they ship internationally)

Good luck!

What kind of sewing are you interested in? Is there something you want to be able to make? I make quilts, and I am teaching myself how to make clothing so I recently picked up a few books to help me improve my skill and I really enjoy them.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1589235126/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1589234340/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574327968/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933027002/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I love the Readers Digest Guide and Vogue Sewing. Both books are packed with very useful information, but maybe she would like a more stylish-looking book to start out with. The Burdastyle Sewing Handbook or The Colette Sewing Handbook might be more inspirational.

I love this book. I saw it in a bookstore and turned every page. It's probably too complex for right now, but it could serve as an inspiration or provide projects you could work on with him.

http://www.amazon.com/Oliver-Little-Things-Sew-Accessories/dp/1584799102/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426869583&sr=1-1&keywords=little+things+to+sew


These books look interesting.

http://www.amazon.com/Sewing-School-Projects-Kids-Will/dp/1603425780/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426869393&sr=8-2&keywords=sewing+books+for+children

http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Guide-Sewing-Friends-Projects/dp/1607057514/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1426869393&sr=8-5&keywords=sewing+books+for+children

If he ever wants to do clothes, look at the Oliver + S site.

This book is really, really helpful if you're looking into sewing some more stuffed animals later! Tons of tips and even cute plushies to sew. He looks cute just be sure to not use thread that contrasts so much next time.

buy this book and spend a day or two reading through everything. it teaches you more about sewing than about how to thread the machine (although it does teach you that too!) there's beginner patterns in the back, a guide to reading real patterns, a checklist of supplies you need, a way to fix common hiccups that you will come across, all about different stitches, different needles for what fabric, all about fabric, etc etc it is a great resource and the projects in the back are a great way to get your feet wet and get sewing!!!

I'd recommend some books like Sew Everything Workshop

There's also books by Singer and I believe Readers Digest that quite thoroughly cover the basics of sewing. I have the Singer's Sewing Essentials which I believe was quite inexpensive.

Also, as far as your pattern goes, there is a glossary showing what each symbol or term means, and if you are stuck on one in particular, post it and I'm sure one of us can help =)

I really like the Reader's Digest Sewing book.

It's pretty in-depth on most sewing subjects, but focuses on garment construction.

If you're interested in housewares, I also recommend this book. It's sort of twee, though, so it may not be your cup of tea!

Colette patterns has a neat entry-level book, which comes with 5 clothing patterns! Their patterns are sized a little differently than regular patterns, but they are known for their clear instructions (usually a big frustration for new seamstresses).

My favorite sewing book ever is a little older, from Reader's Digest, if you believe that. Not the sexiest present, maybe, but super-useful. It shows you how to do everything, and the illustrations are plentiful and very clear.

Dude, I was where you are a few years ago. I decided to learn to sew for similar reasons. I bought a mint 1954 Singer 15-91 for $25 off of Craigslist...the beast can even sew leather! If you find you like sewing, the old machines are worth a serious look.

I suggest going to the Goodwill Store, DAV, Salvation Army Store, etc. to get your hands on patterns for practice. You'll be surprised how many cheap patterns are usually there. You'll find all sorts of other stuff too, thread, needles, embroidery/darning hoops, machines, mannequins, and cheap garments to disassemble for use as templates! While you are there look for bed linen as a cheap bulk practice fabric. You'll not find fabric so cheap anywhere else. (first pair of lounge pants I made were from a gray flannel sheet that cost me fifteen cents!) Also, don't forget garage sales...so many deals on the cheap!

Other than that, use Google as your resource, and practice sewing. Oh, I did buy a new $6 book at a used book store: Singer (the new) Sewing Essentials It's has been extremely helpful to me as a noob.

Because I only added the extra width to the centre of the lower cup, there was no need to change any other pieces of the bra. I hope it makes sense with the photo I added.

If you haven't seen it, have a look at this book. It's written by the pattern maker and is fantastic for understanding how to fit your bra. It explains it a lot better than I can!

I always recommend the Reader's Digest Guide and Vogue Sewing to anyone looking to start a sewing library. They cover very similar ground, so take a look inside each. I prefer Vogue most of the time, but it all depends on how she learns best.

Its hard to really judge since the leather and the thread are the same color, but the thread looks too thick IMO. Keep working at it and if you stitch in a contrasting color you will really be able to see your mistakes, helping you improve.

