Sew What! Skirts: 15 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics 
asked by nutshell on November 21, 2006 8:36 AM
Sewing is back! Young, crafty women are discovering the fun and creativity of working with fabric, needle, and thread to create simple, colorful skirts, suitable for showing off as wearable art. Sew What! Skirts assumes no prior sewing experience (and no home ec. class or mother with sewing skills!), and doesn’t get bogged down with overly complicated instructions or patterns.
Author Francesca DenHartog, a fabric fanatic and sewing instructor, has stripped skirts down to the basics: 15 styles, ranging from an A-line to a circle, wraparound, gored panel, tiered “hippie,” layered, and more. All it takes to get started is basic body measurements (no need to go out and buy an expensive pattern), a machine, great fabric, fun embellishments, and a few sewing fundamentals.
With a creative can-do attitude, playful photographs, and super-simple step-by-step instructions, Sew What! Skirts will connect a whole new generation with the craft of making clothing that expresses your own unique look and personality. It’s all about the fabric, as DenHartog demonstrates with the colorful array of patterns and motifs featured throughout.
Whimsical, colorful, and easy, the designs in this book are sure to unleash the creative spirit of every budding seamstress.
Author Francesca DenHartog, a fabric fanatic and sewing instructor, has stripped skirts down to the basics: 15 styles, ranging from an A-line to a circle, wraparound, gored panel, tiered “hippie,” layered, and more. All it takes to get started is basic body measurements (no need to go out and buy an expensive pattern), a machine, great fabric, fun embellishments, and a few sewing fundamentals.
With a creative can-do attitude, playful photographs, and super-simple step-by-step instructions, Sew What! Skirts will connect a whole new generation with the craft of making clothing that expresses your own unique look and personality. It’s all about the fabric, as DenHartog demonstrates with the colorful array of patterns and motifs featured throughout.
Whimsical, colorful, and easy, the designs in this book are sure to unleash the creative spirit of every budding seamstress.
Reviews
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I ordered this book from Amazon on a whim. I thought it sounded good so I took a chance and I'm glad I did. I am really happy with this book. I plan to work my way through the projects. This book would be great for a beginner. I am an intermediate seamstress but love the idea of not running out to buy a pattern everytime I need a new skirt. The author walks you through the steps of drafting your own pattern for your body measurements. Each skirt has a different technique and the projects grow in dificulty level, although none of them are very dificult. She has excellent instrucions and the pictures are inspiring. I believe there are 16 skirts in here but you could easily take the different ideas and come up with many more patterns. I would love to see more of these books, maybe one on tops and another on pants. The book is well worth the money especially if you think about the cost of patterns these days. Great job Francesca, I love it!
reviewed by ivan on November 29, 2006 12:09 AM
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I picked up this book at the local bookstore. I've been sewing for years but thought the ideas in this book were adorable. This is an excellent book for an older teen, experienced seamstress, or someone with an eye for fabric that would like to add a spark to her own wardrobe.
reviewed by gilbert on November 29, 2006 2:49 PM
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I have never written a review, but just had to for this book! My husband gave it to me for my birthday and WOW! This is an outstanding book - I greatly appreciate the authors' excellent taste in style and fabric! I am very inspired to make some beautiful skirts! I hope to be sewing all winter in preparation for Spring Skirt Season!
reviewed by crick on November 29, 2006 4:58 PM
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I sew almost every day. I never use patterns. I hate them. I mean, what's the point of putting all that time into making a garment if it's going to look like something you bought at the store?
That's why I design all my clothing and handbags, and this book is now one of my favorites. It doesn't come with built in patterns, but directions for how to measure yourself and make patterns or - better yet -mark the skirt dimensions right on the fabric. What's more, the designs are unique and versatile, and the author encourages personal creativity.
The day after I bought it I sewed the Country Charm skirt using some quilters cotton and another cotton fabric I'd hand-dyed a few days before. The directions were simple, accurate and within a couple of hours I was done. Thanks to the wonderful instructions, my fabric choices and an applique I ended up with unique, wearable work of art and a new style of skirt to sew for myself or others.
It's not often I'm impressed with a sewing book. This one gets my highest recommendation.
That's why I design all my clothing and handbags, and this book is now one of my favorites. It doesn't come with built in patterns, but directions for how to measure yourself and make patterns or - better yet -mark the skirt dimensions right on the fabric. What's more, the designs are unique and versatile, and the author encourages personal creativity.
The day after I bought it I sewed the Country Charm skirt using some quilters cotton and another cotton fabric I'd hand-dyed a few days before. The directions were simple, accurate and within a couple of hours I was done. Thanks to the wonderful instructions, my fabric choices and an applique I ended up with unique, wearable work of art and a new style of skirt to sew for myself or others.
It's not often I'm impressed with a sewing book. This one gets my highest recommendation.
reviewed by borat on November 29, 2006 4:59 PM