The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide (Creative Machine Arts Series)

Amazon.com

Sergers offer project possibilities beyond the capabilities of ordinary sewing machines, but they also seem to have more potential for malfunctioning. Help is at hand from a book filled with solutions and troubleshooting advice for all manner of serger troubles. Rather than present ideas for projects, this guide tells you how to identify and correct everything from irregular tension, faulty flatlocking, and skipped stitches to machine jams, needle breakage, and much more. The "Insider Insights" chapter covers troubleshooting for individual models and enables users to apply solutions to virtually any brand of serger. There are also tips on buying a serger and details on needles, threads, and accessories.

Customer Reviews:

Ultimate Serger Answer Guide .......2006-03-10

My wife was a first time user of a serger that I bought her for Christmas (I know - great Christmas gift - but it was what she wanted!) - anyways, she tells me that this book is very helpful for providing a lot of useful hints past the basic instructions you get with a new serger - she would recommend it for anyone who usually needs just a little more hints tht a basic instruction guide provides

Excellent Resource.......2006-02-25

If you are new to serging or even experienced, you will find this book a valuable asset in your sewing library. I am new to serging and have found it to be a very helpful. Most owner/instruction manuals tell you how to thread and use your machine but don't get into a lot of detail about the actual how-to of serging or problem-solving. This book covers everything from needles to sewing with various types of threads to troubleshooting with lots of illustrations and photographs.

There is a reason why people buy sergers and never use them. Unlike sewing machines, sergers are a little more complicated and can be down right intimidating, so good reference books are a MUST! This book, along with "The New Singer Sewing With A Serger", have been very helpful to me. Sergers are great machines and reference books such as this will give you the confidence and ability to get through problems and master your serger.

great resources.......2005-10-08

This book really helped clear up a lot of questions regarding sergers and opened up great new possiblities! Not biased in its reviews of different brands!

Very informative book.......2005-08-24

This is a good book to have for a reference on your serger,has lots of info.

The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide - A must have.......2005-07-18

I received this book from Amazon only 3 days ago but it has proved invaluable. I recently purchased a serger for the first time and initially found it quite a challenge. However, the manual has helped somewhat but after reading this book (I bought two others as well including Serger Secrets which everyone recommends) I would highly recommend this Guide. It covers all the commonly found problems and questions that people ask about sergers. It also has very good diagrams including line drawings which are very helpful. It's very easy to read, to understand and to put ideas into action. The book also covers some of the main sergers and comments on how to manage individual problems on them.

All in all I couldn't recommend this book highly enough. After being concerned about making anything I sat down the next day and made a fleece pullover within about two hours. This book gave me the confidence to do that.

Serge a Simple Project (Creative Machine Arts)

Average customer rating:

Serge a Simple Project (Creative Machine Arts)
Tammy Young , and Naomi Baker
Manufacturer: Chilton Book Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Sewing | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Textile Arts | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Household Hints | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ABCs of Serging: A Complete Guide to Serger Sewing Basics (Creative Machine Arts Series)
Serged Garments in Minutes: A Complete Guide to Simple Construction Techniques (Creative Machine Arts Series)
Sewing with Sergers: The Complete Handbook for Overlock Sewing (Serging . . . from Basics to Creative Possibilities series)
The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide (Creative Machine Arts Series)

ASIN: 0801983932

Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide (Creative Machine Arts)

Average customer rating:

Great Transaction!
You need this book!
Fabric Sewing Guide
a must have for all sewers

Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide (Creative Machine Arts)
Claire B. Shaeffer
Manufacturer: Krause Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Sewing | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Household Hints | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

High Fashion Sewing Secrets from the World's Best Designers: A Step-By-Step Guide to Sewing Stylish Seams, Buttonholes, Pockets, Collars, Hems, And More (Rodale Sewing Book)
Couture Sewing Techniques
More Fabric Savvy: A Quick Resource Guide to Selecting and Sewing Fabric Completely Revised and Updated
How to Make Sewing Patterns
Sew Any Fabric: A Quick Reference Guide to Fabrics from A to Z

Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

ASIN: 0801986281

Book Description

Eliminates the need to search through multiple sewing guides for answers.

Thoroughly updated, with the addition of 225 color photos and a fabric and fiber dictionary.

Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide is your one-stop sewing resource, with answers to the most common sewing questions and details about the latest advancements in sewing. This new full-color edition contains everything you need to know, and will surely be a reference you will review again and again. In addition to an extensive glossary with answers to the most common sewing questions, this must-have guide includes easy-to-read charts for needle sizes and thread and stabilizer types.

Customer Reviews:

Great Transaction!.......2005-09-17

the book was in good condition! shipping was a little slow, but still reasonable. thanks for a great experiance!

You need this book!.......2002-09-18

This is one of the few books which I regard as a bible in the world of sewing and fashion design. I was a clothing designer in the garment industry for 15 years and am now a professor of fashion design. I tell my students that they need to own this book if they are at all interested in continuing in the business of making clothes. This answers all those questions about how to handle, construct, and use different materials and fabrics.

Fabric Sewing Guide.......2001-06-14

This book has become the most important book to me when making clothes. Using it before starting saves from many troubles. It not only explains how different fabrics behave, what threads and needles to use, but gives an extensive view also of the types of seams and finishes to use. The included hints are really valuable, giving a lot of inside information and experience. This book really saves time, material and patience.

a must have for all sewers.......1999-08-27

Wonderful reference book for fabrics, how to sew them and their qualities. I wouldn't be without this! Covers everything from fur thru to stretch knits.

Homemade Lightning: Creative Experiments in Electricity

Average customer rating:

Great for the Mad Scientist
Nicely done book on electrostatics
Building the Generator...
Many faults but can mostly overcome them
Home Made Lightning

Homemade Lightning: Creative Experiments in Electricity
R. A. Ford , and Richard A. Ford
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Experiments & Projects | Experiments, Instruments & Measurement | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Applied | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Engineering | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Professional & Technical | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Reference | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Science | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Electrostatics: Exploring, Controlling and Using Static Electricity/Includes the Dirod Manual
Electronic Gadgets for the Evil Genius : 28 Build-It-Yourself
Tesla Coil
Gordon McComb's Gadgeteers Goldmine
Electrostatic Experiments: An Encyclopedia of Early Electrostatic Experiments, Demonstrations, Devices, and Apparatus

ASIN: 0071373233

Book Description

One of the best books on electrostatics for the hobbyists, inventor, or experimenter is updated and expanded to include newly uncovered information on electrostatic generators and complete instructions for building various types, including Wimshurst and Van de Graaff generators. Throughout the book, the author provides hard-to-find information on electrical anomalies, which represent the frontier of electrostatic research.

Covering theory and presenting electroscope and other construction projects and experiments, this handbook also includes experiments with electrohorticulture, gravitation and electricity, cold light, and electric tornadoes. Homemade Lightning is both an excellent first book for the building electrical experimenter and a superb book for accomplished experimenters who haven't spent much time with electrostatics.

Customer Reviews:

Great for the Mad Scientist.......2007-04-12

This is a good book for the experimenter in us all. You can build and experiment with electrostatics.

Nicely done book on electrostatics.......2006-11-10

There's a lot of material floating around the web and bookstores that deals with Tesla and related topics. However, when it comes to good old fashion electro-statics, there is no where near the same volume of information. In fact, I've found four books pretty much cover the field -- at least for my money. Something to consider when contemplating a purchase of books on niche subjects such as electrostatics, books tend to go out of print rather fast. The print runs are small, and often the author or publisher will not reprint. This means, get the book while you can. It might be oop and only available on the secondary collectors market later.

Homemade Lightning (R.A. Ford) -- If you are interested in putting together an electrostatic device, this is the book for you. Lots of how-to with pictures and explanation. I think as a first book this is your best bet. And as a book for creating running examples, this is your best bet. However, I don't believe I would want to have just one book on the subject. The other three books mentioned below add their own dimension to the subject and are (in my opinion) worth the few dollars needed to create a mini-library on the subject.

Electrostatic Experiments (G.W. Francis) -- The subtitle for this book is "An encyclopedia of early electrostatic experiments, demonstrations, devices, and apparatus." The book lives up to its name. A great book for an overview of the field. I know it sounds a little silly, but the nice bright white paper and crisp illustrations are a real boon to this book. The font is well chosen and the leading is easy to read. In this book you will find reference to odd-ball experiments that other books just don't get around to talking about. For example, Eggs illuminated. (p.200) and Illumination of oranges (p.201). If you are looking for demonstrations or ideas for creating new displays for lecture or theater, this book has plenty of inspiration.

