Couture Sewing Techniques: Revised and Updated

I had started sewing maybe a year ago, just making little projects here and there, mostly just bags and things to organize various items in. Just recently (within the past 4 months), I had fallen in love with the design and construction of corsets. I had never used a pattern for any of the three corsets I have made to date and was very proud of my accomplishment, however, they weren't the quality I had wanted to produce. I had been stumped by the limitations of my $60 Brother sewing machine and haven't had the money to upgrade. I decided that I would learn sewing by hand, and make a completely handmade corset. I had researched different methods of stitching and pattern design online, but nothing that I had seen really made an impact on my style and design. So I decided to put up the $20 to buy a book about the finer techniques of sewing. This book is absolutely amazing, the incredibly informative and descriptive writing style, accompanied with beautiful graphics, photos and illustrated techniques was a godsend. The book actually flows through the subjects with phenomenal continuity, and allows you to basically practice as you go along, by illustrating step by step stitches, techniques, tips and tricks. The author has amazing knowledge and credentials, and many of the photos of garments are from her own personal collections. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to learn how to make clothes entirely by hand, or even just understand how different stitches and techniques will help you with machine sewing. Great book for beginners and amateurs alike, but would probably not recommend it for the advanced seamstress.

A very complete technical guide with a treasure trove of information

I was sewing with my mother when I was four. I am a good seamstress. I would have said excellent before I bought two of Claire Schaffer's books. I'm so excited, I feel like I did when I was finally old enough for home ec all those years ago. This book is great for anyone who sews, or wants to. Not only is it full of technique and information, it's enjoyable. Highly recommend this book.

This book is truly a costume designer/fashion designer's staple in their reference library. I read some of the other reviews and I totally disagree with some of them (designers) saying it is not helpful. Here is why. If you look at the pages there are ideas that you can go back to and just think about one little stitch that may transform a dress, shirt, skirt, or evening gown. Yes, Ms.Shaeffer wrote this book for everyone. But I have to tell you, if I read this book first and I was a beginner sewer I think I would need a very basic book to go along with this book just to reference back with this book. I loved looking at this book and all the detail on the clothes. Ms. Shaeffer explained everything clearly to the novice and to the professional. The price of this book is worth every penny. I would have paid 3 times as much.

I've had this book for three years. Now, I think I can write an informed review. As the title may imply, this is not a book for the novice, which is why I struggled with reviewing earlier -- I just couldn't understand it. While my skills may not have improved much in three years, my sewing knowledge has and that's what this book requires. Others have spoken to this edition versus the previous ones. I can speak to, as someone relatively new to sewing, how this book compares to other couture sewing books. This book is a must-have reference. It covers a lot within its 12 chapters. I do take issue with how things are covered. The book gives very clear step by step instructions, but the illustrations are a bit lacking. I like the updated approach taken in Shaeffer's newer books, Couture Sewing: Tailoring Techniques and Couture Sewing: The Couture Cardigan Jacket, Sewing secrets from a Chanel Collector . These text are easier to grasp because of the step-by-step photography. They layouts are cleaner and overall feel more modern. The DVDs are wonderful aides. To be fair to the publisher, I'm sure photography and DVDs would have added exponentially to the cost; I'm inclined to think it's worth it. Now, what's missing from the newer books is the history and background in Couture Sewing Techniques. It's that information that makes for good reading. It tells you why a particular technique is important. I like having that info. I guess if you are an experienced home sewer or professional, this book is a five-star deal. As someone who is self-teaching, this book is unnecessarily advanced in terms of presentation, not content. I'm hoping the next revision is more along the lines of her newer books.