adonna's Full Review: Carol Laflin Ahles - Fine Machine Sewing: Easy Way...
Back Again
It's been a while since I wrote a review here, but I realize I have a few things to add to the mix, so here I am. One thing, I'd like to suggest that you snag a copy of Fine Machine Sewing: Easy Ways to Get the Look of Hand Finishing & Embellishing by Carol Ahles. If you're interested in sewing at all, why not try to do it well? This book will help.
It Covers the Basics
And beyond the basics, but let's start with the basics, because they're important to producing fine sewing, and Carol does help you with that. First of all, going to the back of the machine, there are three good sections that you can use for reference. What to look for in a sewing machine covers the features you might want if you're looking for a machine. I don't argue with any of her criteria, I think it's important to have a good selection f stitches, excellent tension, good feeding, the ability to stop with needle up or down, fine tuning, and the rest. I won't reiterate all of the features here, but if you're shopping for a machine, the minimum you should do is check the back of this book, Appendix A, and read it in the bookstore, to get an idea of what you ought to be thinking about. The second section back there is more of a keeper, in fact, I'd suggest that you either scan or photocopy appendix B, the machine settings for decorative techniques, and keep it near your machine. It will save you a lot of guesswork, operator error, and ruined projects. And it'll inspire you to take your skills further. Finally, her sections on machine maintenance, appendix c and the first section of the first chapter, if they were shorter, I'd say tattoo them on your thigh for ready reference. Maintaining your sewing machine is essential to enjoying it.
Beyond the basics
This is my second Carol Ahles book. The first one, Know Your Elna (no longer in print, but get it used if you can) gave me respect for the woman's ability to teach. This book reinforces that impression. I have the revised edition, which has some changes in the charts, resources, and techniques that make it worthwhile, even though you'll probably have to find it new.
This book helps me to make the most of my sewing machine. Techniques I'd never thought to try, she covers in a way that makes them seem easy to me. That's an accomplishment, considering I've been a fumble fingers straight stitcher for years. I never would have tried fagoting, for instance, if it hadn't been for her instructions in Chapter Seven, where she tells how you can use different stitches to join fabrics together and make it look terrific. Although I had purchased twin needles for my Viking a long time ago, I never used them, because I was a afraid that I'd "hurt" my machine. Carol has a whole chapter on using twin needles that tells me what to do and what to avoid, so that I can enjoy my twin needles, and not be courting disaster.
All of the chapters are lovingly illustrated, so that you can see the look you're shooting for. The colors in my edition are brilliant, the photos in some cases are full page.
The tips are worth the cost of the book alone. Each chapter has plenty of tips in the margins that will help you to succeed at these techniques. For me, at least, reading some of the tips gives me an "ah-hah" moment, as she suggests things that I would never have considered, but which make sense.
This isn't just any sewing book
I have quite a collection of sewing books, and some of them are sadly short on instruction, while too long on dumb projects. This book will show you things like how to hemstitch or applique, but won't insult your intelligence by giving you one abbreviated page of a technique, and ten of dumb "projects" that you wouldn't want to have around the house. Rather, it gives you the considerations and techniques you will need to understand the process you're attempting, the factors that will affect it, and the best means to accomplish it.
Go through the book chapter by chapter, and I guarantee you'll become more skilled at sewing, and you'll enjoy it more. Or save each technique to learn before you want to apply it, and the same happy result will occur.
One last thing, this book won't insult your intelligence. Carol writes for an intelligent sewer, and gives you more than you'll need, in a careful and complete way. I think I could toss out half my sewing books because they're not as good, but if I lost this one, I'd want to replace it.
If that doesn't tell you how much I respect this book, then nothing will.
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