The New Encyclopedia Of Modern Sewing

Containing 2,729 entries, Kevin L. Seligman’s bibliography concentrates on books, manuals, journals, and catalogs covering a wide range of sartorial approaches over nearly five hundred years. After a historical overview, Seligman approaches his subject chronologically, listing items by century through 1799, then by decade. In this section, he deals with works on flat patterning, draping, grading, and tailoring techniques as well as on such related topics as accessories, armor, civil costumes, clerical costumes, dressmakers’ systems, fur, gloves, leather, military uniforms, and undergarments. Seligman then devotes a section to those American and English journals published for the professional tailor and dressmaker. Here, too, he includes the related areas of fur and undergarments. A section devoted to journal articles features selected articles from costume- and noncostumerelated professional journals and periodicals. The author breaks these articles down into three categories: American, English, and other. Seligman then devotes separate sections to other related areas, providing alphabetical listings of books and professional journals for costume and dance, dolls, folk and national dress, footwear, millinery, and wigmaking and hair. A section devoted to commercial pattern companies, periodicals, and catalogs is followed by an appendix covering pattern companies, publishers, and publications. In addition to full bibliographic notation, Seligman provides a library call number and library location if that information is available. The majority of the listings are annotated. Each listing is coded for identification and cross-referencing. An author index, a title index, a subject index, and a chronological index will guide readers to the material they want. Seligman’s historical review of the development of publications on the sartorial arts, professional journals, and the commercial paper pattern industry puts the bibliographical material into context. An appendix provides a cross-reference guide for research on American and English pattern companies, publishers, and publications. Given the size and scope of the bibliography, there is no other reference work even remotely like it.

From the author of Sewing With Oilcloth—brighten up your home with these sewing projects that are as easy on you as they are on your budget. Whether you're moving into a new home, launching a home makeover, or just sprucing up a room, this book, At Home With Modern June, by Kelly McCants, provides plenty of ideas on how to infuse individuality into every room in the house. The 27 budget-friendly projects have a retro style and use materials such as oilcloth, laminated cotton, and chalk cloth in addition to quilter's cotton. Easy-to-follow instructions and helpful photographs guide you to success. You'll make drapes, bed skirts, floor mats, and much more. All that's required is a bit of ingenuity, a little time, and some basic skills. “This follow-up will be welcomed by [McCants’s] readers eager for more of her bright, cheerful, and often-oilcloth-centered designs.”—Publishers Weekly “McCants…took her vintage modern aesthetic—think cheery 1950s housewife with a contemporary flair for design—and applied it to home decor. The result is this collection of fun sewing projects for the home, many featuring [her] beloved laminated cottons. Most of the projects are beginner-friendly and require little more than the ability to machine sew in a straight line, but there are a few for sewists looking for a challenge, such as the reupholstered bar stool.”—Library Journal

If the sewing machine does it, then the technique is here! Anyone looking for advice on those indispensable basics will find a variety of ways to do bias binding, buttonholes, edge finishes, gathering, hem finishes, mitering corners, seam finishes, topstitching, and zippers. Or sewers can learn how to make any item eye-catching with an array of creative touches, including appliqu�, crisscross chain stitching, eyelet embroidery, and lacework. Every technique comes complete with machine setups and guidance on fabrics, stitching, needles, threads, tension, and the presser foot.