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| Creative Sewing Ideas / Singer Reference Library Minnetonka, MN: Cy DeCosse, c1990 127 p. |
This one fits nicely into this month's look at some of the books on embellishments that I have on my shelves. However, the first third is more about fabric manipulation than strictly about embellishment.
It shares how to twist silk for a pleated texture, how to felt wool, and dye and discharge or stamp fabric to change the surface design. Some of these ideas are quite beautiful - the silk technique in particular seems very modern again.
Then the book moves on to sharing creative details that you can adapt to add some spark to your garments. From adding shaped bound buttonholes to decorative seams to double and triple piping and unusual shaped pocket openings, there are ways to adjust and add design detail to basic elements of a garment. Fraying edges or exposed seams seems a little of the era of this book's publication, but even these ideas might be adapted to something interesting.
Then the book moves on to sharing creative details that you can adapt to add some spark to your garments. From adding shaped bound buttonholes to decorative seams to double and triple piping and unusual shaped pocket openings, there are ways to adjust and add design detail to basic elements of a garment. Fraying edges or exposed seams seems a little of the era of this book's publication, but even these ideas might be adapted to something interesting.
From there, we start to look at real embellishment. Adding buttonholes or buttons not for use but just for design is one simple idea. Then this chapter covers ribbonwork (basically flat ribbon applied in specific shapes and stitched down), beadwork, or punched lace in faux suede.
Most interesting to me because it was completely new to me, was how to make Slentre Braid. This is a handmade braid that is flat on one side and half-round on the other, making it ideal for application as trim. The examples show the variations available in your choice of material and how it can be used at seams or edges.
The book then concludes with some project ideas; this section is dated and didn't appeal much to me, but overall this book has some great techniques and ideas. Like all of this series, the photos are large, clear and colourful, although somewhat 80s -- okay, they are usually pretty spectacularly 80s! (just another reason I enjoy them).
If you are looking for some new ideas to perk up your projects, this old book is a fun look at some ways you might change up a plain project a little; you don't have to choose the colours or over the top nature of some of the examples, but you could easily modernize the techniques and create something really interesting today.
Interesting, may look to expand my collection to include this.
ReplyDeleteI like this series -- always something interesting, and good instruction.
DeleteBack in the 90s I happened on a fall-out card from a women's magazine advertising the Singer Sewing Reference Library and decided to subscribe. It was one of my better acquisitions. I don't have the absolute complete collection but this one is in there. The library is a wonderful resource. After a number of years the content reverted back to the publishing house and copyright holder, CyDeCosse Inc. You will sometimes see reprints (and some updated photos but no new content) of the library without the Singer logo so happy hunting if you are wanting to add to the collection.
ReplyDeleteTheresa in Tucson
That's good to know, Theresa, thanks so much! I do have many of these but not the whole series. I recall them being around a lot in the 90s but I wasn't as focused on sewing then so didn't buy any. Wish I had, but the prevalence of them means that I do often find them in thrift stores now!
DeleteI have really been enjoying your reviews of sewing and embellishment books. It's amazing how many there are! Some of them are brand new and breathtakingly expensive, and others are old with completely outdated illustrations, but every one of them has good ideas that can be applied to today's garment sewing. This one looks particularly good - I haven't seen the pleated silk idea before.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many! I have a lot of older books because as you say the newer ones are gorgeous but often expensive!
DeleteI do find that you can usually pull something useful out of almost anything if you think creatively. I love how old techniques sometimes almost disappear due to fashion trends and then can suddenly be resurrected.
Well I had an interesting experience.... I love braiding and did a search for more info on the slentre braid. One promising site asked me to put in my date of birth. I was intrigued and apprehensive ... apparently slentre braids are also made of metal and used to make coils for homemade vape things. (I don’t know what they’re really called.. the e cigarette I guess). So I learnt something new, and completely useless for me! But I will have a go at making a slentre braid from thread!
ReplyDeleteWho knew that braiding would take you down that path?! That's very entertaining to hear.
DeleteIf you do make a slentre braid please let us know -- I'd love to see it.