Fine Machine Sewing 2 Ed: Easy Ways to Get the Look of Hand Finishing and Embellishing

by: Carol Ahles, Carol Laflin Ahles

Topics include: narrow hemming, lightweight tearaway stabilizer, loosened upper tension, double wing needle, edging scallop, needle pintucks, single wing needle, traditional buttonhole foot, spray starching, fabric behind the lace, picot stitch, tracing scallops, machine heirloom sewing, narrow bias tubes, loosen upper tension, single fold hem, straight stitch length, pintuck foot, pintuck feet, withdrawn threads, adjust upper tension, stabilizer under the fabric, folded tucks, stitch foot, blind hemming

Book Description:

Editorial Reviews From Library Journal Ahles is a popular teacher of heirloom and creative sewing and a frequent contributor to Threads magazine. Since the publication of the first edition of Fine Machine Sewing (LJ 12/96), this book has become the bible of heirloom sewing techniques, with an emphasis on pintucking, fagoting, and decorative hemming. This second edition has been revised to include new techniques and information on newly available sewing machines, as well as an additional chapter on replicating vintage lace and entredeux. An essential purchase for sewing and costuming collections in public and academic libraries. Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc. Book Description Pintucking. Fagoting. Parisian hemstitching. These are some of the techniques that can turn an ordinary garment into something exquisite. The author shows how even beginners can create these details by machine. For sewers of all skill levels, this reference includes photos of finished garments and close-up views of the techniques used as well as solutions for common problems.

Comprehensive study of heirloom sewing techniques -- Excellent chapeters on hemstitching, fagotting, pintucking and more. Everyone should read this book before they purchase a new machine. The photographs are inspiring and beautiful. Even if you don't do heirloom sewing, the book has an outstanding chapter on precision sewing which will increase your skill tenfold. I improved the first time i used it -- I shied away from getting this book at first, i wasn't sure if it was for me, so many books are written with the husqvarna or elna in mind (i have a babylock) but i finally bought it, because it really is for any type of sewing machine (although it does use the hemstitches that are on the computerized machines) In a bout of insomnia i took this book out and started reading cover to cover, and i realized that i have been using the wrong presser foot!! No wonder my fabric has been puckering and getting crammed into the needle plate, i had been using my zig-zag satin foot when i should have been using my regular foot (ya there is a difference!) There are little things like that as well as techniques like corded buttonholes, scallops, pin tucks, hem stitching (point of paris, venitian, you'll even find out what to do with that daisy stitch) Sewing heirloom laces together is discussed, and there are beautiful blouses for you to try. As a tatter, i really liked the one with the column of tatted insertion. Besides sewing techniques and stitches, this book discusses optional presser feet, and also how to choose a sewing machine, something very valuable if you are thinking of geting into heirloom sewing and are in the market to get a computerized machine. Bring it with you to a trusted dealer!

Loved It!, -- This is one of the few books that I actually learned something new. The pictures are fabulous. I have used the wing needle hemstitch techniques many times. A fabulous book for all levels. Finally - someone shows you how! -- This book is just awesome! I also am from Webster, NY, and also had an Elna Heirloom Edition sewing machine, which I sold, and now also have a Husqvarna Designer II. I could have written the exact same review as the first one! This wonderful book shows you just how to accomplish all of the heirloom techniques that none of the manuals or videos that come with today's sewing machines show you how to do. It was just so frustrating! I could not understand how the entredeux stitch on the Designer II could ever resemble hand-made entredeux, but now I know! I agree, the ads in the magazines show you all of the samples of what the machines are capable, but nobody shows you how to do it! This book answered all of my questions, the pictures are clear and very helpful, and the book is extremely well written! A must have for everyone with a high tech sewing machine who wants to know how it really works! The stitch charts at the end of this book for all of the current sewing machines is worth its weight in gold!

Reviews:

Terrific sewing techniques book -- This book is actually just the book I have been looking for. There are many, many things the newer digital sewing machines can do - you see pictures of the finished items in all of the sewing magazines. The Elna Heirloom Edition I had and sold was capable of many of these lovely techniques, but I couldn't figure them out with the minimal instructions that came with the machine. Nobody tells you how to accomplish things like hemstitching and fagoting in any of the user guides or even the instructional videos. I was about to just give up on my Husqvarna Designer II when I got this book, and now it just sings! I just needed somebody to show me how and this book did it, did it well in an easy to understand, concise format. Highly recommended for the experienced and novice sewer. The best book about sewing technique -- This is an incredible book. It is clearly written with profusely illustrated with excellent quality photos. It has greatly expanded my ideas about what is possible on a sewing machine. I read it from cover to cover even though I don't actually plan to use many of the techniques. However, I have already put the author's advice on blind hemming and narrow hemming into practice. I am also intrigued by the possibilities of hemstitching (stitching hems and hemstitching are totally different things). I love this book.

Fine Machine Sewing -- What a great book! To me this is the bible of heirloom sewing and techniques. I am a green beginner and find this book explains everything I need to know about my machine and heirloom sewing to be me going on the right track. Add this one to your must have list. -- Carol Ahles has done a wonderful job of making the reader comfortable with the practical use of many of the decorative stitches on today's newer sewing machines. The color pictures are beautiful and inspirational. I especially liked the reference sections with machine settings to assist in achieving the perfect results every time. This book is easy to read and an absolute must for anyone contemplating a new sewing machine or trying to master the one they already own. A book to place beside your machine -- This book contains the most up-to-date information on the new machines that I have seen. The photos are clear, matching the text in accuracy, inspiration, and easy to follow directions. How did I use my Bernina 1530 to full advantage without this book? It has maximized my skills and increased my awareness of the machine's capabilities. Fantastic -- Best book I've ever seen on the subject, should be in every high end computerized machine owners library. Has brand specific stitches for machines. Had my dealer order it and she can't keep it in stock....sells out as soon as it comes in.

Informative and inspiring -- Whenever I get a case of the sewing doldrums, I can count on this book to pull me out of them. The photos are inspiring and the instructions are clear and concise. Really fabulous book with easy to follow instructions -- This is definitely a must have book. Even for the beginning sewer, you can gleen techniques to use in all aspects of decorative and heirloom sewing. I just loved it.