All about dressmaking and sewing for the home.  A compressive guide to sewing, covering every phase of the subject from basting a hem to tailoring a shirt, from making slip covers to altering a ready-made garment.  This vintage hard-back book publication spans 398 pages and includes 1000 easy step-by-step illustrations.

Here at your fingertips is everything you need to know in order to sew easily and well - form the basic sewing stitches to the fine detail of a tailored suit. Thoroughly indexed and cross-referenced.  Sewing Made Easy covers every phase of the subject.  It teaches the beginner how to sew, supplies the forgotten details to the woman who used to sew, and offers literally hundreds of stimulating ideas to the experienced seamstress.

Sewing Made Easy by Mary Lynch
c 1950, 1952, 1960

Simple, easy-to-follow instructions for the beginner... Hundreds of new ideas for the expert... Scores of things to make for yourself, your home, and your family.

Clearly and concisely written and illustrated with hundreds of easy-to-follow, step-by-step pictures, this practical, up-to-date guide is an invaluable aid to both the beginner and the expert.  It not only teaches you how to sew, it also shows you scores of new ways to use the fine art of swing for greater pleasure and greater savings.

The most practical and usable book on the art of sewing...

BECAUSE
It covers every phase of the subject and includes the latest materials and methods.
It tells you everything you need to know in the order in which you need to know it.
The tested modern method upon which it is based can be applied to any type of sewing at any time.
Its text and picture instructions are so clear that even a beginner cans sew easily and well.
Its comprehensive index and its cross-reference system make every item instantly available.

The beginner... is shown how to make a dress - from the moment the idea is conceived down to sewing the last button in place.  You learn how to buy the right pattern for your figure and choose the most becoming material, how to make any necessary pattern alterations, how to lay the pattern on the material and cut it out, how to baste and fit the dress and put it together with the tailoring touches that mark the custom-made garment.

The experienced sewer... will find a wealth of information in this book.  She has only to refer to the section in which she has a special interest at the moment. Sewing Made Easy scores of modern shortcuts and methods and hundreds of ides and suggestions that will develop her proficiency and show her new ways to user her skills.  The book contains a unique and thorough-going discussion on styling - how to evaluate style trends, how to select fashion notes that emphasize your good points, and how to us them to create your own styles by adapting a basic pattern.  Included also are chapters on such relevant subjects as choosing the right accessories to frame your outfit, remodeling clothes, and pointes for building a flexible wardrobe.

The homemaker... will find sections on sewing for the family and the home that include dozens of things the home sewer will enjoy making - clothes and toys for the children, lingerie, tea towels and luncheon sets, curtains and draperies, slip covers and bedspreads.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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INTRODUCTION

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GETTING READY TO SEW

Sewing equipment. Necessary sewing aids. Sewing extras. Use and care of your sewing machine.

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BUYING YOUR PATTERN

How to identify an easy-to-make pattern. How to take your measurements for a pattern. How to select the most becoming pattern for your figure. Do's and Don'ts of buying a pattern.

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CHOOSING YOUR MATERIAL

Meaning of pattern instructions and lay-out diagrams. How to choose material that will be easy to work with, that will be suitable for your pattern, that will look well on you. Chart showing fabrics, their uses and care. Choosing interfacing and underlining. Threads to match fabrics.

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HOW TO FIT AND ALTER YOUR PATTERN

Getting acquainted with your pattern. Meaning of pattern markings. Trying on your pattern. How to make alterations in blouse patterns, skirt patterns, sleeve patterns, patterns for shorts and slacks.

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CUTTING MATERIAL FROM YOUR PATTERN

Preparing your material. Placing the pattern on the material. Cutting your material. Transferring pattern markings to your material using tailor's tacks, tailor's chalk.

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BASTING, SIMPLE STITCHES, AND SEAM FINISHES

How to tie a knot for hand sewing. How to fasten machine stitching. Directions for basting: even basting, uneven basting, right-side basting, diagonal basting, basting a bias edge to a straight edge. Basic sewing stitches: running stitch, backstitch, overcasting, quick overcasting, deeper overcasting, overhanding, combination stitch. Seams and ways to finish them: plain seam, pinked seam, overcast seam, edge-stitched seam, topstitched seam, bound seam, flat fell seam, welt seam, strap seam, slot seam, French seam, seam with edges turned in and stitched, rolled seam, machine-picoted seam, lapped seam, piped seam, corded seam, and upholsterer's seam. Tricks with seams.

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DARTS, TUCKS, AND PLEATS

Darts: How to make a smooth dart. Darts used at the shoulder, at the underarm seam, at the back of the neck, at the skirt back, at the side front and back waist, at the elbow or shoulder of sleeves. Dart with gathered fullness. Double dart. Finishing darts. Tucks: how they are made and where they are used, dart tucks, pin tucks, corded tucks, narrow tucks, cross-tucks, curved tucks, shell tucks, overhand tucks, practical tucks. Pleats: how to make side pleats, box pleats, inverted pleats, fan pleats, accordion pleats, double and single kick pleats.

