Friday, October 25, 2013

Book Nook: Skirt-A-Day Sewing by Nicole Smith

Hello everyone!  It's time for another Book Nook!  This week, we will be taking a peek at Skirt-A-Day Sewing by Nicole Smith from Storey Publishing.  I have a terrible weakness for boots, and am always looking for a great skirt to go with them, so I was very excited about reviewing this book!



The author, Nicole Smith, is one busy lady.  She teaches sewing workshops and classes in New York, designs clothing, jewelry, accessories and sewing patterns, and is part of the Etsy marketing and merchandising team.  She has written for various fashion and sewing publications, and is a regular contributor to Stitch magazine, so she definitely knows what her subject matter!  Visit Nicole's website at www.styleschematic.com to learn more about her and check out her blog.

Now, let's talk about the book! The first three chapters are all about getting prepared - Chapter 1 goes over your basic sewing, pressing and patternmaking tool kits, Chapter 2 goes over construction how-to's like materials, ironing, interfacing, types of seams, etc., and Chapter 3 is all about drafting your own custom patterns.  For me, Chapter 3 is the foundation that the rest of the book is built upon.  It gives you an easy to follow method for drafting your own custom-fit skirt pattern.  Once you master this, you can easily tackle the skirts featured in the following chapters.

The rest of the book is devoted to showing the reader how to make four basic skirts - wrap skirts, straight skirts, flared skirts, and high-waisted skirts.  There are seven variations for each style, which gives you a total of 28 different skirts to create!

The book doesn't have a spiral binding, but the pages are printed on nice heavy paper, so it stay fairly flat when it's opened.  There are a lot of illustrations, which make the instructions much easier to follow.  Overall, we give this book a "two thimbles up"!

Thanks to Storey Publishing, we have a copy of this book give away! Leave a comment here telling us why you'd like to win it. Make sure the comment also includes your first name, last name, city and state so we can find you. Be sure to like us on Facebook as well, and fill out our contest registration form - the link is located on our Facebook page. Deadline for comments  is Thursday, Nov. 7th, 2013 at 5 pm Eastern time. Good luck!

We'd also like to announce the winner from our last Book Nook:

 Maree Whitley of Stanfield, NC

Congratulations Maree!  We hope you and your granddaughter will enjoy it!

11 comments:

  1. I need some new skirt ideas. I have been doing the same thing for over a decade. I need to switch it up a little. Lisa Cowell, Genoa OH.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This book sounds like it would be a great resource for either of my 2 daughters or daughter-in-laws. Now that they are married and having their own families, they are wanting to learn to sew more now than when I tried to teach them in their earlier years. I would love to win this book to give to them. I hope that you choose me, Sheila Whitney from Farmington, AR.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would love to have this book. I am in the process of loosing weight and have been wanting to make my own clothing as I progress. This book would be a wonderful resource. Kelli Hubbard Union City, OK

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds great. I used to make so many of my clothes and that of my daughters. Sound like this book could get me back on track.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am in the process of getting back in to shape and I would love to make my own skirts since I still hate shopping for clothes currently.

    Joy Person
    Olympia, Washington

    ReplyDelete
  6. I would love to make new skirts for my daughter who is a school teacher.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Skirts can be worn year round and this book would help me to create a stylish wardrobe.

    ReplyDelete
  8. would love to beable to create my own skirts due to not being able to find what i want in the stores, an making one would be much nicer also so i can pick out my own colors. pattern and embleishments for it

    ReplyDelete
  9. Woohoo!!! ☺ It was such an awesome surprise to see my name listed as the winner of your Sewing School 2 book giveaway! I'm so excited and can't wait to share this with my granddaughter ~ she'll be beyond thrilled! ♥ Thank you so very much!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I always make the same skirt! It would be great to have fresh ideas. Amy Albanese, Godfrey, IL

    ReplyDelete
  11. I need easy to get on and of clothes. This book could help!
    Kathy Heaverlo Blaine WA

    ReplyDelete