BOOK CLUB: Reader's Digest - Complete Guide to Sewing

Hello and welcome to our very first Secret Sewing Club - Book Group!  We're sew excited to bring this completely new and exclusive sewing book club to our lovely Secret Sewing Club members and can't wait for the discussion to begin.

So how is it going to work?  Every month we will put a post in the Secret Sewing Club Facebook group with details of the chosen book of the month, some details about it and a link to the blog for even more info! 

​You can then post your own comments and questions in the Facebook group and we will have created our very own sewing book club. 

We're planning for the books to be a mixture of fact and fiction and will also be including some books on wellbeing and self development.  So if you have any ideas for future books you would like to be included please do let us know!

November 2023 - Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing

For the very first book club we thought it would be good to start with a sewing book that is practical, comprehensive, explanatory and in our view an absolute must for all sewists. 

​The Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing has been around for quite some time, in my edition it states that it was first published in 1978, and mine is a reprinted copy from 1981.  

It is usually quite easy to find this book second hand from online sites such as eBay, Amazon Marketplace, World of Books and Abe Books for a reasonable price.  There are also more up to date versions of the book available, however we have not looked at a newer copy to compare with the original version so the information included here is based on the 1978 book.  If you do own a copy of a more up to date version we would love to know what you think of it, please do tell us in the comments below or the Facebook group.

This is a very comprehensive book covering many many aspects of sewing from the very start of finding a place to sew, though to tailoring techniques and sewing projects.  As this book is from 1978 it can feel somewhat dated in some of the language and terminology and projects, but the practical information and techniques are as relevant for sewing in the 21st Century  as they ever were.   Whilst the picture below of the contents page gives an indication of what is included in the book,  the relevant discussion and technique guides are in depth with clear pictures to illustrate the process.  

You can see in the picture below that whilst the contents page showed page numbers for 5 different types of zip, when going to that section this is broken down into even more detail to help you find exactly what you are looking for.  And of course there is also an index in the back of the book for more ways to search.

As the title of the book states, this is a complete guide to sewing, and as well as covering techniques for different seams, zips, pockets etc, the book also has comprehensive sections on Making Clothes that Fit - which includes some common fit issues, and on Designing your own Patterns. 

Whilst, as I said before, some of the wording and pictures in this addition are somewhat dated and some of the discussion around fabric types and patterns does not align with with our own view in Stitch Social about wearing what makes you feel good and what you like - we like dopamine dressing and wearing what makes YOU feel good- the practical techniques and information in the book is well presented, informative and accessible.   It is in our view a real gem of a book and a fabulous addition to a sewing book library. 

​ The book club discussion about this book takes place within the membership group of the Secret Sewing Club. The SSC Book Club is just one part of this comprehensive and super fun membership community. It includes access to ALL of the Stitch Social Academy Courses, 2 open Q+ A's a month, a monthly Club Sewcial, Book Club and much more! 

If you love sewing or are just starting out and curious and eager to learn more then please register here to be the first to learn when the membership re-opens. 

​We would love you to join us in our super friendly, inclusive, supportive and fun sewing club 😊