The new Built by Wendy book, Sew U is out. I have been waiting for it anxiously since trying out her patterns earlier this summer. . .
Here are some pages from inside the book. I am a total book junkie, and a craft junkie, so that equals a craftbook junkie-- and this one here pleases me on many levels. It's got the cutest endpapers and illos ever, and Wendy's writing voice is down-to-earth and pleasant without being randomly sassy which seems so prevalent in many crafting books right now. . .
There are 3 tissue patterns in the back (a skirt, dress shirt and pants)
and the spiral binding is very handy.
Sorry for the lame-o photos. I was too excited to scan this and make it all pretty. Also, it seems slightly less illegal when I take bad photos of a book versus clear ones. Moving on. .
I have read reviews of this book but couldn't really figure out what is was until I saw it myself and it is very very cool. It truely is a learn how to sew clothes book. It's got the basics covered (supplies and fabric organization and all that) and then 3 chapters that use the 3 basic patterns included in that nifty back flap. There is a basic A-line skirt, a dress shirt, and a pair of pants. (sizes 2-12) Each chapter shows 3-4 variations on the basic pattern and a ton of ideas on top of that. I mean it when I say a ton of ideas, not just "add trim" but actual alterations to the basic form of the garment. It's a great starting point if you have never sewn clothes before or if you have and they have gone wrong. Or if you just dig Wendy's look, which I do a whole lot.
I need to admit here that I, along with being a craft book junkie, get really into directions (mailorder) and I also really enjoy designing patterns and writing directions myself and hope to do this a lot more in the future, so I look at these craft books from that perspective. I will use this book, but mostly it's a pleasure for me to read and I love the style. Such a fun modern contrast to my standby favorite sewing book.
Wendy really covers sewing well here, the real way. Not a "make it up as you go and only use existing thrifted clothes" way. Not that I'm against reusing thrifted clothes- I'm all for felting a sweater and making it into god knows what, but there are not many (any?) books right now that actually teach how to sew cool clothes from start to finish. There's no crappy crafty stuff here, you know? It's the real deal. Like she discusses hems quite a bit and the placement of pants pockets and how they important they are to percieved bootie size-who knew?
A few things I would say to friends who would be buying this book who had never sewn clothes before:
If you don't dig her style (how can that be?) it will be hard to move past this when looking at the book, it's very cool, very modern, and very now. There is a slight vintage feel, and of course you can do your own thing, but you aren't going to find a 1950s frock pattern in this book. Also, standard pattern sizes are smaller than most women out there. Measure carefully, because a sewing pattern size 10 is not the same as Gap pants in a size 10. The other issue that is huge in garmet sewing is altering. Not for design but for fit. Wendy covers this a bit and warns that a muslin should be made first, but if you have anything other than a pretty "normal" body type, garment sewing can really be hard at first. There are entire books devoted to altering the fit of standard sewing patterns, so that would be good to have on hand if you get into sewing clothes a lot.
Okay-if I get my hands on some other cool craft books coming out this fall, I will write about them. Kelly has a great review of the new Amy Butler sewing book--and oh my god!! please check out Kelly and Mariko's new shop!! She and the eggplant have been up to no good! Woo-hoo!