Sonya Philip's "The Act of Sewing" provides an accessible approach to sewing with her four basic patterns: two tops, a skirt, and a pair of pants. These foundational designs are versatile and can be easily modified to suit your personal style and body shape. The patterns cater to a wide range of sizes, from XS to 5X, ensuring that everyone can find their perfect fit. Philip not only walks you through the basic construction of each garment but also offers numerous suggestions for modifications and embellishments. From adding sleeves and pockets to adjusting hems and necklines, the possibilities are endless. Philip’s warm and encouraging tone makes the reader feel like they have a knowledgeable friend guiding them through the process. The book also includes helpful tips for common sewing issues, such as tension problems with your machine, which can save beginners a lot of frustration.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I liked this book so much I bought a personal copy and sent a second copy to my sister. It is great for the beginner sewist and those learning how to do adjustments. The layout is easy to navigate and free patterns are also included.

Great book filled with beautiful illustrations, helpful instructions that you can use to mend anything in your daily life.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off, this book is gorgeous. I am certain that the colour art will translate beautifully to the physical page, while also being subtle enough to stand the test of time.

Next, if you want a book that teaches everything you want to know either about starting to sew, or just to sew clothing that fits you and your loved ones better, this is THE BOOK I will now be recommending to my friends.

*WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK:*
* This book is easy-to-read, grounded, simple - and yet - teaches the reader everything you need to know to get started. The basic tools and techniques are super well explained.

* The author breaks down which tools are absolutely necessary, versus what is extra nice to have and what you might only use very rarely. These lists being separated makes sewing more accessible than it otherwise might not have been for some, and I really appreciated that. And while some may argue that an actual sewing machine isn’t at all necessary (clothing can absolutely be sewn by hand), this is a book on machine sewing. If you are a hand-sewist and want to use the book’s patterns and alteration methods in your work, you will still get much out of this book.

* I especially love that the author gives you ten things to try fixing when the your sewing machine doesn’t have the greatest tension BEFORE trying to adjust the tension dials. These things are so often overlooked, and will make you and your machine much closer friends than you otherwise would have been. This list will save you oodles of frustration and second-guessing your abilities. If you are new to sewing, I recommend highlighting this page or making a copy of it and hanging it up near your machine.

* I read through the patterns and they seemed really well explained. I do also love that Sonya includes lots of little ways to alter the patterns to help with fitting.

WHAT I DISLIKED OR THOUGHT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER:
* The publisher did not provide the actual patterns to try (obviously not the fault of the author). I would have loved to review how the actual sewing instructions held up while actually making. I read through them and they seemed GREAT, but sometimes things come up while actually making that you don't notice while just reading through. I did love that Sonya includes lots of little ways to alter the patterns to help with fitting. Once I get a copy of this book and try actually sewing one of Sonya's patterns, I will update this part of my review.

Basically, this book is a beautifully put together and well thought out best friend for all those who want to start sewing their own clothing.

I would love to thank the author and amazing sewist Sonya Philip, the publisher Roost Books, and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

This is a great reference for sewers of all skill levels. Philip offers lots of basic information- tools and materials that are necessary, nice to have, or optional, the ins and outs of fabrics, working with patterns, etc. We move on to patterns; there are four basic patterns in the book, two tops, a skirt, and trousers. The instructions go over all the things you need to know about making these patterns, and covers a good variety of techniques. In part two of the book, we learn about adjusting the patterns to suit our taste- lengthening, shortening, different types of sleeves, and so on. There's a section on modifying, embellishing, and combining patterns, and a glossary at the end. There is so much helpful information in this book, and it takes you through a progression of techniques that make it easy to learn, because you're using the same base patterns throughout and progressively adding more to them. It's all explained clearly and comprehensively enough that I feel even someone like me who hasn't touched a sewing machine in 40 years could do it! This would also be a great and useful reference for any level sewer to have on hand.

#TheActofSewing #NetGalley

This book is another slam dunk from Sonya Phillips. Her way of simplifying the sewing process and making it accessible to people of all sizes and skill levels is really refreshing. The Act of Sewing is a really great resource for sewists of all skill levels.

The bright colors and illustrations of this book made it a great one to flip through. Though I struggled to use it in an e-book format (that's my issue not the book's) I did learn a bit from reading the book. I can't wait to get a physical copy.

This is one of those books that are classified as a reference book. The author introduces the reader to the words used in sewing instructions as well as their definitions. Then the book moves onto using patterns in sewing and how to change things up so they reflect the sewer. In other words, you don’t have to follow the pattern precisely but how to break out of the mold and instead be creative and make it your own.
Been sewing for decades and have never considered all the ways to change up a skirt or top. This book is one I’m going to purchase for myself!

What a wonderful book for our current time of resisting fast fashion! In a book appropriate for beginners to the more experienced sewist, Philip provides clear instruction, as well as encouragement to set out on one's own, combining patterns and customizing clothes. A 5great resource and source of inspiration!

The Act of Sewing is a tutorial and general technique guide aimed at beginning sewists by Sonya Philip. Due out 27th April 2021 from Roost Books, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback format.

