Ultimate Illustrated Guide to Sewing Clothes: A Complete Course on Making Clothing for Fit and Fashion

by Joi Mahon

Overview

A comprehensive manual on everything you need to know on how to sew clothes! The Ultimate Illustrated Guide to Sewing Clothes is a must-have resource filled with valuable insight on sewing, tailoring, making alterations, and more. Learn how to take a pattern you already have and adjust it to your unique needs, install a zipper, use notions, and get a good fit out of any sewing pattern for any body type! Whether you’re new to sewing or have experience, expand your skill set and build confidence so you can sew like a pro! Also included is a bonus tutorial on making pants and fitting material, as well as finishing your garments and instructions on detailing to make one-of-a-kind clothes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781639810154
Publisher:	Fox Chapel Publishing
Publication date:	04/26/2022
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Joi Mahon is the founder of Dress Forms Design Studio, LLC, owner of The Sewing Factory Design Studio, an award-winning designer, an expert in fit, and a fashion entrepreneur with a wide array of sewing interests and endeavors. She is a McCall Licensed Pattern Designer, Craftsy instructor, and creator of Designer Joi’s Perfect Pattern and Fit Club, a private membership program on Facebook. She is also a brand ambassador for Baby Lock Sewing Machines & Mettler Thread, and the founding instructor for the 2021 Nancy’s Notions Wardrobe Builder Fashion Sewing Program on YouTube. Joi is deeply involved in the industry and attends several trade shows each year with her specialty being fitting solutions. With a passion to convey real sewing and fitting solutions, Joi teaches what really works for the individual body based on her real-life fitting experiences. Ultimate Illustrated Guide to Sewing Clothes is Joi’s third book, with her previous publications being Create the Perfect Fit and Designer Joi’s Fashion Sewing Workshop. To learn more about Joi and see her work, visit her website (www.designerjoi.com) or her Facebook (@DesignerJoiMahon).

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Sewing Basics

Machine Sewing Techniques 10

Hand Sewing Techniques 18

Sewing Equipment, Tools, and Notions 34

Ironing and Pressing 43

Chapter 2 Selecting and Preparing Fabrics

Fabric Characteristics 48

Technical Fabric 58

Straightening Fabric Grain 63

Considering Colors and Prints 68

Chapter 3 Achieving the Right Fit

Taking Measurements 72

Adjusting the Pattern 74

All About Ease 89

Making a Muslin Fit Sample 91

Pattern Layout and Cutting 116

Prints, Stripes, and Patterns: Working with Bold Designs 123

Chapter 4 Sewing Classic Garments

The Classic Dress 136

The Classic Shirt 139

The Classic Blouse 143

The Classic Skirt 146

The Classic Tailored Jacket 149

Chapter 5 Ultimate Pants Workbook

Leg Characteristics 180

Fitting Issues 195

Sewing Classic Women's Pants 201

Creative Pant Design 203

Chapter 6 Details of Garment Construction

Seams 208

Darts 215

Pleats 218

Zippers 222

Waistbands and Waistlines 229

Sleeves and Cuffs 232

Collars 241

Hems and Facings 249

Pockets 257

Buttonholes and Closures 263

Linings 273

Glossary 281

About the Author 285

Index 286

Editorial Reviews

Covers the techniques for your entire sewing journey. 

High Latitude Style

A comprehensive book, packed full of Joi's wisdom and designed specifically to help every sewist develop in their art. For the novice to the accomplished, this is a MUST have!!

Student and Perfect Fit and Pattern Club member Lori M.

With this book Joi covers all bases when it comes to sewing garments. Her clear, concise explanations and valuable reference guides are a jackpot for sewing enthusiasts everywhere!

Gini Denninger

Ultimate Illustrated Guide to Sewing Clothes” by the talented Joi Mahon is THE must-have handbook when it comes to perfectly fitted garment construction. The descriptive and practical imagery of this book helps creative minds to create new projects and achieve better results, we love it! 

C. Bauer

This guide is beautiful, easy to read and understand, and allows you to learn from one of the best. Before you know it, you'll be creating amazing works of wearable art, just like Joi.

Client Cassie Thompson