A Dutch book. But definitely worth mentioning on that English blog. 'Balenciaga – masterly black' is a tribute to the fashion house Balenciaga and the fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, starring his beloved color black. More than 100 masterpieces from the collections of Palais Galliera and Maison Balenciaga were included in the book. Texts are by Véronique Belloir, Helena López de Hierro, Gaspard de Massé and Ollivier Saillard. Waanders Uitgevers has published this beautiful book.
A Chanel-Style jacket without trims or fringes? Impossible !
Coco Chanel made her signature trims and fringes longggg time ago and they are still famous and SUPER modern ! Let's start making trims and fringes and be creative as never before! 
A Beginner's Guide to Bag Making is an English-language book written by Estelle Zanatta and Marion Grandamme. The subtitle reads: 20 Classics styles explained step by step. It is an amazing book to learn to make THE classics among the bags. But despite the beautiful bags, the beautiful photos and the joy of making these bags, we do have some questions...
 Inside Haute couture: Behind the Scenes at the Paris Ateliers by Desirée Sadek and Guillaume de Laubier
As the title says, this book is about taking a glimpse inside the famous fashion houses. It is very picture-heavy with many images of studios, workshops, designers and artisans at work, as well as the close ups of the gorgeous details that go into the garments and the shots before the fashion shows begin. The photography is splendid, of course, and every page is full of information about the haute couture design process at different fashion houses. 
Couture Sewing Techniques is not a Dummies handbook for absolute beginners. It is an advanced guide for seamstress with a lot of experience who want to learn the real couture sewing techniques. The book is ideal as a finishing touch for your projects or as a deepening of your knowledge and techniques.
Heavy-Duty Sewing is an English book by Anton Sandqvist, who is known for his outdoor brand: Sandqvist. In this book you can read everything about making products that are robust and strong, because they are made of heavy and sturdy fabrics. We mention: canvas, leather, strong cotton and heavier woven wool fabrics. Anton Sandqvist 'does magic' with these fabrics and is making beautiful backpacks, bags, toiletry bags, baskets and practical holders for knives and kitchen utensils.
It is a beautiful book in terms of design that exudes Scandinavia in every photo. And it is a big challenge to go for sturdy, stiff fabrics and to make usable stuff from them. But we do have a little bit of criticism, and we'll explain that in this blog. 
Couture Sewing, Tailoring Techniques by Claire Shaeffer
This book is about tailoring techniques and sewing secrets of such renowned designers as Chanel, Dior, and Balenciaga. Get an insider's view of the couture industry. Author and fashion expert Claire B. Shaeffer shares garment tailoring techniques, construction methods, and even short cuts used in the finest European ateliers of Paris, Rome and London. Shaeffer presents viewers with an in-depth tailoring workshop, demonstrating key techniques such as converting darts to ease, creating a patch pocket, interfacing a hem, stitching a fly zipper, and making a bound buttonhole. 
We enjoyed the book: The older but better but older, the Art of growing up. It is an amazingly funny and lovely pocketbook.
The Bestselling authors of How to Be Parisian are telling us the inspiring story about the Parisian art of growing up. Caroline de Maigret and Sophie Mas are very relaxed about getting older and giving a lot of tips and tricks of how to deal with it. Forget about 'looking like your daughter' but be happy to grow old. We all have to deal with it and it is not a shame to be old. We love the book, just like the other books about the Parisian Style of Fashion and Lifestyle. 
Couture : The art of fine sewing
Couture, couture and couture. Roberta Carr loves it and explains a lot. The drawings in the book are beautiful and makes the readers want to know more and create more themselves. The book is about how to approach a sewing technique, or a way of accomplishing a particular look. The book explains the sewing techniques perfectly in every little detail but also tell the reader WHY it should be done this way and why this techniques works best. Sometimes it even provides alternatives. Seamstresses create beautiful clothing by analyzing problems and choosing from alternative techniques, and then selecting the best solutions to create their version of perfection. 
