Sewing for Summer

Learning to sew is a really useful life skill to master. Not only will it help you extend the lifespan of your favourite items, add individuality to clothes, and repair worn items, it ll help you make shop bought items fit that little bit better. Sewing your own clothes means that you have complete control over the fabric, thread, accessories, cut, fit and shape of a garment, so if buying ready made from a store is a trying process, then learning to make your own could well be the answer.

Author Kirsty Chan shows you how to make 25 hand-stitched projects ranging in difficulty from items suitable for a complete beginner, to several that require a little experience. In the making of these items the reader will learn how to understand a pattern, cut fabric, pin, tack (baste) and sew. There are patterns that require hems, gathers, elastic, but no buttonholes or zippers. Choose from a wrap skirt, pencil skirt, gathered skirt, a strapless maxi dress, drawstring pants, a singlet top, a singlet dress, a strapless dress, shorts, lightweight trousers, a strapless top, a drape-neck top, a drape-neck dress, a halter-neck dress, a halter-neck maxi, a short kaftan, a maxi kaftan, a kimono jacket, a half sarong, a full sarong, fabric beads, a bandana headband, a shoulder bag, beach bag and sunhat.