Welcome to my library! I love sharing sewing, patternmaking, fabric, and design inspiration books. If you are as obsessed with books as I am, the affiliate links can help you locate your own copies of the favorites I recommend and reference the most!
Sewing:
The Vogue Sewing Book is my go-to book when I need general sewing advice. It’s not arranged very logically, but it’s got a great index. My copy is the 1970 version, but there have been many updates and it is still in print.
Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing is another of my go-to books for technique and construction. Like Vogue sewing, I have vintage copy but this excellent resource keeps getting updated and is still in print!
Couture Sewing Techniques by Claire Shaeffer is a beautiful book with excellent diagrams. It explores couture sewing techniques that I use practically every day and is an excellent reference. When I first got this book, I read it cover to cover.
Patternmaking:
Basic Pattern Skills for Fashion Design and Creative Pattern Skills for Fashion Design both by Jeanne Price and Bernard Zamkoff are the patternmaking books we used when I was in graduate school for my MFA in Costume Production. Though these books are aimed at fashion design students, I still use them to reference custom patternmaking. If you like puns, (which I admit, I do) you’ll like this series. Each lesson is called something silly like “For Pleat’s Sake”, “My Funny V-neckline”, or “Sarong Number”. (Note: several of my students have told me the puns are not included the 2nd edition.)
How Patterns Work by Assembil Books is a fascinating overview of the basic principles behind patternmaking. As someone who had a pretty good understanding of how patterns worked before reading it, this book, which is designed for absolute beginners, was still an eye opening experience. With very clear instruction, this 500 page manual discussed a lot of the pattern making principles that I teach in my classes.
How to Make Sewing Patterns by Don McCunn is the only book I know of that teaches how to make custom patternmaking blocks for individuals instead of for fashion sizing (or customizing from fashion systems), so naturally it is right up my alley! Though the author’s approach is different than mine, I really dig it and you might too! (To learn more about the difference between different types of patternmaking, you might enjoy this blog post I wrote.)
Design Inspiration:
Vintage Details: A Fashion Sourcebook by Jeffery Mayer and Basia Szkutnicka is filled with hundred of garment details. There’s nearly 400 pages of inspiration divided into sections with closeups on necklines, collars, pockets, hems, embellishments. A feast for the eyes ya’ll and so inspiring!
Christian Dior by Richard Martin and Harold Koda is my favorite Dior book. It was published in conjunction with the exhibit “Christian Dior” held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art which ran from late 1996 to early 1997. Oh how I wish I could have seen that exhibit! But alas, that was precisely the time I was just learning to sew at age 22. Dior has been one of my all-time favorite designers and this book is chocked full of beautifully photographed drool-worthy dresses.
Madeleine Vionnet by Betty Kirke is one of the most inspiring books in my library. It has it all! Not only does it have beautiful photographs of Vionnet’s innovative designs, it shows the patterns for the garments. As a patternmaker at heart, I love Vionnet because she designs from a construction point of view. Her patterns are fascinating and this book gives a gorgeous behind-the-scenes look into the mind of the designer. This book is one of the reasons why I fell in love with patternmaking.
Fabric:
All About Silk, All About Cotton, and All About Wool by Julie Parker are an incredible book series. Each book has 30-40 fabric swatches included! Each fiber type is explained in detail from its history to its care instructions. The series offers a comprehensive dictionary of fabrics and everything you need to know about each one, including a sample that you can feel and experience. (Note: These are all out of print and used prices will vary. If you come across one that is listed affordably, I suggest you snatch it up!)
What I’m reading now:
How to Start Sewing by Assembil Books is the new book from the makers of How Patterns Work (one of my absolute favorites listed above.) Looks like this one is going to be another fantastic resource that I can’t wait to devour!
Worn Stories by Emily Spivack is a beautiful little anthology filled with over 60 clothing-inspired narratives from various writers all based around a particular garment that they still own because it was special or memorable in some way to them. Each writer tells the story that keeps the item in their closet and in their heart. I love that clothes have stories and that we keep certain pieces around because of the memories that happen in them. I’m finding this to be a really great read and recommend it to anyone who loves personal short stories.
What are your favorite books in your sewing library?
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These are Amazon affiliate links. If you order a book from this page, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The links are provided to connect you to my favorite resources rather than to try to sell you something (though I do really appreciate your support!)