The Shirtmaking Workbook is an instruction book about making shirts and blouses. It was written by David Page Coffin and has many photos with details and descriptions. Do you really want to learn how to make the perfect blouse? This book is your ideal guide. Or do you just want to know a little more about how shirts and blouses are made in general? It will be great as well.
The faux-wrap skirt is a piece of art and looks inside as good as it does outside. The quilted skirt-lining is very comfortable. The faux-wrap concept allows the wearer to walk easily without restriction.
Combined with the Cardigan Jacket, we are now able to make our perfect couture designer suit in Chanel-Style ourselves. 
"Everyday style" by Lotta Jansdotter is an English book with photography by Jenny Hallengren. It is a book about accessories, styling and inspiration and offers eight sewing patterns. The book is ideal for seamstress who like a simple and honest (life-) style.
Patricia Underwood is the subject of this book with the subtitle: 'The way you wear your hat'. It was written by Jeffrey Banks and Doria de la Chapelle with foreword by Isaac Mizrahi. Patricia Underwood is a well-known hat maker and designer.
‘Fashion Embroidery’ might seem like a 'just' beautiful coffee table book about Haute couture, but it is more than that. The English book is written by Jessica Pile (the Production Director at Hand & Lock embroidery). It is a hardcover with beautiful photos of Haute couture clothing and embroidery. It is really "Textile Art".
'The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket' is a great book if you are interested in sewing the perfect blazer. We talked about it before: Vogue V8333 is a great sewing pattern and study by Claire Shaeffer.
 The Couture Faux-Wrap Skirt, Chanel-Style, is one of the most popular couture skirts because of its style and special characteristics.
'The Maker's Atelier, The Essential Collection: Sewing with Style' is an English book by Frances Tobin. The book is a large book (two pounds) of 21 x 15 cm and contains beautiful stylish photos and clear texts. Half of the book is an envelope containing eight sewing patterns (on a radar sheet). The book closes with a magnetic strip.
The maker's atelier
The subtitle: 'Sewing with Style' is a perfect title in our opinion. The book clearly focuses on the woman who likes the minimalist and stylish style. The sewing patterns are easy and manageable for beginners. Even the colors of the pictures (of the clothes) are matching: everything fits together perfectly. The colors are mainly earth tones, brown, dark blue, burgundy, gold and many warm shades of beige. Stylish, warm colors that suits middle-aged women very well. Whether you already have gray hair or whether it is still blonde or brown; these colors are always flattering. Fair sewing patterns, fair shapes This book is not only aimed at women of all ages, but also women of all shapes. From size S to XL, these clothes will look great. There are plenty of women who don't like shopping or women who rarely find what they are looking for: stylish but comfortable clothes. This book is a great reason to start sewing. Most of the patterns are timeless and classic, such as the pencil skirt, the cigarette pants, the coat and the blouses. Required sewing level The sewing patterns are suitable for beginners. The instructions are loud and clear and supported by simple drawings. The sequence is also clear, step-by-step and no steps upfront. The radar sheets are easy to understand and ideal for beginners. This book will be a nice step to get used to pattern pieces and to get a feel for how to handle sewing patterns. 
Alternatives
The author of the book recommends fabrics for each pattern and alternatives (from simple garbadine to metallic leather look). If you know the sewing patterns, you can vary endlessly with fabric and try more 'advanced options'. In addition, you can endlessly vary the items of clothing yourself. The blouse fits both the pencil skirt and the cigarette pants and the coat is matching with all the clothes. In fact, these eight sewing patterns are the basis for an entire wardrobe. The bag is especially nice. This is called 'book' bag because it is big enough for groceries or a stack of books. A nice tip for the holidays: Make a 'book' bag for a family member, friend or girlfriend. Such a bag is always great and if you create it with suede or a leather look fabric, it will be a big hit! 
Check, check, double check
We made the pencil skirt and the cigarette pants. A leather look bag is still in process :>) The pencil skirt is a great comfortable skirt as home wear (nice and casual in jersey with elastic band) but you can also make it more representable with a zipper, waistband and luxurious fabrics. The length is just right. Not fussy or stiff, but feminine and modern. The cigarette pants are ideal as a basic garment as well. It looks a lot better than leggings or jogging pants and especially for the summer pants. The cigarette pants can of course also be sutable for the winter. Buy a thicker fabric and lengthen the pants. How simple can it be? 
