Best sewing books for beginners

Sewing is a fun and very rewarding hobby, and, if you want to improve your sewing skills, books with good illustrations and step-by-step instructions work wonders. Whenever you need an easy project idea, clarification of a sewing technique, or help with sewing terminology, you can always refer to a book on your bookshelf. I myself have a few sewing guides in my book collection, and here I am sharing my list of best sewing books for beginners.

When you are learning to sew on your own, sewing books are a great learning tool. But it is important to get the sewing books that can teach you the very basics, so that you don't get discouraged with projects you can't complete. The best sewing books for beginners are the ones that can introduce you to the basics of working with a sewing machine, patterns, and the basic sewing tools, without over-complicating the learning process.

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If you are an absolute beginner, I would advise against taking on complicated projects that involve interfacing, zippers, buttonholes, sheer fabrics, etc. The best way to learn how to sew is to start from the beginning - build a sewing kit and learn the basics of using a sewing machine & the dos and don'ts of fabric layout, pinning, and cutting, then try out simple patterns, moving on to more advanced projects as you build up your sewing skills. The book featured below is perfect for covering the basics you need to know before getting started on your first sewing project.

If you have never taken a sewing course in your life, Diana Rupp has got you covered. She will take you by the hand and show "step-by-step" how to get from having absolutely no sewing skills to organizing your working space, getting started with your sewing machine, shopping for fabrics and selecting the right fabric for your next project, working with patterns, and finishing your first projects. The book also includes ten original patterns, rated from Easy to Advanced Beginner.

Get to know your sewing machine - you will not regret it. Knowing how to properly thread your machine, troubleshoot problems, perform maintenance, use the right threads and fabrics for your projects, and be more productive by utilizing the right machine feet will definitely save you time in the long run.

This book is perfect for beginners who need an introduction to a sewing machine and a great refresher course for an experience seamstress. Compared to the boring and hard-to-follow manuals that come with sewing machines, this book is a life-saver. Well-written, easy-to-understand, with great photos and illustrations, this book is guaranteed to save you from the frustration that beginners often face when learning to use a sewing machine.

This book is exactly what it claims to be - an "encyclopedic resource" to sewing. Basic sewing tools, different types of sewing machine feet, the basics of working with patterns, sewing techniques, stitches - all that and much more is discussed in the book in great detail and is illustrated with clear photographs.

If you have a busy lifestyle, juggling a career and a family, you may have little time for learning the sewing theory. You may already have some basic sewing skills and may be looking for project ideas to express your creative energy. Well, there's a good book or two for that!

I highly recommend this book to all beginners eager to skip some of the theory and get right to practice, while learning a thing or two in the process. I doubt you will find a book that combines humor, easy-to-follow instructions, projects that advance as you build up your sewing skills, and great photos in the way this one does. The book is truly designed to help you get rid of all fears of sewing. The CD that comes with the book is awesome as you can reprint the patterns as many times as you wish.

Excellent sewing book for beginners who are looking for fun projects to practice and advance sewing skills. The book was written by a popular Blogger Ellen Luckett Baker (Longthread.com). It has a good introduction, a few words of encouragement for Beginners, advice on choosing fabrics, an overview of basic sewing tools, introduction to basic embroidery stitches, and a sewing glossary. It is definitely not a comprehensive sewing guide. The book is more of a collection of fun and simple projects for someone with pretty basic sewing skills.

Easy projects, clear instructions, and only 1 yard (or less) of fabric needed for each project! What I love about this book is a good variety of projects (101!), so that you can pick and choose the ones that suit your needs. Need a craft organizer, a yoga mat bag, a new sundress, a bed for your new pet, or a gift set for baby to take to the baby shower for a good friend of yours? You will find it all in the "One-Yard Wonders."