It is indisputably true that choosing the right clothes can affect our comfort, mood, life, even our personality. Choosing the wrong clothes or suffering through clothes that make us feel uncomfortable can even have a huge impact on the way other people interact with us. Getting educated and empowered to change the things we can change and make informed choices about what we consume and *how* we can go about gaining the technical expertise and confidence to change the things we can change is almost stunningly empowering and freeing.

I started sewing as a child. I bought fabric and made many of my own clothes as a teen because my available monetary resources would stretch further and because I live in a body which falls outside the normal ready-to-wear bell curve. Clothes available off the rack have never fit me properly and I've never been wealthy enough to have professionally tailored bespoke clothing - so sewing was a good fit for me.

This is a very good book for consumers who want to have body-positive, well fitting, well made clothes which make them feel comfortable and are a good outward expression of the wearer's personal style and personality. The book includes four full sized patterns for 4 basic wardrobe staples (top, skirt, trousers, & shirt) as well as understandable and accessible tutorials for alterations and fitting information to make clothes really wearable and comfortable.

The book is mostly illustrated with simple line drawings with a retro feel. There are some photographs, but not many. Readers who are beginners to sewing might well need to seek out additional resources in the form of videos, teacher/mentor, or online learning for some specific points. The descriptions included in the book are well done, but I am (alas) a very visual and hands-on learner and a purely descriptive explanation is unfortunately usually not enough to master the concept for me. That being said, I adore the author's straight talking genuine warmth and humor! I can imagine that she would be a *really* fun teacher from whom to take a workshop.

I would heartily recommend this one to sewists (beginner to advanced). It would also make a superlative selection for public or school library acquisition, maker's groups, classroom instruction, community theatre/wardrobe or continuing education workshops, library sewing groups, outreaches, volunteer/charity sewing, and similar. I intend to acquire a copy at release for my own sewing room.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Can't give much feedback as I cannot comment on how simple or easy it is to construct the garments as the ARC is incomplete. As a novice to sewing I thought this might be a great book to turn to but unfortunately I cannot give a full review from that perspective.
It is well written and the author certain seems to know what they are talking about.

Super in-depth and detailed instructions (including illustrations) on pattern making and how to alter your patterns for various sizes and embellishments. Very inspiring and it makes me want to up my sewing skills so I can try!

'The Act of Sewing' is a really incredible book! It is a book full of ideas, tutorials, inspirations and affirmations for making and modifying clothes that you love, for your body, for wellbeing, for self-care, for creativity and for confidence. I absolutely adored reading it and it is a great resource book to keep returning too.

The Act of Sewing is a basic, well-written book about sewing, geared toward beginners. The author addresses the basic of sewing, tools and materials needed, sewing skills, and techniques. The book is well- illustrated so a beginner can see step-by-step what to do for each part of the garment construction process. I reviewed an ARC of the book but the final version of the book will include pattern pieces for the garments illustrated in the book: two shirts, a skirt, and pants.

The early chapters of the book focus on constructing the simple garments using the to-be-provided patterns. Since the ARC did not include the pattern pieces, I cannot comment on the ease of constructing the garments from the instructions provided. Later chapters in the book describe the process of making alteration to the patterns pieces, both for variety, size, and creative embellishment. This section shows you how to alter the pattern pieces to have a different neckline, add pockets, belt loops, pleats, etc. The reader is encouraged to start with the basic pattern pieces and experiment with different combinations.

This book appears to be an excellent reference book that not only provides enough information about how to sew, but gives you the pattern pieces so you can get started right away putting your new learning into action!

Still can't sew but this isn't the fault of the book. This was a really well thought out guide for beginners and learning to sew.

I will definitely be buying this book when it is published. Sonya Philip makes sewing attainable and fun - and she has amazing style!

This would be a great book to have as reference in your sewing room Although i could not try out these patterns and adjustments, I appreciated the instructions for altering patterns. This is definitely useful information for anyone wanting to sew clothing. Instructions for adjustments are well explained and there are graphics to show how it works. Overall a nice book to be able to refer to for those wanting to sew clothes.

The Act of Sewing by Sonya Philip was a nice introductory book to sewing your own garments.

I think a lot of important skills, tools, and techniques were covered. While I am still very new to clothes making I found one thing that would have been very helpful would have been actual pictures versus illustrations. Illustrations were okay for some examples, but definitely not for all of them.

If this is sold digitally, with the pattern that I assume will be included in the final product, make sure to include detailed instructions on making sure patterns print to the correct scale.

A link to some of these techniques but with videos could also be very helpful.

I received an eARC from Roost Books through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

This is a how-to book for someone new to sewing. It gives you all you need to know on getting started and rules to remember. The first two chapters cover the basic sewing tools and techniques🧵; and making patterns. Subsequent chapters include how to make adjustments, modify and embellish clothes, and combine patterns. The illustrations are easy to follow and remember. Would recommend. Thank you to Sonya Philip, NetGalley, and Roost Books for the ARC of this book.

This book did a good job of moving from simple, basic techniques to more complex (altering patterns). I would have liked to download the patterns to do some mock setups but they were unavailable with the advance copy. If this is to be sold as an ebook remember to provide downloads! I agree with other reviewers that actual pictures (e.g. of "stitch in the ditch") might make some of these concepts more clear to beginning sewers.