Electrostatics (A.D. Moore) -- A nice home experiments how-to book. The book is a little chatty in parts. I liked this. The author speaks with a direct, sitting across the table, style.

Static Electricity (J.H. Pepper) -- This material is extracted fom Cyclopaedic Science Simplified 1889. I use this for historical reasons and to poke around in. The book since it was written in 1889 assumes a fair degree of background by the reader. Great pictures and some nice explanations of how things work. You just need to be able to penetrate the older text.

Building the Generator..........2006-07-14

I'm well into it now, so I've gotta finish, but damn! This thing is neither cheap nor easy to build.

At a casual glance, the instructions look fairly straight forward, but once you've got your materials (a shopping list at the beginning would be super helpful) you realize that the drawings leave some things to be desired (like, in many cases, dimensions)...if the drawing you're looking for is there at all. With a little head-scratching though you can sort it all out.

I've spent somewhere between $250 and $300 on the materials alone. You can buy a Wimhurst kit from Edmund Scientific for $120 but, y'know... its not as cool as making your own...

Tool-wise, its good to either have, or know somebody who has a drill press, lathe, router and various saws and sanders. I don't mind 'cause I'm a tool junkie- I needed a (good-ish) excuse to buy a lathe- but start factoring that in to your overall cost...

All that said though, the plans for the dirod in A.D. Moore's book don't look any clearer.

If you want to build your own spark machine, its probably good to understand the principle behind the machines and just start going at it. The drawings and diagrams in the book are good for setting you off in the right direction if nothing else... after all: the first people to develop these machines started off with nothing more than an idea- you get to start with some reasonably good drawings and a knowledge that if you stick close to the plans you'll get something that works.

Many faults but can mostly overcome them.......2005-06-17

Homemade lightening is only really valuable for it's in depth explanation of the authors own devices. There is also a lack of explanation of electrical theory in this book which the author probably justifies by saying that it doesn't have a strong basis anyways. Since throughout the later chapters he lividly explains how current theories have huge holes in them. The latter half of the book works outside of everything you've ever learned about physics, which was something of a disappointment. Some solid explanation of electrostatic principles with updated graphics would have been much more satisfying then the chronology of weirdness presented at the end. The total effect of first, not explaining electrostatic principles, and then providing highly technical and unsolved problems to the reader, leaves the reading either, in awe of R.A. Ford, or simply confused. A.D. Moore's Electrostatics is better for understanding electrostatics and for not having odd theories thrown at you. Another thing, Ford keeps saying how you should `visualize' the electric field to understand it, yet he only has one diagram of fields, and that's of gravity.

Home Made Lightning.......2003-09-05

This book is eye opening in that it awakens you to the fact that many traditional explanations of electricity do not explain all of the properties of electricity. A wonderful reference work. The illustrations are old, perhaps because the research seemed to stop around the 1930's. His chapter 6 on "Theories of generator operation" is excellent. His statement that "It is fair to say that there are as many theories as there are inventors of original generator designs." inspirers you to learn about all of the other designs. The book is packed with extensive references and I have recently acquired many of them. Although his references concerning Nikola Tesla are not pronounced, at least he mentions him in chapter 21 "Some philosophical conclusions and insights". Final answer: If I lose the book, I'll buy another!

Creative Beginnings in Machine Embroidery: Innovative Ideas for Expert Results

Average customer rating:

Great beginner book for any embroidery machine user.

Creative Beginnings in Machine Embroidery: Innovative Ideas for Expert Results
Patty Albin
Manufacturer: C&T Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Embroidery | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Needlework | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Donna Dewberry's Machine Embroidery Flowers
Embroidery Machine Essentials: How to Stabilize, Hoop and Stitch Decorative Designs
Embroidery Machine Essentials Piecing Techniques (Embroidery Machine Essentials)
Embroidery Machine Essentials: Basic Techniques : 20 Designs and Project Ideas to Develop Your Embroidery Skills (Jeanine Twigg's Companion Project Series)
Machine Embroidery With Confidence: A Beginners Guide

ASIN: 1571203273
Release Date: 2006-06-01

Book Description

• For all sewing machines with embroidery attachments
• Takes the mystery out of stabilizers, threads, and tools

Many new sewing machines come with embroidery functions, and home sewers are often both enchanted by the possibilities and confused by the technical manuals. They need this book! Lots of photos, detailed step-by-step instructions, exercises to improve skills, and (for experienced embroiderers) ideas for combining embroidery with appliqué, fabric painting, and more bring machine embroidery within reach for all.

