This wonderful 1940s sewing course will teach you how to create detail-perfect garments, accessories and home decorations.  All of the fundamental sewing practices - everything from selecting the right clothes for your figure and pattern alterations to advanced tailoring techniques needed to achieving those beautiful 1950s era dressmaking details.  This course will provide a fundamental basis for costume and clothing design.

Profusely illustrated with line drawings and diagrams. This very thorough, easily-used sewing instruction course.

The complete book set consists of eight separate booklets. Each booklet is printed in a distinctive color for easy identification, and quick reference. There are over 3,000 detailed illustrations. Hundreds of interesting ideas, instructions and details.

This series was designed especially for the person who wants to "sew with distinction" - quickly and easily. It will surely delight any one who loves vintage fashions or sewing! The key to all of the "magic" is here - in simple, completely illustrated, short and to-the-point instructions. Each book is a successive step towards that goal - and each is arranged for quick reference back to any forgotten topic, in years to come.

"SEW WITH DISTINCTION"
A Picture Reference Sewing Course
Copyright 1956, Midwest Technical Publications
Prepared and Published for Sears, Roebuck & Co.

BOOK I
Your Sewing Center, Figure And Pattern Problems

You too can develop sewing skill and pride in your accomplishments.

Every woman - and man - admires the woman whose clothes are a perfect blend of individuality, good taste and fashion. Whether she wears expensive dresses with famous couturiers' labels, or is, herself , a clever stylist- the effect is the same.  But it is all the more to her credit if her own nimble fingers and ingenious contrivings have stretched a small budget and touched with magic her own home-fashioned ensembles.

You can be this person.

Topics Covered Include:
Tools ~ Measuring ~ Your Own Dress Form ~ Care and Use of Your Machine ~ You And Your Figure ~ Choosing Appropriate Clothing Lines ~ Solving Figure Problems ~ How To Take Accurate Measurements ~ How To Alter A Pattern ~ Making A Basic Muslin Pattern... For Figures Hard to Fit ~ Facts You Should Know About Fashion......

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK II
Cutting, Piecing And Stitching

Economy and finished quality both start with the selection and cutting of your material.

Topics Covered Include:
Fabric Sources and Qualities ~ Facts to Help You Select Materials ~ Terms You Should Know and Understand ~ Needle And Thread Guide ~ Reference List Of Over 200 Popular Fabrics ~ Selecting the Right Fabrics for Your Pattern ~ Selecting Suitable Colors ~ Cutting and Laying Out Your Pattern ~ Combing Fabrics ~ Bias Fabrics ~ Placing Designs ~ Pinning And Basting ~ Basic Hand Stitches ~ Seams ~ Seam Finishes ~ Clever Mending.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK III
Tailored Touches

Careful details make good workmanship.

Topics Covered Include:
Learn to Press Correctly ~ Best Ways to Make and Use Darts ~ Decorative and Novelty Use Of Tucks ~ Flat Pleats ~ Sunburst Pleats ~ Permanent Pleats ~   17 Different Ways to Prepare Buttonholes: Worked Buttonholes, Bound Buttonholes ~ Loops and Frogs ~ When Not to Use Buttonholes ~ Over 30 Kinds of Pockets: Patch Pockets, Inset Pockets, Bound Pockets, Novelty Bound Pockets, Stand Pockets, Welt Pockets, Simulated Pockets, Slide-Fastener Pockets...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK IV
Frills And Soft Details

That Professional Look - Probably the most common mistake regarding softer details is the belief that feminine trimmings are much easier to make than tailored details. Actually, those ruffled touches require more precision than appears on the surface. If badly done, they look all too amateurish and in poor taste!

Topics Covered Include:
40 Ways to Finish the Edge and Corners.....Hems ~ Bindings ~ Bandings ~ Facings ~ Pipings ~ Corners ~ Edge Bandings ~ Strip Facings ~  Piping Scallops ~ Mitered Corners ~ The Use and Construction of Godets ~ Fan Pleated Godets ~ Hand And Machine Gathering and Shirring ~ Corded Shirring ~ Ruffles ~ Ruffles Set In Tucks ~ Double Edge Ruffles ~ Headings ~ Piecing Lace ~ Seaming Lace ~ Mitering Lace ~ Lace and Other Commercial Trimmings ~ Embroidery Edging ~ Net Footing ~ Braid edging ~ Braid Faggoting ~ Sewing On Sequins And Beads ~ Trimming With Shirred Bands, Pleated Edgings, Sawtooth Edging, Loop And Spaghetti Trim, Fringe ~  Pom Poms ~ Bows ~ Decorative Hand Stitches ~ Featherstitching ~ Embroidery ~ Handmade Tucks ~ Handmade Fagoting ~ Hand Hemstitching ~ Smocking ~ Machine Quilting And Embroidery ~ Covered And Crocheted Buttons ~ Types and Uses of Buttons...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK V
Final Dress Assembly

This book tells you the correct ways to assemble any type of dress, and explains many time-savings devices which will speed you through your work.

