The Colette Sewing Handbook: Inspired Styles and Classic Techniques for the New Seamstress Hardcover-spiral – November 16, 2011

I can't recommend this book enough. I bought it for the first time in April 2012, and it taught me how to sew! Since then, I have been sewing up a storm, but I couldn't have done it without this book. It is the best book-with-patterns that I have purchased so far for many reasons (and I have five total).1) The pattern pieces are all printed on tissue, just like a real pattern. Many of the books with patterns have them printed on paper, overlapping each other so you have to trace. This can be pretty intimidating for a beginner seamstress and would have turned me off.2) The patterns are all items that you would actually want to wear. So cute! The Truffle is especially versatile.3) All of the patterns are relatively simple to make with great results. I made lots of mistakes, but I was a true beginner when I started.4) The patterns build on each other, so you learn a new skill with every project. Genius!5) The instructions were step by step and easy to follow. The book itself was lovely, and the patterns are actually made up in front of you so you can see what they really look like completed (as opposed to sketches).6) The patterns come in a range of sizes so you don't have to be a stick to fit into them like most of the books with patterns I have purchased. For reference: I am 5'4" with 36-28-41 measurements, and I am the largest size most of these books can accommodate. So disappointing!If you want to learn how to sew in the comfort of your own home, or if you just want a collection of easy to make lovely dress, skirt and shirt patterns, this book is for you. I have already bought a second book for my sister who wants to follow my sewing journey and learn to sew now too!In short, great investment, fun, and lovely.Several of the dresses I have made are here on my blog (for reference): [...]

I LOVE this book and I'm so glad I purchased it. It gives an excellent overview of sewing a garment from start to finish. When I say start, I mean it really walks you through the mental process of thinking through a style, color, fabric, and overall look before you even select a pattern. Even though some other sewing books do that, I feel like this particular book is more relevant to me in particular. Like many readers, I'm in my 20s and love to create garments that I can wear out with my friends, to a bar, to work, etc. I don't want to read a sewing book and think in the back of my head "this is totally tailored to someone my grandmother's age". Which, by the way, is totally fine - I have a lot of books on sewing that my grandmother gave me, and I value and learn from each one. However it is nice to read something that was written for a slightly younger audience. :)Second, there are a million books and a million resources out there that go into exquisite detail about how to do hems, seams, whatever. What's lovely about this book is that it DOESN'T go into fine detail on all of those things. Instead, it points out the importance of those techniques and gives you an overview that's detailed enough for you to give it a shot and make a successful garment without bogging you down and overwhelming you. I read this book in 2 days and felt EXCITED about making a dress; not like "holy crap, I'll never figure this out and master this because it is so complicated". I can always do more research into how to master a full bust adjustment; right now, I just want to make a dress that fits - and that's what this book helps you do.Last but not least, the book is beautifully laid out and produced. It sits next to my dense copy of Vogue Sewing (a more detailed reference book of garment making start to finish). When I want more detail on a technique, I reach for Vogue Sewing (or YouTube!) When I get bogged down in the intricacies and details of a pattern and start to find myself overwhelmed, I find myself reaching for the Colette Sewing Handbook. It serves as a little reminder of why I'm doing what I'm doing - because sewing is fun, it's beautiful and I get to create something really cool. Even just flipping through this book is perfect for that.

This book is a fantastic reference and go to guide for everyone that wants to sew their own clothes. It has great instructions for altering patterns and is very well written and easy to read. I sat down and read it cover to cover as soon as it arrived. The patterns in it are just a fantastic bonus too!

Completamente in iglese questo libro offre numerosi consigli a chi si sta approcciando lentamente all'arte del cucito! spiegazioni passo passo su come realizzare i 5 capi presenti nel libro (cartamodelli da ricalcare). consigliato soprattutto a chi ha un animo retro!

Ce livre n'est pas une énième leçon de couture, c'est aussi et surtout un état d'esprit : pourquoi coudre, et comment le faire bien ? Bien que cousant depuis longtemps, j'ai appris beaucoup de choses dans ce livres, des techniques, ces petits riens qui font la différence. Et surtout, c'est un vrai plaisir de lire ce livre, qui reflète tout à fait ce que je recherche dans la couture.Seul bémol, et il est de taille : il est réservé à ceux qui savent lire l'anglais... A quand une traduction pour que beaucoup plus de gens puissent en profiter ?

Lo compré porque estaba interesada en los patrones que traía el libro y sin embargo al abrirlo he descubierto que no sólo tiene los patrones prometidos si no que ademàs es una guía paso a paso con todas las necesidades, dudas y preguntas que te puedan surgir mientras te inicias en el mundo de la costura. Muy sencillo, con las fases paso a paso y muchas imágenes. ¡Me ha encantado! Es una pena que no esté traducido al español porque creo que es una guía muy útil.

Wer mit Colette Patterns bekannt ist, wird schnell feststellen, dass dieses Buch in jedweder Hinsicht dem Stil des Labels und der Gründerin Sarai Mitnick treu bleibt.Vom Ansatz des Buches her denke ich, es ist für jede geeignet, die schon mal eine Nähmaschine bedient haben. So werden auch einige einfache Hand- und Maschinenstiche erklärt, ebenso der Umgang mit den Schnittmuster, die Stoffauswahl und verschiedene Techniken. Im Anhang findet sich auch eine Liste mit 'Vertiefungsliteratur'.Was dieses Buch von den meisten anderen deutlich unterscheidet ist das Kapitel 'A thoughful plan'. Es beschäftigt sich damit, wie frau das richtige Projekt für sich findet. Stilfindung -> was mag ich, was steht mir, und vorallem auch: Was passt zu meinem Leben. Dieses Thema wird meines Erachtens nach oft nicht genug bedacht.Zum Buch gehören fünf Schnitte, ein Rock, eine Bluse, drei Kleider. Diese bauen auf den einzelnen Kapiteln auf und vereinigen die bis dahin vorgestellten Techniken. Alle Schnitte sind in den üblichen Colette-Größen 0-18 beigefügt. (Übrigens basieren Colette-Größen auf C-Körbchen, anders als Burda und, soweit ich weiss, auch die großen amerikanischen Schnittmuster-Anbieter, die für B-Körbchen zeichnen).Für fortgeschrittene Näherinnen mag in puncto Techniken nicht viel bahnbrechend Neues dabei sein, aber zumindest ein paar Anregungen, wie frau einige Dinge auch anders machen könnte, sind bestimmt dabei, und nicht zu vergessen 5 tolle Schnitte und ein absolutes Augenschmaus-Buch!