Customer Reviews:

Great beginner book for any embroidery machine user........2007-01-27

This is a very good step by step book to walk a new machine embroidery user through the basics. Well written!

ABCs of Serging: A Complete Guide to Serger Sewing Basics (Creative Machine Arts Series)

Average customer rating:

ABC's? See What?
Takes the fear away!
Excellent resource for beginning sergers
ABC's of Serging
ABC's of Serging: A Complete Guide to Serger Sewing Basics

ABCs of Serging: A Complete Guide to Serger Sewing Basics (Creative Machine Arts Series)
Tammy Young , and Lori Bottom
Manufacturer: Krause Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Reference | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Sewing | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Textile Arts | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Sewing with Sergers: The Complete Handbook for Overlock Sewing (Serging . . . from Basics to Creative Possibilities series)
The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide (Creative Machine Arts Series)
Serger Secrets: High-Fashion Techniques for Creating Great-Looking Clothes
The New Sewing with a Serger (Singer Sewing Reference Library)
Serge With Confidence

ASIN: 0801981956

Customer Reviews:

ABC's? See What?.......2007-09-14

I have recently purchased 5 or 6 books on serging and this is my least favorite. I can't get past the hand written notes all over the pages pointing at drawings of different stitches and drawings of sergers being threaded. For someone who is new to serging like myself all this scribbling looks just like that, scribbling. I'm not going to comment on the content of the book, it may be informative, but if I don't find it interesting to look at guess what? I'm not going to open it to read what it says. Of the 5 or 6 books I own I want to highly recommend two for those of you out there wanting to learn how to serge. And maybe even enjoy doing it! You have to thread the machine to use it. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! Just thread it one at a time. In the order your manual tells you to. Use colors that are easy to tell apart at first. The best book to help you and keep you going in my opinion is "The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide, by Naomi Baker, Gail Brown, and Cindy Kacynski. You can read my review on it if you're interested. The second book which is over my beginners head, but still helpful and one I can grow into is, "Serger Secrets: High Fashion Techniques For Creating Great Looking Clothes".

Takes the fear away!.......2007-05-13

In under 30 minutes, I learned how to properly thread my serger, adjust tension, and begin serging like a pro! I have so much more confidence in my abilities! I was so terrified of my machine that I ignored it for an entire year. This book has made me realize that I could have done so well from the very beginning had I owned this book then. The troubleshooting tips and helpful diagrams make it so easy to follow.

I'm so excited to play with my machine now!

Excellent resource for beginning sergers.......2007-01-09

This was money well spent. A serger is so different from a standard sewing machine that a beginner needs more help than the serger manual provides. If you can't take classes, this guide will help.

ABC's of Serging.......2005-11-06

Great book for both the novice and the experienced serger. The book has clear drawings and down to earth explanations on threading your serger, serging anything from cuffs, eleastic, shirring, french seams and lettuce edges. The book explains the importance on tension and little tricks for adjusting the same. You should not be without it if you are new to serging.

ABC's of Serging: A Complete Guide to Serger Sewing Basics.......2005-10-10

The book is great!! I didn't know anything about serging and my serger came with very few instructions. I feel like I can use my serger now with confidence. Wonderful teaching tool!! Better than taking a class.

Know Your Sewing Machine (Creative Machine Arts Series)

Average customer rating:

Know Your Sewing Machine (Creative Machine Arts Series)
Jackie Dodson
Manufacturer: Chilton Book Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Sewing | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0801978858

The Complete Book of Machine Embroidery (Creative Machine Arts)

Average customer rating:

Not for embroidery machines!
An essential part of any sewers library

The Complete Book of Machine Embroidery (Creative Machine Arts)
Robbie Fanning , and Tony Fanning
Manufacturer: Chilton Book Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Embroidery | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Needlework | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Textile Arts | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Teach Yourself Machine Embroidery: Easy Decorative Stitching Using Any Sewing Machine
Decorative Machine Stitching (Singer Sewing Reference Library)
Embroidery Machine Essentials: Basic Techniques : 20 Designs and Project Ideas to Develop Your Embroidery Skills (Jeanine Twigg's Companion Project Series)
Embroidery Machine Essentials: How to Stabilize, Hoop and Stitch Decorative Designs
Machine Embroidery With Confidence: A Beginners Guide

ASIN: 0801976480

Customer Reviews:

Not for embroidery machines!.......2005-04-01

Caution - this book is NOT what it may appear to be! It was written almost 20 years ago, and deals with using a SEWING machine and a variety of zig-zag stitching to achieve embroidery-type results. It is NOT about using embroidery machines. As an embroidery machine enthusiast, it was of little value to me.

