"Heirloom Sewing Book Catalog - Page One"

A to Z Whitework - Country Bumpkin Publications Whitework is a category of embroidery emcompassing many styles of techniques reflecting the different cultures inspired from working with white cloth and white thread. This book, another fantastic volume in the A to Z series, covers the styles and techniques of every form of whitework embroidery from: Ayshire Embroidery - Scottish Embroidry Broderie Angliase - English Embroidery Candelwicking - American style of tufted embroidery Carrickmacross Embroidery - Embroidery on netted ground Cutwork - Button-hole stitch worked on fabric & cut to form a style of lace Hedebo Embroidery - Danish Embroidery Madeira Embroidery - Portugese Embroidery Mountmellick Embroidery - Irish Embrodery Shadow Work - Best instructions for this technique Tambour Embroidery - Chain stitch worked with hook on net or fabric, beading on fabric Treat yourself to this volume which explains all of the hand embroidery techniques which are rapidly dying out due to the proliferation of machined substitutes. Price $29.00 Quantity requested

Click on book for table of contents.

A to Z Sewing for Smockers - $29.00 From the pages of Australian Smocking & Embroidery magazine comes this 7th book in the A to Z series and wonderful it is.  Every question a sewer of smocking & heirloom sewn clothing could ask is answered in this book with step by step photographs and excellent instructions.  A necessary companion to A to Z Smocking.  Over 580 superb step-by-step color photographs, hints and tips from the experts, fabulous finishing touches for sleeves, collars & hems.  So if you missed out on the Mildred Turner Series or Elizabeth Travis Johnson's collective wisdom you will find their voices echoed in this publication. A must have for your sewing library. From the introduction: "Have you ever been frustrated by sleeves that won't sit properly or a hemline that droops?  What is the difference between a sleeve cuff and a sleeve band?  Does the stitching show on your piping no matter how hard you try to avoid it?  How do you trim a collar so that it has a perfectly curved edge?  The answers to all of these questions, plus many more, are contained within the pages of this book, the perfect companion to the A-Z of Smocking." $29.00 Add in Quantity

The Laundry Room $16.95 A practical guide on how to clean, repair and store treasured antique linens, lace and quilts plus new items that you want to preserve for their beauty and sentiment for generations to come. The Laundry Room $16.95 Add in Quantity For Conservation Supplies - click here

New from Ginger Snaps Designs

Ribbon Rosettes, Sashes and Hair Bows by Nancy Coburn One of the most fun things to make in heirloom sewing are ribbon rosettes but directions are few and far between.  This book fills the gap beautifully with a wide variety of projects that make embellishing with ribbons easy and quick to do.  Great directions and as always great illustrations. Price $12.00 Quantity requested

The Bonnet Collection Book 1 by Nancy Coburn Each of the bonnet styles included in this book features construction with an open back casing.   This is the easiest bonnet construction to sew and it affords a small growth allowance.   The casing can be adjusted to fit the baby's head, both when it is first made, and as the baby grows.  There are three bonnet styles - the smocked bonnet, the heirloom bonnet and the handkerchief bonnet.  The smocked bonnet has elasticity and can probably be worn longer than the other bonnet styles.  The handkerchief bonnet can be made from any of a variety of handkerchiefs which can be found in linen shops and antique shops.  This bonnet is fun because of the variety of materials to work with and because the construction is so easy.  You will find detailed size guidelines in this book for making a handkerchief bonnet. Price $20.00 Quantity requested

Answers to All Your Questions about Tucks by Nancy Coburn Another great book by Nancy Coburn which as the title says, answers all your questions about tucks.   "Tucks have been used through the ages to embellish clothing.  In heirloom sewing, released tucks provide fullness where ease of movement is needed.  Tucks are also used to add detail to a variety of garments and other heirloom sewing projects.   They may be used with lace insertion and embroidery in a variety of ways to create garments and linens as unique as the designer's creativity." Instructions for making folded tucks, pintucks, stitch length, tuck width (when does a tuck become a pleat?), using a pintucking foot and uniform spacing.   Also included are directions for making an infant pillow sham. Price $16.00 Quantity requested

The Complete Slip Collection by Nancy Coburn This booklet contains patterns for all the slips shown on the cover in the following sizes: Baby Slip - sizes Preemie, Newborn, Infant Christening Gown Slip - Sizes NB, S, M Toddler Slip - Sizes 1/2 - 3 Basic Yoke Slip - Sizes 1-6 Empire Slip - Sizes 6-12 Along with beautiful photograph instructions, basic heirloom sewing instructions for completing embellishments on your slips there are also included embroidery designs for you to trace off and embroider. Price $16.00 Quantity requested

Christening Gowns Book I by Nancy Coburn - $20.00 The newest book from Ginger Snaps Designs features Yoke and High-Waisted Designs sized Newborn, Small, Medium and Large Patterns. "Christening Gowns, Book I is designed for the person who wants to make a beautiful, elegant Christening gown, but who prefers detailed, precise construction techniques, good instructions with numerous illustrations, and simplicity of design which will assure good results." Nancy goes on to say "I have been collecting antique Christening gowns and ideas for Christening gowns for over 15 years.  This book contains a wide selection of designs which range from simpler designs suitable for infant boys to designs with lace yokes and fancy skirts.  A dress variation and pattern has been included to assist in making design selections and selecting pattern size." Book contains 11 Christening Gown variations + slip, 12 Lace Techniques, Sewing Techniques (including Bias Binding and facing), Back Variations (Button back, closing with snaps and buttons), Neckline Variations, 5 sleeve variations, and five hemline variations. Price $20.00 Quantity requested

