Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 15:55:52 -1000
From: Maggie Pierce
Subject: Re: Hand sewing manual(s)
Dates and titles?
The Butterick Publishing Company (the pattern publishers?) put out the book I
have called simply "The Dressmaker" in 1911. The subtitle is "A complete
book on all matters connected with sewing and dressmaking from the simplest
stiches to the cutting, making, altering, mending, and caring for the clothes"
There is no author's name, and the copyright is registered to the Company. It
does describe making a knot at the end of the thread, but not a huge one.
It is wonderfully complete, including a ruffle bustle, ruching, plaiting,
and a whole chapter on "Unlined Waists", and another on "Lined Waists". It
starts with simple stitches, and goes on to relatively advanced tailoring all
in 130 pages, (the type is fairly small) including some advice for cleaning
particular fabrics and removing some stains. Amply illustrated with
photographs and some drawings.
It's a wonderful snapshot of hand techniques when the machine was not in
every home. Pity is, I have no idea how I came to have it!
MaggiRos
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Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 16:51:25 -1000
From: Joan M Jurancich
Subject: Re: Hand sewing manual [was Just a lot of talk]
At 12:50 PM 4/26/97 -0700, Susan A Allen wrote:
>Can you post a title an author ? It sounds very instructive
>
>Thanks
>
>Susan
[snip]
Here's one I have found very useful:
"The Lady's Guide to Plain Sewing, by a Lady"
copyright 1993 by Kathleen Kannik, published and bound by
Kannik's Korner
P.O. Box 1654
Springfield, Ohio 45501
Kathleen has put together, in a wonderful 19th century fashion, many of the
instructions, tips, etc., scattered in different places (e.g., Therese de
Dillmont's Encyclopedia of Needlework, The Workwoman's Guide).
Here is the first sentence in her Introduction (pg 5): "It is intended that
this guide will assist one, whether lady or gentleman, in developing skills
in basic clothing construction techniques usedfrom the eighteenth century
through the present day."
Highly recommended.
Joan Jurancich
Sacramento, California
[email protected]
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Date: Sun, 27 Apr 1997 05:28:34 -1000
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Hand sewing manual
I'll chime in with a recommendation for:
The Lady's Guide to Plain Sewing
by a Lady (1993)
published by Kannik's Korner
PO Box 1654
Springfield, Ohio 45501
This is a 32 page book presenting handsewing techniques from the 18th century to the
present (some may also be applicable for earlier periods). It includes descriptions
of basic stitches, a cross-stitch chart of alphabet and numbers,
and a useful bibliography.
Usual disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Kannik's Corner (except as a sometimes-customer).
Now please excuse me while I take my sewing outdoors (without a silly, bulky, noisy
machine that would just scare the squirrels and frighten the buds off the peonies
: ) )
Caroline Dechert (another happy, handsewing lunatic)
[email protected] or [email protected]
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Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 12:02:40 -1000
From: Kathy Songal
Subject: Re: Hand sewing manual
"The Children's Dressmaker Vol.1--A Sewing Primer of the 1890s" by Helen R.
Berry (1978). (Self-published).
I bought the above book some time ago for under $10. The entire book is
devoted to hand-sewing techniques and has good illustrations. The research
is based on 19th century sewing manuals. Some of the books named in its
bibliography are:
1. Rosevear, Elizabeth. "A Text-Book of Needlework, Knitting & Cutting
Out With Methods of Teaching. 1894.
2. Hapgood, Olive C. "School Needlework. Teacher's Edition". 1893.
3. Banner, Bertha. "Household Sewing with Home Dressmaking". 1898.
4. Johnson, Catherine F. "Progressive Lessons in the Art and Practice
of Needlework for Use in schools." 1893.
5. "The Workwoman's Guide. First Edition 1838.
Unfortunately, the business I bought the "Sewing Primer" from no longer
exists, so I don't know where you can buy it today.
Kathy Songal
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Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 12:12:31 -1000
From: "Susan J. Evans"
Subject: Hand Sewing books
>> For others who might be considering sewing a garment by hand, I suggest you
>> pick up a hand-sewing manual that describes various sewing techniques that
>> were used years ago.
>And the names (and dates) of these manuals are.....
The Complete DMC Encyclopedia of Needlework by T. de Dillmont.
This has chapters on plain sewing, mending, machine sewing and embroidery
as well as chapters on embroidery and lace techniques (you _do_ want to put
hand-made trim on that, too, don't you?) :*O
My particular copy is from the 1970's but this book is still in print.
Sue Evans
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Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 13:56:01 -1000
From: Ed Safford & Carol Kocian
Subject: Re: Just a lot of talk
Kathy Songal wrote,
>For others who might be considering sewing a garment by hand, I suggest you
>pick up a hand-sewing manual that describes various sewing techniques that
>were used years ago.
One good manual that is available now was written by Kathleen
Kannick, of Kannick's corner. It covers the late 18th & early 19th century
stitches. The book is called _The Lady's Guide to Plain Sewing_ and I got
mine for $10. It can be ordered directly from Kannick's Korner, PO Box
1654, Springfield, OH 45501.
-Carol Kocian
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