An essential part of any sewers library.......1999-09-12

As always, Ms. Fanning specialises in the head slapper in this book. Every time I go back through it I feel like an idiot for not having thought of some of the simple and (once pointed out) obvious techniques she describes. Whatever sort of embellishment you are planning, chances are there is something in this book to make the process easier and more effective. And when you are not sewing, the book is fun to read! Her explanations are clear and easy to envision. I have never actually made one of the projects in the book, but have used the techniques on countless projects. She even says that's fine with her! A truly useful book brimming with GOOD ideas.

Speed-Cut Quilts (Creative Machine Arts Series)

Average customer rating:

Great Quilting Inspiration

Speed-Cut Quilts (Creative Machine Arts Series)
Donna Poster
Manufacturer: Chilton Book Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Quilts & Quilting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Sewing | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Textile Arts | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0801978890

Customer Reviews:

Great Quilting Inspiration.......2000-02-02

What a wonderful book to inspire new and seasoned quilters. This book takes you step by step in planning a quilt along with yardages of various sizes of the same quilt. The quilt patterns are shown with various ideas for color usage and includes instructions for each variation. The patterns are arranged in order from easy to intermediate and would give you endless combinations for many quilts. The rotary method is fast which helps you to see your creation in less time. A treat to look at again and again!

The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing (Singer Sewing Reference Library)

Average customer rating:

Very Comprehensive
Great Photos
The first step
Excellent referance book
great book

The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing (Singer Sewing Reference Library)
The Editors of Creative Publishing international , and Singer
Manufacturer: Creative Publishing International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Sewing | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The New Sewing Essentials (Singer Sewing Reference Library)
The Complete Book of Sewing New Edition
Sewing 101: A Beginner's Guide to Sewing
Simplicity: Simply the Best Sewing Book
Teach Yourself Visually Sewing (Teach Yourself Visually)

ASIN: 086573173X

Amazon.com

Sewing garments and home-decor items does not have to be mutually exclusive; there are certain skills and fields of knowledge peculiar to each, and there are some areas of overlap. Remarkably, this extremely comprehensive, heavily illustrated volume manages to do justice to both apparel and decor techniques, from the rudiments of the sewing machine and other essential equipment to an exploration of fabric types, from taking proper measurements (of people as well as of windows and tables) to learning all the basics as well as more advanced skills for many kinds of sewing: women's wear, including tailoring; activewear, including swimsuits; babies' and children's clothes; window treatments, pillows, bed coverings, and table linens. The section on making custom alterations to store-bought patterns is especially helpful for garment sewers perpetually frustrated in trying to achieve a perfect fit. Novices will find this a very useful reference in understanding the often-cryptic instructions of commercial patterns; experienced sewers should have this guide on hand to help them achieve thoroughly professional results. --Amy Handy

Book Description

-This complete sewing reference is the foundation of the Singer Sewing Library.

Customer Reviews:

Very Comprehensive.......2007-07-07

I bought this book to replace my old sewing reference book, a Singer book, circa 1975. I thought it was about time.

This book is a very good reference book. It has the general information in it that a sewer would be looking for. I am talking your basic stuff like on stitches, patterns, how-to's, even stitching buttons on.

I have been sewing nearly all my life, and I do have other specialized books, like for drapes, but this general reference is great for things you want to refresh your memory on. I would definitely recommend this book for the beginner as well.

Great Photos.......2007-06-10

This is a very colorful book. It has nice pictures and gives detailed information.

The first step.......2007-05-14

This magazine work good if you are a begginer in this. Thank you.

Excellent referance book.......2007-03-08

Great book for all sewing levels. Easy to follow pictures with great methods.

great book.......2007-01-09

This book helps begginners in learning how to sew. It is a great reference for sewing. It shows step by step with colored pictures all the methods. Very recommended

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books