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 enlarge | Authors: Melissa Rannels, Melissa Alvarado, Hope Meng
Publisher: Taunton
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $5.88
You Save: $9.07 (61%)
New (44) Used (18) from $4.80
Avg. Customer Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 151830
Format: Illustrated
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 192
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8 x 7.9 x 0.6
ISBN: 1561588091
Dewey Decimal Number: 646.404
EAN: 9781561588091
ASIN: 1561588091
Publication Date: September 5, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 great book for my teenager February 8, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this as a gift for my 14-year-old daughter and she has already made 2 items using guidelines from the book. She's a beginning sewer (she received the book along with a sewing machine), so the result is impressive. Even more impressive, tho, is the fact that she found two pieces to make (one using an old t-shirt, the other using an old pair of jeans) that were fast and easy to execute. My daughter wants instant gratification and these items were spot-on. The book was recommended by a blogger and was a perfect choice.
Perfect for a beginner: fun and helpful. Might be too funky for some though. August 14, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
As a novice, I appreciate all of the basic info at the beginning of the book. I also like the authors' fun, hip, "hey girlfriend" tone. Each project includes a time estimate, and many projects provide instructions for handstitching as well as machine-sewing. Would I cut off the sleeves from a sweater to make leg warmers or turn vintage ties into cuffs and collars? Probably not. But I will try turning a sweatshirt into a tote and definitely "un-taperfy" some pants by adding a triangle of fabric for flair (and yes, flare too). This book is fun and helpful for novices, and its projects encourage personal creativity and new ways of thinking about clothing.
 Not what I expected but it has a lot of good basic info July 31, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I bought this book expecting it to be full of complete projects- not so. I guess it sort of says that it's about personalizing your wardrobe, I just didn't realize that it was pretty much all about reconstructing old clothes. Some of the ideas are good, but I found most of them to be either really basic (as in, common sense- sewing a patch on a skirt to make it different, etc.) or something that I wouldn't really wear. I think that this book would probably be better for a teenager or someone in her early 20's. On the other hand, for basic sewing instruction, I thought that this book had some nice thorough info.
 Not for the Novice Seamtress July 18, 2007
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
The author is to be applauded for encouraging young readers with her hip writing style. As a result, teens are encouraged to sew something more than repairing the seams of their blue jeans.
Most of the projects Ms. Rannels proposes involve the use of T-shirts. For anyone who has made sewing a hobby, sewing with knits, especially stretchy cotton knits, requires the very careful attention and patience of the sewer.
Therefore, anyone attempting the projects in this book should have a lot of experience in sewing with knit fabrics.
 eh.... not impressed... July 12, 2007
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I was excited to see this new DIY sewing book in the new books section of the library, as I'd been eying it on-line for awile. However I was really disappointed with this book after reading it. Sew Subversive offers the beginning sewer (and I do mean complete beginner) and "Fashionista" somewhat practical advice at the beginning of the book on a number of topics including, choosing a sewing machine and how to thread it, hand-sewing, understanding fabrics, reading a pattern, organizing supplies and other nitty gritty. Much of this information is supplied in an easy to understand and well laid out format. The bright color photography and fun casual conversational tone will put the nervous beginner at ease. However the second half of the book where the patterns begin are where I have to give really low reviews. First off the patterns are horrendous! I'm all for hip, cool, trendy clothes, but most of the outfits are un-wearable and really poorly designed. Close up's of most of the clothes revealed terribly poor sewing, I don't think this was just for design sake either. I mean there is punk and then there is junk. I don't think even the coolest hipster could pull some of these things off. The workmanship was the worst, threads hanging, jagged edges on garments that should have been smooth and all around poor sewing. Soo....I have to say..I'm not impressed. I think the book could possibly be worth a look at for some of the helpful sewing hints in the front, but there are better beginner sewing books out there.. I dunno...if you can already sew you might be able to take some of the patterns and ideas and fine tune them a bit, but overall, for me this book was a dud.
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