The Beginner’s Guide to Dressmaking

The essential beginner’s guide to dressmaking, featuring 6 simple yet stylish garments from best-selling author Julia Hincks.

This fully illustrated, explain-all guide to dressmaking contains all the necessary techniques you need, along with 2 fold-out full-size templates for sizes XS to XXXL – perfect for complete beginners or those looking for fresh ideas.

In this complete course, popular sewing guru Julia Hincks starts with the complete basics, covering everything you need to get going: discover the essential tools and materials, how to set up your machine, how to read a sewing pattern, make seams, understitch and sew different pockets. Clear step-by-step photographs and easy-to-follow instructions make it accessible for all, whether you are creating your first garments or revisiting the basics.

The 6 projects are carefully chosen by Julia to teach you new skills each time, so that you can build up your confidence through practice. Each of the stunning projects will teach you new techniques and terminology, and will gradually develop your skills as you work through the book. 

Choose from 6 stylish garments, each with variations:

• shorts or trousers
• a simple elasticated skirt
• a skirt with pockets
• a vest
• a dress
• a robe.

Full-size, full-colour pull-out patterns are included to get you started, graded in 7 sizes from XS (UK 6) to XXXL (UK 30).