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Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe | 
 enlarge | Authors: Wendy Mullin, Eviana Hartman
Creator: Beci Orpin
Publisher: Bulfinch
Category: Book
List Price: $25.99
Buy New: $13.53
You Save: $12.46 (48%)
New (31) Used (12) from $13.53
Avg. Customer Rating:  38 reviews
Sales Rank: 5000
Format: Large Print
Media: Spiral-bound
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 212
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 8.4 x 1.3
ISBN: 0821257404
Dewey Decimal Number: 646.404
EAN: 9780821257401
ASIN: 0821257404
Publication Date: September 1, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Few left in stock - order soon. Code: H20080716212310T
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Product Description
Like knitting before it, sewing is being reclaimed by a new generation; one that is tired of poor quality and bored by homogenous design. Indie fashion designer Wendy Mullin, of Built by Wendy, teaches the creatively inclined and ultra-stylish how to make the perfect skirt, shirt, and pants. She gives readers everything they need to know to begin sewing and provides step-by-step instructions and patterns directly from her studio. She explains how to customize everything from the fit to the pockets so readers can create a thousand different looks using the same three basic patterns. These ideas will inspire readers to rethink and revamp their old clothes to make unique, custom fashions. For those who find themselves brimming with ideas, but unable to make everything themselves, Wendy also offers guidance on how to work with a tailor. Includes three Simplicity pattterns.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 33 more reviews...
 good for sewing, bad for your mood June 2, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
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.
 Generally good May 31, 2008
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.
 Spurs Creativity, But Not Suitable For The Complete Novice. May 8, 2008
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
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.
Great if you've sewn a bit before April 24, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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!
Cute ideas, needs more detailed directions April 12, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
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
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