IF, that is, you're looking for a book that goes into further detail than the standard beginner's sewing book. My mother, who taught Beginner's and Advanced sewing for decades (after earning a full scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago straight out of high school for her sewing skills), told me that this was a book that she recommended to her advanced (high school) sewing classes, so it may not be the easiest book to just flip through and use off the cuff, but it definitely is an extensive book that brings in not just the craft of sewing, but the actual art of it - something that I, as an artist and art teacher, find to be very important. And my mom just couldn't say enough about what an excellent sewing resource this book is.
My first sewing book was The Complete Book of Sewing New Edition, which IS great for visual references on what the tasks you're undertaking should look like throughout the process, but I found it to be very bare bones when it came to answering my "okay, sooo, WHY am I doing this again, instead of doing that???" type questions. "Vogue Sewing" answers all of those questions for me, as well as offering very helpful hints on how to properly tailor a garment to your specific figural requirements, how to remove specific stains, why to use one fabric over another, what the differences are between a variety of fabrics.... and I got all of this from simply skimming through the book! Yes, this book may guide you towards using Vogue patterns, but considering that that company's name figures VERY prominently in the title, it should be pretty obvious that this book isn't necessarily going to steer you towards using Simplicity or Butterick patterns, especially since I doubt that they have easy access to the copyrights that would allow them to reference those companies' patterns. If that doesn't bother you (it sure doesn't bother me), this book isn't just worth a look, it's worth the full cover price, let alone the discounted price you'll find it for here on Amazon!
Again, if you want a book that's going to ease you into the world of sewing by holding your hand and helping you take baby steps (something we ALL can use at the beginning of anything new), you're probably better off with The Complete Book of Sewing New Edition, as a starting point. BUT, if you're looking for a book that will take about as much deciphering as a standard pattern's guide sheet but offers a great wealth more information about why you're doing what you're doing and everything you could think of in between, this is DEFINITELY the book you want to buy! Heck, you could just do what I did, and buy 'em both! If, however, you only intend to buy one sewing book in the near future, and you want something that will take a little more investment (of time and thought), and give you a MUCH bigger return in knowledge and experience, buy this one first!
