The Sewing Book – Alison Smith

DK64576 | Dorling Kindersley

If you’re looking for the sort of sewing book that deserves a permanent spot on the sewing-room shelf, this is it! 📚🧵 The Sewing Book by Alison Smith is a big, beautifully illustrated, seriously useful reference covering everything from getting to know your sewing machine and choosing the right tools, through to patterns, fabrics, fitting and more than 300 sewing techniques.

The clever bit is how DK presents everything. Techniques are broken down into clear, illustrated step-by-step sequences, so you can actually see what you're supposed to be doing rather than trying to decipher a wall of instructions. You'll find everything from seams, hems and darts through to gathers, zips, pleats, collars and other essential sewing skills. There’s also plenty on understanding patterns, taking measurements, adapting designs and choosing suitable fabrics for your project.

And it isn't just a reference book that sits looking pretty! The book includes 10 homeware and clothing projects so you can put those newly acquired skills into practice. It's designed to take you from the basics through to more confident sewing, making it equally useful for someone just getting started and for more experienced sewists who want a handy reference to dip into when a particular technique needs a refresher.

Alison Smith is a highly experienced sewing teacher and the founder of the School of Sewing in Leicestershire, which has been teaching sewing for more than 30 years. She was awarded an MBE for services to sewing and corsetry in 2013 and has also taught at Liberty London.

Inside you'll find:

• 300+ sewing techniques

• Clear, illustrated step-by-step instructions

• Sewing machine basics and essential tools

• Cutting tools and machine feet

• Choosing and understanding fabrics

• How to read and use sewing patterns

• Measuring and adapting patterns to your measurements

• Techniques including seams, hems, darts, gathers, zips, pleats and collars

• 10 homeware and clothing projects

• Plenty of detailed photography and visual guidance

Book details:

• Title: The Sewing Book (New Edition)

• Author: Alison Smith

• Publisher: Dorling Kindersley (DK)

• Rainbow Stash SKU: DK64576

• ISBN: 9780241726082

• Format: Hardback

• Pages: 352

• Dimensions: approximately 237 × 297 mm

• Published: February 2025

Whether you're learning to sew, brushing up on your skills or simply like having a really good sewing reference within arm's reach, The Sewing Book is the kind of book you'll find yourself reaching for whenever you're wondering "Now… how exactly do I do that?" 🧵✂️📖