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HEMS, FACINGS, BANDINGS, AND BINDINGS

Marking a skirt hem. Finishing a hem. Hemming by hand: quick hem, slip-stitched hem, blind hem, rolled hem, whipped hem, bias-bound hem, machine-stitched hem, narrow machine-rolled hem, catch-stitched hem, pleated skirt hem, circular skirt hem, damask hem. facings: skirt facing, bias facing, front facing, facing for corner, shaped facing for small slit opening, facing for scalloped edge, facing for saw-toothed edge. Bandings: applied band, extended band. Bindings: how to make a bias binding, how to apply bias tape to a straight edge by machine, how to apply bias tape by hand, how to bind scallops with bias binding.

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PUTTING YOUR DRESS TOGETHER

The factory method. The custom method. General rules for basting, fitting, and stitching a dress. Special fitting problems. Shoulder pads. Sleeves: cap sleeve, kimono sleeve, long sleeve, dolman sleeve, raglan sleeve, puffed sleeve, set-in sleeve. How to make a set-in sleeve. Ways to finish sleeves. Necklines and collars: bias-faced V neckline, ribbon, silk, or rayon bound neckline, front-slashed facing, slashed neckline with collar, notched collar with lapels, collar applied with bias binding, collar trimmed with edging. Yokes. Godets. Flares. Lining a dress or skirt.

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TAILORING TRICKS

Buttons: Types of buttons. Making covered buttons. Sewing on buttons. Making a button shank. Chinese loop (frog). Buttonholes: measuring buttonholes, spacing buttonholes, bound button hole, corded buttonhole, thread buttonhole, tailored buttonhole. Slide fasteners. Plackets. Snaps, tape closure, hooks and eyes, eyelet loops, fabric-covered belts. Pockets: patch pocket, slot pocket, welt pocket.

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HOW TO BE YOUR OWN STYLIST

Detecting style trends. Adapting basic patterns. Skirt styles: draped fullness in front, pleated fullness in front, pleated fullness at the back, variations of back fullness, pleated skirt, flared skirt, yoke combined with pleats, curved or diagonal yoke, side-draped peplum. Necklines and waist yokes: draped V neckline, square neckline with collar, round yoke. Sleeves: ruffled sleeve, three-quarter draped sleeve, flared sleeve, long, full sleeve.· Style notes for classic button-down-the-front dresses. Variations in suit styles: with pockets, with buttons and buckles,with boleros, with skirt styles. Reversible skirt.

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BUILDING A WARDROBE

How to plan a flexible wardrobe. The housewife's requirements. The business woman's requirements. The teacher's requirements. The wardrobe of a receptionist, salesclerk, or hostess. How to make several different outfits from the same pattern. Five versions of a shirtwaist dress. Five versions of a suit. Completing your wardrobe. Evening and formal dresses, blouses, sports clothes.

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YOU AND YOUR ACCESSORIES

General instructions on selecting hats, shoes, stockings, gloves, furs, handbags, and jewelry. Specific instructions for choosing accessories if you are tiny, if you are tall, if you are plump.

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TAKING CARE OF YOUR CLOTHES

Pointers for daily care. Pressing equipment. Pressing instructions for wool, silk, rayon, nylon, linen, velvet, corduroy, and cotton. Removing stains.

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REMODELING YOUR CLOTHES

How to select patterns. How to prepare material. Piecing insufficient material. Cutting. Suggestions for makeovers! turning a man's shirt into a blouse, cutting down an adult garment into a child's dress or coat, making a man's suit into a woman's suit, making one dress from two, remodeling an evening dress. Other remodeling possibilities.

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GATHERS, SHIRRINGS, RUFFLES, AND HEADINGS

Gathers: gathering by hand, gathering by machine, gathers to hold fullness. Shirring: shirring by hand, using a stay under shirring, shirring by machine, shirring with elastic thread. Ruffles: how to make ruffling, circular ruffles, double ruffles. Headings: gathered heading, corded heading.

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LACE, EDGINGS, AND OTHER TRIMMINGS

Lace: lace edging, lace bands and gathered lace, joining lace to a raw edge, joining lace to hemmed edge, joining lace with beading, edging on allover lace, lace inserts, joining lace inserts with edging, joining corners in lace. Hints for sewing lace. Edgings: braiding (passementeries), embroidered edgings, other types of edgings. Trimmings: allover embroidery, embroidered inserts.

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DECORATIVE STITCHES

Machine stitching for decoration. Saddle stitch. Seed stitch. Couching stitch. Outline stitch. Blanket stitch. Satin stitch. Cross-stitch. Catch stitch. Feather stitch. Lazy-daisy stitch. Chain stitch. French knots. Bullion stitch. Single hemstitching. Double hemstitching. Diagonal hemstitching. Plain fringe. Raveled fringe. Knotted fringe. Fagoting. Criss-cross fagoting. Bar or spoke fagoting. Smocking. Decorative arrowhead. Appliqué.