Topics Covered Include:
Basic Fitting Procedures ~ 3 Methods Of Assembling A Dress ~ 3 Different Kinds of Alterations ~ Fitting Alterations ~ Re-Designing ~ Remodeling ~ Collars And Neck Finishes ~ How to Face a Collar ~ How to Attach a Shaped Collar ~ Special Collar Types: Mandarin, Neckband, Tuxedo, Roll, Shawl, Convertible, Peter Pan, Cape, Detachable Collars ~  Neckline Finishes ~ Sleeves and Sleeve Finishes ~ Waistline Joining and Belts ~ Waistline Plackets ~ Making Shoulder Pads...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK VI
Coats and Tailored Garments

Coat making offers you the best opportunity for saving a considerable sum on a single garment.

Topics Covered Include:
Considerations When Making a Coat ~ 6 Types Of Coat Construction ~ How To Make And Use A Muslin Try-Out ~ Standard Method Of Assembling A Coat ~ Quick Method Of Assembling A Coat ~ Inside Finishes For Coats ~ Coat Collar And Sleeve Variations ~ Fur And Other Trimmings ~ Remodeling Coats ~ Special Suit Problems ~ Capes ~  Stoles ~ Accessories ~ Slacks, Shorts And Culottes...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK VII
Part I - Children's Clothes And Toys
Part II - Aprons And Lingerie

Baby clothes and clothes for very young children make excellent home projects for a beginner.
Cutting, piecing and fitting present few and simple problems.

Topics Covered Include:
Sewing for Your Children... Making Baby Clothes ~ Baby Sacques ~ Baby Shoes ~ Baby Caps ~ Baby Wraps ~ Snowsuit ~ Baby Shoes ~ A Kimono ~ Making Clothes for Crawlers and Toddlers ~ Little Girls' Skirts and Jumpers ~ Cutting Down Old Garments for Children ~ Remaking Old Garments ~ Mother-and-Daughter Outfits ~  Let-Out Tucks ~ Blouses and Slips ~ Bathrobes ~ Beach Robes ~ Slippers ~ Boy's Dress Shirt ~ Boy's Sport Shirt ~Trousers ~  Making Hats For Babies, Boys and Girls ~ Earmuffs ~ Making Coats ~ Making Reversible Coats and Hoods ~ Making One-Piece Snowsuits ~ Making Leggings ~ Children's Bathing Suits ~ Making Children's Costumes including Cowboy and Cowgirl Outfits, Ballerina Dresses, Space Travel Costumes, Indian Costumes ~  Making Stuffed Dolls And Paper Dolls ~ Making Doll Wigs ~ Measuring, Fitting And Making Doll Clothes ~ Making Animal Dolls ~ Making Aprons ~ Making Slips.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK VIII
Sewing For Your Home

Whether buying or making decorations for your home remember always to keep i n mind your over-all plan. Harmony is achieved by careful thought and selection.

Topics Covered Include:
Color Schemes and Fabric Selection ~ Color Guide ~ Types Of Windows, Fixtures and Curtains ~ Novel Curtain Arrangements ~ Accurate Measuring ~ Use of Ruffles ~ Sash Curtains ~ Cottage Curtains ~ Casement Curtains ~ Tie backs ~ Draperies ~ Lined, Interlined And Unlined Panels ~ Pleats ~ 4 Different Types of Valances ~ Making Slipcovers ~ Welt Piping ~ Covering Other Furniture Pieces: Sofa or Love Seat, Arm Chair, Straight Chair ~ Tie-On Cushions ~ Bed Coverings ~ Pillow Shams ~ Bolsters ~ Cushions ~ Comforters ~ Covered Headboards ~ Handmade Linens.....

Vintage 50s SEWING COURSE ~ Fashion ~ Alteration ~ Tailoring
3000 Fabulous Ideas~Illustrations~Techniques~Details+++