The Act of Sewing: How to Make and Modify Clothes to Wear Every Day

An in-depth guide to sewing simple garments–with four full-size patterns and all the tricks of alteration and embellishment explained so that you can make a wardrobe all your own. Maybe you learned to sew in school and have a sewing machine, but it hasn’t seen the outside of the closet since your last move. Or maybe you are completely new to the craft, with a lot of enthusiasm, but no idea how to thread your machine. No matter where you’re coming from in terms of experience, this sewing workbook offers four basic patterns–two tops, a skirt, and a pair of pants–that empower you to express your personal style and make clothes that are comfortable for your body type.After explaining the basic concepts of sewing and construction, 100 Acts of Sewing designer Sonya Philip then provides suggestions for mixing the basic patterns together to create new garment iterations as you gain confidence–structural adjustments such as full bust, no bust, long torso, big, small, etc., as well as a range of possible alterations and embellishments including sleeves, pockets, hems, and more! Going beyond simple pattern instructions, this book will make sewing garments accessible for every body type–each pattern comes in sizes ranging from XS to 5X. With inspiring essays on Sonya’s sewing philosophy that speak to the slow and ethical fashion movement, this will be the go-to guide for all aspirational and seasoned sewists.

Bonus: each book has a bookplate written and signed by Sonya herself!

We also carry Sonya’s individual patterns, 100 Acts of Sewing, which you can shop here.