Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe by Wendy Mullin, Eviana Hartman
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Book Reviews of Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe
Book Review: good for sewing, bad for your mood
Summary: 2 Stars
The book is great for beginners, since it shows step by step how to start sewing REAL clothes.
BUT, I had a problem. The book is supposed to include the pattern of pants, skirt and shirt, I just got two copies of the shirt pattern. When I complained to the company and asked for the missing patterns I didn't get a good response from Built by Wendy staff.
Book Review: Generally good
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very good book for standard sewers that know some of the basics of using a sewing machine. The instructions are very clear and comes with many varieties of patterns to use.Book Review: Spurs Creativity, But Not Suitable For The Complete Novice.
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought "Sew U" several months ago. I leafed through it and found it interesting but a little overwhelming, as I have found most sewing books. I did like the author's attempt to demystify sewing, noting that not all the fancy tools are necessary at the beginning, and her suggestions for modifications that the readers can make to the patterns. It's a nice-looking book, in a format that lays flat when open, which is handy for a crafts book.
Having said that, "Sew U" does not connect all the dots for the beginning sewer. A few months ago, I enrolled in a rigorous beginning sewing class at a famous school that specializes in fashion design. I have by far the least amount of experience in the class.
Early on in the class another person saw me with the book and said she'd liked it, but it "left things out." I didn't know what she meant until last night when I was trying to do a class project, making a fitted shirt not unlike the one featured in "Sew U." I flipped to the pages in the book dealing with attaching the cuffs and collar, but the book treats in summary fashion a fairly complicated process.
I had to ask a more experienced student, and if she hadn't been available, I'd have had to consult a truly comprehensive guide, such as the "Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing," the Dorling Kindersley "Complete Book of Sewing," or David Page Coffin's "Shirtmaking."
The style of some of the patterns isn't really to my taste, but I'm not complaining about that; you can tell from the illustrations that the style is laid back -- I figured I could alter them -- mainly, I was looking for a more concise reference book than the ones mentioned above. As noted, this book does have some deficiencies for a guide with its title.
But if you have basic sewing construction skills, you will enjoy the book. I plan to look at the "Sew U" book on knits in the future, but again, I will assume that it is not a standalone text.
Book Review: Great if you've sewn a bit before
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this book along with Diana Rupp's S.E.W. Everything Workshop, and after reading them both through thoroughly, decided to start with the S.E.W. creations, and slowly move up the Sew U stuff. Wendy's book is excellent, very detailed and thorough, but perhaps the absolute beginner (i've only ever made a couple bags before) should try some easier projects first, get used to the sewing machine and techniques, and then make some of Wendy's projects. I am excited to use her patterns though, which look really cute, and she has great suggestions for altering them!Book Review: Cute ideas, needs more detailed directions
Summary: 3 Stars
It seems like there are lots of these new sewing project books with patterns and they all seem to suffer from a lack of information and key details.
Sew U contains some helpful tips for setting things up, supplies etc. but then inexplicably the yardage for each project is in the fabric section, the seam allowances are buried in text in another chapter and are two different measurements. The idea is to be less complex than a regular pattern but those directions are pretty important. A beginner would have to memorize the book prior to starting. Also, better images/diagrams of each step would have saved me some frustration especially on any of the facing steps.
That said, I made muslins of everything and completed a skirt which looks great. I'm just getting back into sewing after 10 years or so. Beginners should pick up a comprehensive sewing manual to refer to in addition to these project books.
I do think the projects are cute and I'm looking forward to the knits book and this book definitely helps you realize the millions of possibilities for 3 simple patterns