Master seamstress Sandra Bardwells Sewing Basics: All You Need to Know About Machine and Hand Sewing is the ultimate encyclopedia for sewing at home. This thorough guide covers everything from choosing fabrics to operating a sewing machine to hand sewing, fitting, fine-finishing, troubleshooting, and more. Whether the sewer is trying to decipher the symbols on a printed pattern, line a pocket, work French seams, or fit a muslin, theyll find what theyre looking for here, all precisely explained and illustrated with hundreds of step-by-step color photos. Both for beginners learning how to hem and for more experienced sewers who need help mastering advanced techniques, Sewing Basics is an invaluable reference tool sewers will want to keep within easy reach for many years to come.

Sandra Bardwell is a master seamstress specializing in couture bridal dresses and costumes for theater and film. She lives in Australia.