The How-To-Book of Heirloom Sewing by Machine by Nancy Coburn Out of Print but we have one copy left Finally a book to replace the Mildred Turner Series.  Nancy's books are wonderful with her detailed descriptions as well as clear photographs for each technique included.  If you are a raw beginner then this is the book for you.  Included are a checklist for construction steps, instructions for adapting commercial patterns for heirloom sewing, size guidelines and adjustments (ever wonder how to do this?), fabric and lace guidelines, basic heirloom sewing by machine techniques, sewing techniques, bodice and yoke embellishment, skirt embellishment, hemline variations, neckline variations, sleeve variations. Also include on the pull out sheet are beautiful embroidery designs to transfer over to your fabric either using a mechanical pencil or iron-on transfer pencil, scallop guides, medallion templates and lace shaping guides as well as a worksheet for planning your heirloom dress. Price $20.00 Quantity requested

GS Baby Boy Christening Gowns These patterns are perfect for little boys as they are not too frilly (a common complaint) but perfectly tailored for a boy.  The gowns included feature simple construction and several design options using a variety of unique trims and fabric textures that are perfect for little boys. Fabric selections such as linen, linen batiste, Swiss flannel,  Heirloom Crepe, silk dupioni, satin batiste, as well as the more traditional Swiss batistes, pima cottons, and polyester-cotton batistes are perfect choices. "Embellishment options presented in this book include a pointed collar, tucks used with tiny pearl buttons, cording, or Swiss eyelet trims, and neckline treatments that include the use of entredeux-edged Swiss trims, tatting, and cording. The sleeve options are all ideal for use on gowns for baby boys and there is the additional option of adding hand shadow work or machine embroidery, if you desire." Price $20.00 Quantity requested

Dresses for Toddlers Book I Nancy has had many requests over the years for daygown designs for older children, this book is in response to those requests.  The dress designs included are suitable for toddlers who have begun walking and have outgrown daygowns.  By the time babies begin pulling up and crawling, they do not need to have their movement restricted by the daygown length.   The designs in this book feature unique combinations of tucks,lace insertion, and embroidery.  Many of the design ideas maybe interchanged with designs and patterns in Baby Daygowns, Book I, requiring only a few small adjustments.  Pattern, instructions, 10 variations and embroidery designs are included along with a slip pattern. Also included are designing guideline and techniques.  Excellent publication. Price $20.00 Quantity requested

The Baby Daygown Series, click here

Heirloom Sewing/French Handsewing Books

French Handsewing Books by Margaret Pierce - This four volume series covers every subject on French Handsewing.  They are an excellent way for learning the craft one volume at a time. French Handsewing is the basis of the Heirloom Sewing world which has evolved over the past 20 years. All of the techniques that are done by today's fancy machines originated in the simple hand sewing stitches which have been taught in the convents and homes for almost 200 years. If you study fashion history and the history of lace you will see how the application of lace to fabric evolved.   Vols 1, 3, & 4 are temporarily unavailable but we can put you on the list to get them when Margaret finds someone to ship for her.

Book 2 - Continuing French Handsewing Teaches you how to do by hand the techniques of shadow work, Madeira applique, appliqued inserts & decorative items. Excellent instructions with color photos. This is the only edition available at this time Price $18.00 Quantity requested

Kay Guiles - "The Creative Yoke Dress Book 1" $23.00 Here is another wonderful book on the art of smocking and Heirloom Sewing.  Kay's designs are often seen in Sew Beautiful and Creative Needle.  (Such a talented woman!)  This book has been designed using one pattern which is included in the book, Basic Yoke Dress sized 3-10. Tons of different ways to work wit the basic yoke. You will never be bored again. Price $23.00 Quantity requested

Heirloom Sewing for Boys - Wendy Schoen  $20.00  

Don't let the title of this book fool you, it is a wonderful book filled with an incredible amount of ideas and information for heirloom sewing for boys and girls.  Wendy had a son so when she went to write a book about heirloom sewing she wanted to include all those little boys out there who loved lace and fancy stuff.  Jam packed with embroidery designs and one of the best sections on madeira applique around today. A must have.

Interlace in Lace - Judith Marquis    $18.00 If you are tired of the look of lace scallops on hems or straight bands of lace but want to experiment with some basic heirloom sewing then this is the book for you. Judith Marquis is a very talented Canadian who has published many of her original designs in various sewing magazines. She is also the designer of the Grace Knott Christening Ensemble. This book explores using sculptured lace designs which go beyond the simple basic shapes that so many of us tend to get stuck in. She has samples of lace shaping on garments where you would least expect them. The designs included are very elegant, celtic and beautiful. Also included are excellent instructions for applying lace to ready-made garments. A must have book for those who love the look of heirloom sewing but who are not into frou frou. Price $18.00 Quantity requested

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