Store-bought soft furnishings can be expensive & the choice is often limited
- but with so many gorgeous designer fabrics on sale
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This book takes the mystery out of the sewing machine holding first-time stitchers by the hand & showing the easiest ways to get the most from their machine. In the climate of 'make do & mend' sales of sewing machines have soared but many are only accompanied by a difficult-to-understand technical manual. Here Jane Bolsover provides a comprehensive guide for beginners. Starting with an essential overview of the sewing machine learn how to thread it & wind bobbins why tension is important & which needles to choose. There's information on the basic sewing kit you will need plus advice on which fabrics to choose & how to cut out. The chapters then build into a complete sewing course & at the end of each chapter is a simple project to consolidate the skills you have just mastered. The projects include items for the home including a cushion cover & a lampshade stylish accessories such as bags & scarves plus great clothing basics such as an A-line skirt & a simple shift dress. Also included at the back of the book is a full-size pull-out paper pattern section. ...

Make the Most of Your Sewing Machine! Join author Charlene Phillips as you learn all about your new best friend-your sewing machine! From fabric to feet to finished product you'll be guided through techniques for mastering your machine & using it to perform basic to advanced stitching tasks. Whether you've been sewing for years or just gotten the itch you'll find invaluable information inside for using your sewing machine to its maximum potential. Learn how to: Troubleshoot machine problems like skipped stitches needle breaks & tension troubles Perform basic maintenance on your machine to keep it running smoothly Choose fabrics threads & other materials that will keep your machine running at full capacity & result in quality projects Recognize & utilize the best sewing machine feet to achieve the desired results Refine everyday tasks from installing zippers to sewing buttonholes & constructing perfect hems Create beautiful embellishments like scallops ruches smocking pin tucks cutwork puffing & entredeux to enhance any sewn project or garment An indispensable reference book to keep next to your machine inside you'll find quick answers to all your sewing problems. Take control of your sewing machine & achieve wonderful results every time! ...

Sewing Made Simple is an inspiring & enlightening introduction to an incredibly useful & enjoyable skill. Filled with clear instructions & clever tips it demystifies the subject & provides a wealth of know-how that will give you the confidence to make & customise clothes & home furnishings. The first five chapters introduce you to all the tools equipment & materials you will need for sewing success. The Sewing Box explains different threads needles pins scissors & other haberdashery must-haves. The Secrets of Sewing-Machine Success guides you around your machine & its accessories &

Includes:: a useful section on troubleshooting. Stitch Craft teaches you the essential h&- & machine-stitches
- the building blocks of any sewing project. The Paper Pattern explains how patterns work & how to use & adapt them for expert dressmaking. Fabric Choices reveals how to select the most appropriate fabrics for your project taking into account colour pattern composition & weave. The last chapter Basic Sewing Skills shows you how its done with the essential techniques for making almost anything explained in plain & simple terms
- from sewing on buttons & stitching darts to applique & piping. Interspersed are 20 gorgeous projects that will help you to consolidate your skills. The projects range from a simple bias-cut skirt & tailored cushion to a more complicated apron & lined tote & include useful basics such as a curtain blind childs dress & customised T-shirt that every reader will want to try.



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Sewing is no longer the preserve of grandmothers & aunties. The popularity of vintage clothing & brands such as Cath Kidston have led to a revival of 'make do & mend' & people of all ages are getting creative. This Haynes Manual" starts with the basic kit & techniques before introducing fastenings embellishments clothing & home furnishings as well as debunking sewing machine jargon & advising on care & maintenance. Accompanied by illustrated step-by-step projects this manual is a must for anyone looking to take up this already popular pastime." ...

This is a reissue of three popular sewing box sets from 2006-07 Sew Easy Sew Easy Bags" (9781931543927) & " Sew Easy Scarves" (9781931543910) these 35 patterns for sewing small to medium-size accessories will surprise & delight. The front of the book features tutorials tips & troubleshooting your projects as well as resources & materials lists. The projects following include a drawstring pouch mini tote backpack bucket bag & many more." ...

In the mid-1980s Ratt alongside Motley Crue Poison & Quiet Riot were laying down the riffs & unleashing the scissor kicks that would herald the arrival of music's most flamboyantly debauched era. Now with Sex Drugs Ratt & Roll Ratt frontman & chief rabble-rouser Stephen Pearcy divulges all the dirty details of the era when big-haired bands ruled the world. Stephen was primed for a life of excess from an early age-his father died of a heroin overdose when he was twelve & by the age of fifteen Stephen was himself a drug addict. When Stephen met the thrill-seeking Robbin Crosby he knew he'd found his perfect partner in crime-both in music & partying. Ratt's 1984 debut single Round & Round " became one of the top-selling metal songs of all time but it was the band's off-stage escapades that were the stuff of legend. " Our tour bus is like our pirate ship it's where we rape & pillage " said Pearcy in 1987. Now Pearcy's memoir reveals all the rock star excess-the partying the women the $2 000-a-day drug habits-letting fans see into this harrowing hair-metal lifestyle & what it's really like behind the scenes when you're a rock star." ...

Sex Lies & Handlebar Tape" is the astonishing biography of French cycling star Jacques Anquetil. For the first time since his death in 1987 it reveals the extraordinary truth behind the legend the man & the cyclist. His list of 'firsts' alone makes him worthy of a place in the cycling pantheon: the first man to win the Tour de France five times; the first man to win all three grand tours
- the Tour de France Giro d' Italia & Vuelta a Espana; & the first man to win both the Tour & Vuelta in the same year. However the extraordinary life of Anquetil does not stop at his achievements on a bike. He candidly admitted to using drugs offended legions of fans by confessing that his only motivation for riding was financial & infamously indulged his enthusiasm for the high life. He also seduced & married his doctor's wife had a child with her daughter & then sustained a menage a trois with both wife & stepdaughter under the same roof for 12 years. When this 'family' eventually imploded he attempted to inspire jealousy in his former lovers by having a child with his stepson's ex-wife. Containing exclusive contributions from Anquetil's family friends teammates & rivals " Sex Lies & Handlebar Tape" untangles myth from reality & confirms that fact is definitely stranger than fiction."
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This is a menopausal womans search for what matters & a challenge to the myth that all older women want to remain sexually active. In a highly-sexualised & media-hyped society postmenopausal woman often feel pressurised to have great sex. Books & websites prescribe what the menopause should be. & if it isnt heres how to fix it. Painful sex & mood swings can be cured by HRT. Some women take the artificial route to remain sexually active. Others choose a natural approach even if it means dwindling sexual desire. I used to seek it out. Now I endure it said one woman. But few talk about it. Its far more of a taboo than talking about death said another woman. Fading libido can have a profound effect on relationships. I feel despair said a 61 year-old husb&. I have to accept that my sex life is more or less over. & another: I have never broached this with my wife but to think I may never have sex again is very dangerous. Sue explores the lived felt experience of what it means to be postmenopausal & looks at how it affects relationships & changes lives. ...

A comprehensive & inclusive guide that is packed with useful information presented in a way that teenagers will find user-friendly & appealing. ' Excellent. Informative & responsible. The best book of its kind that I've come across.' Denise Robertson Agony Aunt for This Morning ...