Search results for ""Author Wendy Ward""

Fed up of fast fashion and fancy making your own clothes? This is the ultimate guide to dressmaking for absolute beginners. As well as step-by-step instructions for all the basic dressmaking techniques, there are instructions for six garments to choose from. These include classic styles that will never go out of fashion such as a maxi dress/skirt; jersey top; simple jacket; trousers; fishtail skirt and shift dress. There are fully graded paper patterns for all the garments so you can get started immediately. Once you have learnt the basics you can extend your skills with a section on more advanced techniques. Author, Wendy Ward, explains how to add details to your designs with pockets and collars which you can choose to add to the basic patterns as your skills improve to create a truly unique capsule collection.

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A technique-led guide to creating clothes and homeware, using fabric scraps from other projects, discarded home textiles and used clothing. Wendy Ward teaches you all the skills you need to refashion garments and reuse fabric from existing pieces you already own, plus ways to use leftover scraps to make household items and to customise your clothes. Each chapter focuses on a different technique, for instance novel ways to join small fabric pieces, using larger pieces to make pieced household items and clothing, and easy ways to refashion existing clothing. Her ‘minimal waste' mentality will help you to make garments based on your body measurements, and there's a useful section on mending techniques. Wendy also covers the ethical issues involved in buying new, from shopping locally to choosing your fibres carefully and supporting small businesses and other crafters. There is a comprehensive chapter covering all the sewing techniques used, from seam and hem basics through to tips on unpicking recycled garments. Each section includes projects using the techniques covered – a total of 20 makes that can be adapted to the materials you have to hand.

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Follow Wendy Ward’s tutorials to make a capsule wardrobe of 20 classic garments, suitable for any body regardless of gender, age or body shape. Wendy’s style is functional but beautiful basics, and you will learn the skills to make clothes out of both woven and knitted fabrics that are a joy to wear. There are five styles of button-down shirts, sweatshirts and t-shirts, and three different styles of trousers, jackets and jumpsuits, all made in versatile fabrics that can be dressed up or down. These are core basics that you'll turn to time and again and all these garments can be worn by any body, regardless of gender, age and body shape. Suitable for both beginners and those more experienced in dressmaking, each project has multiple versions from easy to more technically challenging. Plus, there is a comprehensive techniques section covering everything from sewing a fly zip to making a traditional shirt collar, alongside the fundamentals such as different seam and hem finishes. Patterns for the five basic garments and all the variations to make 20 different designs are included in the book on three pull-out, full-scale, multi-sized pattern sheets. Each pattern covers 10 sizes and there’s no need for downloading or scaling-up patterns, just trace off the pieces that you need and off you go!

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Follow Wendy Ward’s tutorials to make a collection of comfortable and stylish garments. Wendy’s style is functional but beautiful basics, and you will learn the skills to make garments out of knitted fabrics that drape beautifully and are a joy to wear. There are t-shirts, wide-leg trousers, lounge pants, tank tops, cardigans, skirts and dresses made in versatile fabrics that can be dressed up or down. Both beginners and more experienced dressmakers often avoid using knitted fabrics, but Wendy will show you how to successfully sew them with just a regular sewing machine. You will learn essential skills with the help of a comprehensive techniques section that includes a guide to different types of knitted fabrics and their uses (including jersey, sweatshirt fabric, boiled wool and many more), how to prepare them for making clothes, setting up your sewing machine, which needles you need, sewing seams and hems, and using elastic. There are also full-size patterns for every garment included at the back of the book, so you will have all the information you need to start making your own perfect wardrobe!

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