Simple Modern Sewing: 8 Basic Patterns to Create 25 Favorite Garments [Paperback]

I love this book, great styles, easy to follow. I made a blouse using the pattern inside and I'm ready to move to the next piece. Some basic knowledge of sewing is probably needed, but the step by step instructions really did work.

I've made several garments from this book and am absolutely thrilled with them.

This book is an English translation of a Japanese sewing book. The translation into English is very well done, although, perhaps they could have chosen a better title. The clothing included in this book does have a distinctive Japanese feel. The patterns in this book are for the modern Japanese housewife, and, judging from the other reviews here on amazon, my not be well received by trendy young seamstresses from the West. But that said, the garments are form flattering and comfortable.

As a self taught novice sewer, I encountered something of a steep learning curve making the patterns in this book. One needs to trace out their own pattern from a challenging collection of overlapping lines on the pull out pattern pages, and then add your own seam allowance (I've never done either before). Thankfully, you do not need to change the size of any pattern pieces - which can be a real turn off. An experienced sewer would have no problem with any of this, as once you get use to it, it is actually far more intuitive than most Western sewing patterns. This also makes the patterns a lot easier to adjust to your shape and style than anything I've ever worked with before. After working with this book, I will never willingly use a pattern that includes seam allowance again!

This book gives you a basic pattern and detailed instructions on up to 5 different variations per pattern. There are plenty of photos of the different garments both stand alone and on models. Also included are fabric recommendations and ideas on what to wear the garment with to best show it off.

I would recommend this book to people with basic sewing skills and an adventurous spirit. The clothing ranges from 'wear around the kitchen while baking bread' tops to 'basic pattern for a little black dress', with everything in between. I think that the modern homesteader/farmer/housewife type might find this most useful as it combines comfort, function, and style (in that order).

Never judge a book by its cover. I was so excited to open up my Amazon package only to find a book filled with pages of elderly women modelling in clothes with no shape nor style. I thought about gifting this book to an older friend, but this would just be insulting. I don't think I will be making clothes inside the book even when I'm in my 90s.