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SEWING AND MENDING FOR THE FAMILY

Clothes to make for the children. Clothes to make for grownups: house dresses, basket aprons, bib aprons, sewing aprons. Turkish towel wrap. Lingerie for the trousseau. Materials for lingerie. Sewing hints for lingerie. Clothes to make for the men folk. Mending. How to avoid slide fastener trouble. Making girdle repairs. Mending rips and tears. Use of mending tape. Reweaving problems. Darning. Reinforcing. Patching. Men's clothes repairs: sturdy patches, elbow patches, trouser knee patch, frayed sleeve, worn coat collar, relining sleeve of suit jacket, replacing trouser pocket, repairing trouser pocket, replacing torn-off buttons, underarm patch, turning collar and cuffs.

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SEWING FOR THE HOME

Tea towels. Luncheon sets. Plastic tablecloths. Curtains: tailored curtains, ruffled curtains, cafe curtains, double-sash curtains, cottage curtains, remodeling curtains, Austrian shades, skyline shades. Draperies: how to select the most suitable material, how to make lined or unlined draperies, ways to finish draperies. Valances: covering a valance board, a buckram frame. Swag and cascade draperies. Rods and aids for hanging
curtains and draperies. Dressing-table skirts: gathered, pleated. Closet accessories: shoe pockets, laundry bag, garment covers. Slip covers for chairs and sofas: suitable materials, amount required, how to take the measurements, cutting, sewing and finishing, plastic. Slip covers for studio couches. Slip covers for bed frames. Miscellaneous covers. Bedspreads. Patchwork quilts and comforters. Make-over quilts and blankets. Make-over sheets. Other household make-over hints. Lampshades.

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CLOTHES FOR THE EXPECTANT MOTHER

Special considerations in buying patterns. House dresses. Play clothes. Dresses for "dress-up." Evening clothes. Coats and suits. Hats. Shoes.

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ACCESSORIES AND GIFTS YOU CAN MAKE

Hints for making accessories. Bags: easy-to-make envelope bag, closed with slide fastener, lined, over-the-shoulder, bag, envelope bag for evening wear, circular bag, miser's pouch. Hats: ideas for hats, headband, veiling, turban, tiered skullcap, beret, fur hats. Gloves. Collars: straight collar, Peter Pan collar. Dickeys. Cuffs: double ruffle, perfect circle, turn back cuffs, cuffs that are different. Belts: fringed sash in felt or suede, plaited belt, twisted belt of felt or suede, scroll belt in suede, grosgrain ribbon belts, other ideas for belts. Peplums: gathered peplum, overskirt, or apron peplum. Gift suggestions. Bedroom slippers. Scuffs. Toys.

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TAILORING SUITS, COATS, AND JACKETS

How to choose your pattern and material. lining material. Interlining. Interfacing and facing. Tailoring supplies. Making a tailored coat or jacket. Cutting and fitting the pattern. First tailoring steps. Interfacing and facing a casual topcoat. Interfacing and facing tailored jacket or coat. Setting in sleeves. Finishing a lined coat or jacket. Finishing an unlined coat or jacket. lining topcoat or jacket. Interlining coat. Underarm shields for coat or jacket. Making the skirt. Working with fur.

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MAKING ALTERATIONS IN READY-TO-WEAR CLOTHING

Buying for size. Shortening a skirt. Lengthening a skirt. Removing fullness at the hips. Adding fullness to a garment. Enlarging the waistline of a dress. Eliminating bagginess at the waistline of a dress. Fitting heavy or round shoulders. Fitting thin shoulders. Correcting tightness in the sleeves and underarm seams. Correcting looseness at the sleeve and underarm seams. Adjusting sleeve length. Pointers for longer wear.

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INDEX

About the authors -

Mary Lynch was for several years managing editor of a leading fashion magazine.  As a staff member of Simplicity Patterns' educational department she arranged fashion shows throughout the country, lectured on sewing and styling, and worked constantly to promote understanding between trade manufacturers in the filed and home sewers.  Since her marriage she has retired to the more inactive status of contributing editor, but she continues to write regularly for American and English magazines as well as for trade associations in the sewing field.

Dorothy Sara began her writing career when an editor of a national magazine asked her to do an article on handwriting analysis. The publisher then asked her to write a series of how-to books.  These established Miss Sara as both an editor and writer, and since then she has made many valuable contributions to the do-it-yourself field, including lectures, articles and books.

1960 Revision -

The first edition of SEWING MADE EASY, published in 1950, has shown almost 200,000 women that the fine art of sewing is as valuable today as it was in their grandmother's day. The scores of things to make for home and family described in the earlier edition have been brought up to date in this new revised edition to include all the new fabrics, styles, and sewing ideas of the last ten years.  The modern woman can now practice the ever-popular art of sewing with all the advances of the materials and techniques of the present day.

1950 cover

Vtg 50s~60s SEWING~ALTERATIONS~TAILOR~DRESSMAKING BOOK