Sewing just takes practice, keep at it and watch this vid if you haven't already

This is also a really good book

I learned sewing as a kid, and I think I made about a bazillion pillowcases and rectangle bags. When I picked the hobby back up this year, I started with aprons and pajama pants - both garments, but simple ones that would never be seen in public in case they looked terrible. (And yes, they totally looked terrible!)

To go with the sewing machine, I'd consider getting her a book or two with sewing projects (like Simple Sewing: 30 Fast and Easy Projects for Beginners, and/or a gift card to the craft store.

The Art of Hand Sewing Leather by Al Stohlman is a superb guide from beginner to expert. Depending on the projects you are looking into starting, you won't need any other reference for a long time.

Not to endorse a specific vendor, but I just ordered this:
http://www.amazon.com/Scrap-Leather-Medium-Brown-Cowhide/dp/B006UUHUDO?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
and made a sheath from it today.

Having done this a few times, my best recommendation to you is to get 6-7 oz leather of whatever color floats your boat.

What kind of stitching do you do? I use an awl with two needles, per the instructions in this book: http://www.amazon.com/Art-Hand-Sewing-Leather/dp/1892214911/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464597294&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=hand+stiching+leather

I am a big fan of these books:

1. Love at first stitch: http://www.amazon.com/Love-First-Stitch-Demystifying-Dressmaking/dp/1611802342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459291310&sr=8-1&keywords=tilly+and+the+buttons
   
2. The Colette sewing handbook: http://www.amazon.com/Colette-Sewing-Handbook-Techniques-Seamstress/dp/1440215456/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1459291310&sr=8-2&keywords=tilly+and+the+buttons

Patternmaking for Fashion Design
and How to Make Sewing Patterns are good resources. The first is more of a textbook that addresses specific techniques in patternmaking (e.g. how do I do articulated sleeves? how do I do an invisible zipper?) while the latter is more of a general introduction.

I use a machine for nearly everything and am horrible at handsewing. The most hand sewing I do is for tacking down allowances or for hook & eye closures so I think you could probably get away with mediocre hand sewing technique.

The Art of Hand Sewing Leather by Al Stohlman has directions for building a stitching pony. I haven't built one but it seems to be well regarded. If you don't have the $11 to buy the book (also well regarded) you may be able to find the plans out in the webs.

No plans, but there is a walkthrough of a guy building a variation on Stohlman's pony.

Edit: also found these plans in an older book. A little hard to read, and I'm guessing they require some skill as a carpenter.

I was recommended this book but have yet to order it. I've heard really good things about it and plan on ordering it soon!

I would recomend This book for trying to create your own pattern! It's more special that way anyway, right??

May I recommend The Modern Maker Vol 1: Men's Doublets as a more in depth resource on making a doublet? It does a very good job walking you through tailoring a doublet.

>the crotch. If you turn a pair of pants inside out and look at the crotch, you'll notice it sort of curves. You'll have to follow that curve, whereas the outside seam would just be straight.

OP if you do attempt to alter in this fashion I highly suggest that you seek out a book or two on tailoring techniques.

Classic Tailoring Techniques: A Construction Guide for Men's Wear (F.I.T. Collection) By Roberto Cabrera Buyitonamazon

Classic Tailoring Techniques: A Construction Guide for Women's Wear (F.I.T. Collection) By Roberto Cabrera Buyitonamazon

Also the Cutter & Tailor forums is another excellent resource for menswear

I have been using How to Make Sewing Patterns by Don McCunn. I have successfully made skinny pants from the pant sloper. I do not think skinny pants were in style as they are now, so it took some additional internet research to achieve the exact fit I wanted.

While I have not used it to make skirts or bodices yet, the instructions are much more thorough in the bodice and skirt sections.

I found it at my local used book store for ~$10 usd. I think it is worth a try, if you are looking for a lower entry pattern book. It is targeting home sewers as opposed to fashion design textbooks on the subject.

I started with this book and modified the shit out of stock patterns. The Green Pepper is a good place to get rather gender neutral patterns and other useful stuff. There are a few other books out there that are geared more towards male apparel but I can't remember them right now. When I get home I can tell you more.

I taught myself using this book: https://www.amazon.com/Sew-Everything-Workshop-Step-Step/dp/0761139737

It goes through the basics pretty well and I still use it as a reference.

