| Top Ten Reasons to Learn to Sew | x |
| Introduction | xi |
| 1 | Sewing Machines | 1 |
| Choosing a Machine | 2 |
| Knowing Your Machine | 4 |
| Understanding Attachments | 7 |
| The Necessary Needle | 9 |
| Threading Your Machine | 10 |
| Cleaning and Maintenance | 11 |
| Using the Machine | 13 |
| 2 | Sewing Tools and Notions | 17 |
| Choosing Shears and Scissors | 18 |
| Knowing Your Needles and Pins | 19 |
| Learning about Thread | 21 |
| Choosing Measuring Tapes and Gauges | 22 |
| Choosing Marking Tools | 22 |
| Considering Pressing Tools | 23 |
| Learning about Interfacing | 24 |
| Understanding Trims and Bindings | 24 |
| Understanding Elastic and Fasteners | 26 |
| 3 | Fabric Facts | 29 |
| Comments on Cotton | 30 |
| A Look at Linen | 31 |
| A Word about Wool | 32 |
| Studying Silks | 32 |
| Selecting Synthetics | 33 |
| Knowing Your Knits | 34 |
| Choosing Wisely | 34 |
| Preparing Your Fabric | 37 |
| 4 | Basic Mending and Altering | 41 |
| Why Bother? | 42 |
| Mending Hems and Seams | 42 |
| Changing Hemlines | 48 |
| Taking In or Letting Out a Seam | 52 |
| Mending Simple Tears | 53 |
| Mending Holes | 55 |
| Buttons and Buttonholes | 56 |
| 5 | Making Curtains | 59 |
| Planning Your Curtains | 60 |
| Estimating Yardage | 60 |
| Choosing Curtain Fabrics | 62 |
| Cutting Out Your Curtains | 62 |
| Sewing Your Curtains | 63 |
| Making Ruffles | 65 |
| Making Valances and Flounces | 69 |
| Tab Curtains | 71 |
| Scalloped Topped Curtains | 72 |
| 6 | Tablecloths | 75 |
| Measuring and Shopping | 76 |
| Piecing Larger Cloths | 76 |
| Cutting an Oval Cloth | 77 |
| Cutting a Circle | 78 |
| Stitching the Hems | 78 |
| Reversible Tablecloths | 83 |
| Decorating Ideas | 84 |
| 7 | Pillow Possibilities | 89 |
| Learning the Basics | 90 |
| Adding Ruffles and Piping | 92 |
| Making an Applique Top | 94 |
| Making a Handkerchief Top | 95 |
| Making a Quilt-Block Top | 97 |
| Making a Woven-Ribbon Top | 100 |
| Making Chair Cushions | 101 |
| 8 | More Stuffed Fun | 105 |
| Fashioning a Fabric Wreath | 106 |
| Making Gingerbread Dolls | 108 |
| Making a Jingle Kitty | 113 |
| Trying a Turtle Shape | 113 |
| Stitching Block and Box Shapes | 115 |
| Making a Child's Ball | 118 |
| 9 | Three-Piece Crib Set | 121 |
| Taking the Measurements | 122 |
| Buying Special Supplies | 123 |
| Making Fitted Corners | 125 |
| Encasing the Elastic | 127 |
| Making a Comforter | 127 |
| Cutting and Stitching the Bumper Pads | 129 |
| Adding Ties | 130 |
| Finishing | 132 |
| 10 | Appliqued Tote Bag | 133 |
| Designing the Bag for Your Needs | 134 |
| Fabric Shopping | 136 |
| Making Patterns for Applique | 137 |
| Cutting to Order | 137 |
| Putting the Pieces Together | 138 |
| Making the Handles | 139 |
| Sewing It All Together | 140 |
| Boxing the Corners | 143 |
| 11 | Fun-to-Make Gifts | 147 |
| Trimming Infants' T-shirts | 148 |
| Easy Turned Applique | 148 |
| Adding Snaps to Toddler Overalls | 149 |
| Learning Machine Monogramming | 152 |
| Toddlers' Quiet Books | 154 |
| 12 | Lined Baskets and Pincushions | 159 |
