Starting to sew? Here’s a list of the best sewing books every beginner should read to learn the basic sewing techniques.
There are countless great books out there for new sewists, and we’ve gathered some of our favorites to help you get started.
If you’re looking for more advanced guides, we’ve also created a separate list that goes deeper into pattern making, draping, and detailed sewing techniques.
Books are an amazing resource for learning how to sew – the techniques stay consistent even as fashion trends change. Mastering these fundamentals early on will make a huge difference in your sewing journey. And since sewing basics don’t really change over time, there’s no need to buy the latest edition; choose whatever fits your budget.
If you have any favorite sewing books that you think belong on this list, feel free to share them in the comments below!
Best Beginner Sewing Books
The Reader’s Digest Complete Book of Sewing
This book is very informative but still manages to keep it simple so beginners won’t get lost in the details. It is packed with lots of clear and useful pictures that help you understand and organised in a way that makes it easy to follow. Through the chapters there are nice project that correspond to the topic being discussed, reinforcing the key points and make it easy to follow.
Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing – By Gretchen Hirsch
This book gives an excellent overview of how to sew different types of vintage-style clothing along with some with some haute-couture techniques. This might not be the first book you should pickup if you are just starting out as it can get quite technical at some points. However, once you have little but of experience this really is a great starter book. Myself I’ve found so many new ideas and techniques to try through this book.
Love at First Stitch – By Tilly Walnes
This is a fantastic book for anyone wanting to make their own clothes. It covers all the very beginner things you need to know if you’ve never touched a sewing machine before, but also does a fantastic job of moving along at a fast pace so you are constantly improving. Working with this book for a week and you’ll instantly see how much progress you will make!
The Sewtionary: An A to Z Guide to 101 Sewing Techniques and Definitions – by Tasia St. Germaine
This is a fantastic book for those small things you want to look up but don’t want to bring out that book that gets deep into the sewing techniques. It’s got plenty of great information about a many different sewing techniques but serves more as reminders than beginner instructions. If you for instance can’t remember French Seams, grab this book and it provides great reminders are not too in-depth but it ticks all the boxes.
Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns: A Guide to Customizing a Hand-Stitched Alabama Chanin Wardrobe – by Natalie Chanin
This is another great book by Natalie Chanin and from her company Alabama Chanin, that makes lovely garments that are hand sewn and beautifully embellished. Where this book really excels is in the ability to outline very simple and easily designed garments that anyone, even a beginner sewer, would feel comfortable in sewing by hand.
Mending Matters: Stitch, Patch, and Repair Your Favorite Denim & More by Katrina Rodabaugh
This book gives ideas how to remake and save clothes, and other textiles instead of just throwing them away, often referred to as slow fashion. This book is not for everybody but highly recommended for those who would like to learn about slow fashion and why it is important and those wanting to learn about and make patchwork denim.
SEW: The Garment-Making Book of Knowledge: Real-Life Lessons from a Serial Sewist by Barbara Emodi
This book features many down to earth examples with smart tips and clever techniques. In a very practical and conversational way, the author emphasizes the important aspects in garment construction. Barbara offers tips and patter advice that any sewists will find helpful.
Tilly and the Buttons: Make It Simple: Easy, Speedy Sewing Projects to Stitch Up in an Afternoon – by Tilly Walnes
This book isn’t as much focuses on techniques as the others listed in the post. It has some simple easy to follow projects that anyone can create. The instructions are clear and easy to follow along with plenty of photos so you won’t go wrong anywhere.
Vogue Sewing
This really is a great resource for a beginner sewist and includes a plethora of information about practically anything relating to sewing. We recommend to pick this one up and keep it as a reference book. It has nice defined illustrations in light blue shading where needed and helpful.
Fit for Real People by Pati Palmer
Everything you ever needed to know about fitting but have not learned yet. In terms anyone can understand, this book addressed every problem you might run into and help understand why you have that particular fitting problem and how to solve it. This book offers a lot of handy tips on how to easily do routine things and is a great book to keep on your sewing cabinet at all times!