So should we post recommendations for resources here and now? Because I personally loved The Colette Sewing Handbook and the tutorials at Colette Patterns.

I love this book about drafting stuffed animal patterns. "Stuffed animals" by glassenberg

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1454703644/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1486267163&sr=1-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=stuffed+animals&dpPl=1&dpID=51VKR4cCGlL&ref=plSrch

As a no longer novice, straight male who doesn't give a damn for stereotypes, and will from now on only refer to himself as a seamstress within the confines of this subreddit, I salute you for taking the step that seems to be so polarized in your life!

Now to the question at hand, I don't have time to do a full blown search, and you will find that the number of men's patterns available that are not period styled (victorian, civil war, etc.) is very limited. The reason would appear to be that men's clothes in general are limited, but that is a topic for another day. I found a standard jacket with multi-pocket pattern here and it is quite pricey, in my opinion, but I think will serve your purpose. Don't put the extra pockets on it, of course, and for the top right pocket, find a tutorial on how to make various types of pockets and work from there.

As you learn, make sure you follow every step, if it says to sew a 3" seam and then press that seam, get the iron out and press it before you move on. Practice sewing straight lines, and then move to curves, get a feel for the way fabric moves, and never be afraid to rip out a seam if it looks poor and do it again! Finally, I cannot recommend "How to Make Sewing Patterns" enough. I swear by this book, and when I can't find a pattern, or want to try something on my own, this book contains most of the options and method's you will use in creating a pattern to make it happen!

My favorite book is the Singer- The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing. It literally tells you and shows you about everything. From the types of needles to different fabrics- it's my bible!

I want to recommend this book. I checked it out of my local library a few weeks ago and found a lot of useful things in there including how to diagnose thread problems like tension.

Depends on what you want to do.

I like Valerie Michael

On stitching leather, get Al Stohlman

I would recommend the following books:

New Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing

Old Reader's Digest Complete Guide

Patterns from Finished Clothes

Totally recommend this book
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Sewing-Step-Step/dp/1606522086

If you're at all interested in handsewing leather, this is literally the handsewing + beginning leatherwork bible

Here are some other free sewing and craft books on Amazon...

11 Sewing Room Ideas: How to Organize Your Room 86 pages

Sewing for Baby: 11 Small Sewing Projects for Your Little One

May Martin's Sewing Bible e-short 1: Everything You Need to Get You Started 40 pages

Quilt pattern - Yo-Yo Flags


Fairytale Pincushion and Thread Catcher Sewing Pattern

Encyclopedia of Needlework by Thérèse de Dillmont
- the hardcover of this book sells for $23

Duct Tape Bags

Practical Duct Tape Projects

Pink Little Lady Amigurumi Crochet Pattern

Easy Quilt Patterns: 11 Applique Quilt Patterns + Quick Quilts

The art of hand sewing leather says that if you're stopping one section of stitches due to running out of thread, you tie an overhand knot around the outside of the work, and start sewing the next length of cord back a stitch or two (so you're sewing atop the existing stitches) and cut the thread at the awl hole once the new stitching has passed the overhead stitching.

When I'm sewing linen, I'll usually end my stitching by backstitching a few holes, then passing my needle and thread between the two layers and cutting it off below the level of the leather.

If I'm sewing with nylon, I just backstitch a few holes, cut the threads on the backside and melt the ends of the cords with a lighter, then mash the molten nylon down with my thumb.

TLDR: Saddle stitch is a very strong stitch and you don't really need to tie it off to keep it from unraveling.

Hey, check out the Colette Patterns book, and website, respectively here and [here] (http://www.colettepatterns.com/). There are similar garments to the ones you posted in a sequential, made-for-learning book (so you make the first project, and then build on those skills for the second and then the same for the third, etc.) and it comes with the patterns.

I was self taught and couldn't have done it without a good reference book like this

New Complete Guide to Sewing: Step-by-Step Techniques for Making Clothes and Home Accessories
by Editors of Reader's Digest
Link: http://amzn.com/1606522086

I've heard really good things about The Sewtionary. It's a dictionary-styled book, so it's just techniques and how to do them, all in alphabetical order.

If you want something that you can work through and learn a lot at the same time, there is the Colette Sewing Handbook and Tilly and the Buttons' Love at First Stitch. They both have a handful of patterns and the book walks you through them, getting slowly more difficult, and teaching techniques as you go.