Chanel collector and couture sewing expert Claire B. Shaeffer returns with Couture Sewing: 'Making designers trims' to teach you everything you need to know to create and attach the perfect trim to any outfit.
The devil is in the details After spending weeks creating a couture, Chanel-inspired suit it would be a shame to skimp on the trim. With more than 280 photos paired with step-by-step instruction, Shaeffer takes the mystery out of creating designer trims. You can easily make them yourself as long as you keep an eye on the right combinations, colors and you know how to work with the materials. Instructions Learn how to easily swap out one trim for another when you want a fresh look without creating a whole new garment. In this book you will get great instructions. Learn to topstitch like a pro to achieve a simple yet elegant trim, apply ribbons, prairie points, piping, bands, and braids. Create intricate seamed, lining, and facing trims. Make your very own cord-filled piping and crocheted trims About the Author Claire Shaeffer is an internationally respected author, lecturer, college instructor and columnist. Her innovative sewing techniques and easy-to-read instructions have guided readers and students through many sewing facets of the garment industry. Claire Shaeffer based her knowledge of haute couture construction and meticulous research studying original Chanels in museum archives and her own collection. She wrote the celebrated Couture Sewing Techniques for Taunton Press and has authored and starred in a multitude of successful videos on couture sewing. 
Great:
Not thát great:
Notes: We specially love the "Lining and Facing Trims" paragraph. Now that is Chic Couture !! 
Summarized:
'Making designers trims' is a great book for Chanel-style couture lovers. It is also a great gift for the holidays! We hope it will the next publication of this book contain be a bit more modern, bold and daring trims and fringes. We also hope the book will have more photo's and examples of self-made trims like braiding, crochet and knitting. More Etsy and Craftsy stuff..... 
The Overlocker Technique manual, Julia Hincks is an interesting manual and a great gift for the holidays. For fast and professional edging, hemming, seaming, and decorative stitching, you simply can't beat a serging machine. This all-skill-level book is the perfect guide to make sure you get the most out of your new machine (or out of that old serger that you've never got the hang of!)
The serger or overlocker Photographs and step-by-step instructions guide you through the essential techniques, showing you how to set up your machine, how to adjust the settings to get the best results on a range of different fabrics, and how to edge your fabrics quickly with perfect results. The troubleshooting section provides tips and quick fixes for skipped stitches, snapped threads, and uneven stitching. Also includes a buyer's guide to different sergers, providing you with advice on finding the right machine for you. An overlocker: yes, but why? First of all: an overlocker is not a sewingmachine. A (good!) sewing machine can do almost anything, but an overlocker is a the dessert after a delicious meal. The finishing touch, the whipped cream on the cake, the golden thread that makes your sewing work so professional finished. Do we know more metaphors? Probably, but let's stick to the (sewing) lesson. For example, an overlocker can sew elastic materials together and finish with a 3 or 4 thread-stitches without any difficulty. For example: these stitches at the end of a t-shirt. Turn your t-shirt or sweater inside out and take a look down. So now you know why! Even the best seamstress in the world can't get it done with a sewing machine. An overlocker sews and CUTS the fabric at the same time. So put those zigzag scissors away and from now on finish your own clothing with an overlocker. T In addition, an overlocker also creates decorative seams, even threads beads or pearls on the fabric and is able to do a lot more magical tricks. And imagine you are working with a sewing machine to deal with a huge piece of fabric that should become a curtain: an overlocker would turn the big job into a piece of cake. A great book:
A bit less interesting:
Summarized:
We love all the beautiful examples. But it all looks a bit like a mamma or grandmother is sewing (locking) for her baby. Next edition: please provides us with more pictures of modern clothes or beautiful couture. Nevertheless: the book is a great gift for a seamstress for the holidays! |
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