| Measuring Your Basket | 160 |
| Cutting Pieces and Pockets | 161 |
| Stitching and Gluing | 162 |
| Adding Trim | 164 |
| Removable Lining | 165 |
| Lining the Lid | 167 |
| Pincushion Basket | 168 |
| 13 | Hanging Caddies | 169 |
| Planning for Specific Uses | 170 |
| Pattern and Pieces | 171 |
| Pockets and Trim | 173 |
| Attachments for Hanging | 175 |
| Putting Front and Back Together | 176 |
| Binding the Edges | 177 |
| Final Details | 179 |
| 14 | "Welcome Spring" Wall Hanging | 181 |
| Reading the Pattern | 182 |
| Planning the Message Blocks | 184 |
| Cutting the Pieces | 184 |
| Piecing the Tulip | 186 |
| Piecing the Butterfly | 190 |
| Learning Reverse Applique | 192 |
| Assembling and Quilting | 194 |
| Preparing for Hanging | 195 |
| Folded Binding | 196 |
| 15 | Making a Simple Dress from a Pattern | 199 |
| Choosing a Pattern | 200 |
| Reading the Envelope | 200 |
| Fitting the Pattern | 202 |
| Laying Out the Pattern | 203 |
| Cutting and Marking the Pieces | 203 |
| Stitching Darts and Seams | 206 |
| Inserting a Centered Zipper | 206 |
| Sewing Facing and Interfacing | 209 |
| Hem, and You're Done | 211 |
| 16 | Infant's Gown | 213 |
| Making a Pattern | 214 |
| Fabric and Notions | 215 |
| Sewing the Sleeves | 216 |
| Making Bias Binding | 216 |
| Finishing the Neckline | 218 |
| Front Fasteners | 221 |
| Making a Casing for the Bottom Tie | 221 |
| Shirt Alternative | 222 |
| 17 | Making a Vest | 223 |
| Making a Pattern | 224 |
| Shopping and Cutting | 225 |
| Decorating with Crayons | 225 |
| Adding a Slashed Pocket | 226 |
| Adding Back Ties | 229 |
| Constructing the Vest | 229 |
| Reversible Alternative | 231 |
| Sewing the Shoulder Seams | 231 |
| Adding Buttonholes | 232 |
| 18 | Making a Skirt from a Pattern | 233 |
| Choosing a Pattern | 234 |
| Shopping and Fitting | 234 |
| Cutting and Marking | 235 |
| Sewing Darts and Seams | 236 |
| Inserting a Lapped Zipper | 236 |
| Possible Pockets | 239 |
| Hidden Side Pockets | 240 |
| Finishing the Waistline | 241 |
| Final Details | 244 |
| 19 | Little Girl's Jumper | 245 |
| Taking Measurements | 246 |
| Choosing Material | 247 |
| Making the Patterns | 247 |
| Cutting Pieces by Measure | 249 |
| Constructing the Top | 251 |
| Constructing the Skirt | 252 |
| Attaching Skirt to Front | 253 |
| Buttons, Buttonholes, and Ties | 254 |
| 20 | Tailored Shirt from a Pattern | 257 |
| Beginning as Usual | 258 |
| Finishing the Front Edges | 258 |
| Making Tailored Pockets | 259 |
| Sewing One- or Two-Piece Collars | 260 |
| Making Cuff Openings | 263 |
| Adding the Cuffs | 265 |
| Easing in the Sleeves | 266 |
| Finishing with Buttons and Hem | 267 |
| 21 | Advanced Mending and Altering | 269 |
| Appraising the Problem | 270 |
| Darts and Shaping | 270 |
| Shortening Sleeves | 271 |
| Adding Panels | 272 |
| Frayed Cuffs and Collars | 274 |
| Replacing Worn-Out Lining | 275 |
| Replacing a Broken Zipper | 277 |
| Camouflaging Mended Areas or Stains | 278 |
| Complete Makeover Ideas | 279 |
| Appendix A | Glossary | 281 |
| Appendix B | Resources | 289 |
| Index | 295 |