Note: I don't own any of these books, but they're all highly-reviewed.

I ordered Bridal Couture: Fine Sewing Techniques for Wedding Gowns and Evening Wear, Bridal Gowns: How to Make the Weddings Dress of Your Dreams, and Gertie's Ultimate Dress Book. The two wedding ones have been the most useful but they're very similar and tend to run together in my head. One goes really into muslins and the other doesn't care about muslins and is all about tissue fitting which is so weird to me. I'm sticking with the muslins. I think Couture does muslins and Gowns does tissue fitting. If I had to pick just one I'd go with Couture.

Or, the $20 version from twenty years ago: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Sewing-Step-Step/dp/1606522086

The Art of Handsewing Leather is usually highly regarded.

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Hand-Sewing-Leather/dp/1892214911/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464628998&sr=8-1&keywords=al+stohlman

http://www.japanesesewingbooks.com/?s=kids

http://oliverands.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Oliver-Little-Things-Sew-Accessories/dp/1584799102?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

A or B

How to Make Sewing Patterns by Don McCunn. Don also has online classes and a Yahoo group

A few other books with decent reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Patterns-Step---Step/dp/1845374568

http://www.amazon.com/Make-Sewing-Patterns-Donald-McCunn/dp/0932538002

http://www.amazon.com/Design---Yourself-Clothes-Patternmaking-Simplified/dp/0307451399

One of my beginning sewing classes in college used The Readers Digest New Complete Guide to Sewing. I've often gone back and referenced it.

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https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Sewing-Step-Step/dp/1606522086/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_0/131-3755119-5192134?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1606522086&pd_rd_r=83942beb-2835-4b8f-b9cf-469a951a1b91&pd_rd_w=USXL2&pd_rd_wg=GS0lF&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=KBN7XE0N611G2RQPPVE4&psc=1&refRID=KBN7XE0N611G2RQPPVE4

Me too. How to Make Sewing Patterns helped a lot.

I swear by this one. And this for tailoring.

Unfortunately, most bra patterns are designed for matrix sizes using +4 fitting and with almost no known variations for shape. I'm afraid you may need to experiment, but that's not uncommon for bras. Try sister sizing up to a 30A and see if you can adjust the fit? You may also want to look at patterns that don't appear to come in your size, and check the size chart to see if they cover your measurements instead - could work out, could be a +4 disaster that results in too large band and too small cups, can't say for certain.

I've had this book on my wishlist for a while now, and this one.

They're 2 different tools and are manufactured very differently.

Pricking irons are not meant to penetrate all the way through the leather - people do it, but they're not designed for that. They're only meant to initially space and angle the stitching holes so you have a good guide to fully puncture the leather with an awl. They "prick" the leather. The points are usually filed and cut very precisely out of high quality steel to last a lifetime - using it improperly as a punch risks bending and breaking a tooth. They generally have 8 or more teeth to lay out long stretches or 2 teeth to go around corners.

Diamond punches are lower quality tools that are stamped and ground to shape. They're meant to go all the way through thinner leathers and into a cutting surface. If you break or bend a tooth, no worries, they're easily replaceable. They can be used as a poor man's pricking iron, but stitching wheels are better for that job. They have 4, 2, or 1 tooth variations, as more teeth would be harder to punch through and remove. The main downside is you get a 1 size fits all big damn hole.

And don't use a lacing chisel for stitching, where the slits line up in the direction you're going. The thread falls into the hole and you'll have an ugly space between every stitch. I see way too many people on this subreddit doing it, and it needs to stop.

Pricking irons were mainly developed in Europe and England, where tight stitches of 8spi and higher were common and prized as quality craftsmanship. Western style leatherworking mainly relied on stitching wheels and awls at 3-8 spi. Saddles have a lot of curves, where a pricking iron would be useless, and larger threads with fewer spi is just as strong if not stronger with heavy leathers. Diamond punches are kind of a recent invention from the crafty side of the trade.

Basically, I sew Western style, with a stitching wheel and a diamond awl. If you want to learn how, there's only one book to get - Al Stohlman's Art of Sewing Leather. With an awl, you can vary stitch length and hole size at will to fit the project, thread size, and leather thicknesses. If the leather is too thin or floppy for an awl, I sit down with a glover's needle and a big damn thimble I made for myself. My punches are rusting somewhere, and if you want them, you can have 'em.