Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Giveaway! Christine Haynes' New Book Blog Tour

Hi, guys!
Today, I’m really excited to be the next stop on the blog tour of Christine Haynes‘ new book, The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing Construction!
I was lucky enough to get a preview of this book, and I can't tell you how impressed I am by it! I do own a fair amount of sewing books, but this one is definitely unique.

The book is divided into five sections, each detailing different elements of garment construction. “Tools of the Trade” is about the various tools needed for sewing from the machine itself, to pressing tools and notions. “Patterns, Fabric and Your Body” guides you through the process of choosing a pattern, your size, your fabric and the cutting and marking process. “Construction Basics”introduces simple sewing techniques such as seam finishing and garment closures. “Taking Shape” explains all of those techniques that give our garments shape like darts, gathers, pleats and more. Finally, "Finishing Touches" is about hems, pockets and other details to take into consideration before finishing your garment.

Unlike a lot of other sewing books, which are useful for beginners but not so much for advanced ones, this book really goes into all kinds of techniques from beginning to advanced and all that's in between. Every passage is illustrated with clear, detailed photos, but that's not all: the design and fabric choices through the whole book make it an adorable visual experience.

Want to see for yourself? Here's a little excerpt from the book that explains how to gather fabric:

And what's the best way to put this technique into use? Making your own Emery dress, of course!
Christine very kindly offered a copy of her popular Emery dress pattern to one of my readers (see my version made up here), all you need to do is to enter below!

Good luck!

163 comments:

  1. interesting and well ilustrated

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  2. It has been fun following this book blog tour! I can't wait to add this book to my bookshelf.

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  3. I want to master facings. The amount of times I get them in and they wonk up my dresses drives me crazy! And drives me to knits.

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  4. That looks like a great book! I would love to win it!

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  5. I want to master zip flies so I can make awesome jeans!

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  6. Oh I would love to win this book! I want to master lining garments! thank you !

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  7. I'd like to master lining garments and inserting zippers. Anything that can help me to make my garments that much neater. :)

    I've seen so many people making up the Emery dress. It looks like it would be so versatile. :) Thank you for the giveaway!

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  8. I want to master lining and finishing in general

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  9. I would like to master buttonholes. I have an older machine so pretty much everything is manual. I am still too chicken to have attempted them without my mom's help. I am 26 years old. Haha!

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  10. The technique I need to master is a SBA - I have tried (and failed) a couple of times now. Maybe third time lucky.....!

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  11. Thanks for the giveaway! There are so many techniques I still need to master. Let's pick bound buttonholes!

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  12. Fantastico! Ovviamente non posso non partecipare!

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  13. I really want to understand more about pleats and darts!

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  14. I would like to be able to understand how to sew a zipper on pants. No matter how hard I try, this part is always in my nightmares haha Thank you for this amazing giveaway :)

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  15. I would love to master creating a neater finish. My insides tend to be very sloppy!

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  16. I'd like to learn to flatlock with my overlocker so that I can sew more sportswear with smoother seams.

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  17. Lots of them, but inserting pockets is something vital I need to learn to master!

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  18. Fitting. I want to master fitting! Thanks :)

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  19. I've never attempted bound buttonholes! They seem so fiddly!

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  20. Wahoooo I would love to win this pattern! I'm really trying to up my game when it comes to finishing my garments

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  21. I would love to have this pattern. Been watching everybodys beutiful dresses and want one of my own.

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  22. Looks like a great book! And I would love to have a copy of the Emery pattern... :D

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  23. Love the book and the pattern!

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  24. I am not great at hems, and would definitely like to get better at them.

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  25. I'd like to get better at fitting for other people, so that I can treat speacial friends and family.

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  26. I really need to get better at invisible zippers!!

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  27. That looks like a great book! I want it :D

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  28. I want to loose my fear of silk and chiffon... and bias cut garments.

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  29. I'd love to get better at inserting zips

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  30. I would really love to master my fitting techniques, I'm sure this is something all sewers struggle with!

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  31. Buttonholes! I want to make shirts for myself and my boyfriend, and perhaps even a shirt dress! I’ve even considered making a shirt with a zip instead of buttons. How ridiculous is that?!…

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  32. I really need to get over my zipper fear and I'd love to learn how to do a fly front zipper. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  33. Thanks for the peak! I am especially excited about the finishing section - I would love to learn more about clean finishing techniques!

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  34. Thank you so much for this chance. The book looks amazing. I would want to learn how to make proper buttonholes, so that I could start with making a blouse.

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  35. I agree with some of the others - sleeves intimidate me, and I'd love to learn Christine's advice on the topic! Thank you so much for the opportunity to win. :)

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  36. I have been wanting to make the Emery dress. It would be so fun to win the pattern! I need to check out the book to get better at zippers.

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  37. Ohh! I keep hearing about this book! I'll have to pick it up! The emery dress looks pretty amazing too ;)

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  38. The book looks fabulous! Right now I am into welt pockets- fly zipper is the next technique on the list.

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  39. I really need to learn more about linings! Looks like a great book.

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  40. Looks fab, great giveaway! Have had my eye on Emery for a while, and I feel you can never have too many photo by photo reference sources to hand.

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  41. I would be reqlly happy to win the pattern. Thank boyh of you!

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  42. I would love to win the book, I am a beginner at sewing so will find this book very useful for all my techniques. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  43. I would like to master welt pockets. They just look so much better.

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  44. What a lovely pattern! I would love to enter this give away!

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  45. I'd like to master invisible zips!

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  46. I want to be able to make really well fitting trousers!

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  47. I would love to learn how to adjust patterns as I can never fit just one size. Thank you, your blog is the best

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  48. Thanks to both of you! I'm fairly new to the sewing game, so this would be a great resource to hone in on my skills.

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  49. I'd love to win the pattern... I have seen a couple of very lovely versions!

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  50. Ooh I keep seeing this book all over the internets and it seems like an awesome resource!

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  51. Ooh brilliant! I'd love a go at the Emery, so many gorgeous versions out there!

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  52. ... and now I've read the question: I'd very much like to master gathering actually. I never get it even and it's totally frustrating

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  53. I need to master inserting invisible zippers

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  54. I would really like to get better at fitting. This looks like a wonderful book!

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  55. I'd love to win an Emery and take part in #SewDollyClackett! The book looks great for visual learners, I'll be on the lookout in bookshops.

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  56. This Emery dress is definitely amazing... Thank you so much!

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  57. Invisible zippers are my current enemy right now!

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  58. That book looks great! So nice to have clear photos of every step of a process! And I've seen so many gorgeous version os the Emery dress. Thanks very much for hosting the giveaway :)

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  59. I'd like to learn how to finish seams with binding - I've never done that! Thanks for the review and giveaway!

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  60. This looks like a great book. The Emery dress has been creeping to the top of my to buy pile for a while now! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  61. Ooh book looks great and fun giveaway, thanks for the opportunity! =)

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  62. the book looks really great.
    and the emery dress too! thanks

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  63. I'd really like to master the lapped zipper!

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  64. I really want to get better at zippers...mine are always quite wonky.

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  65. I would love to get better at buttonholes!

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  66. I would love to sew an Emery dress!! Good luck to all!

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  67. I need to master button-shirts. Every time I try to sew a column of the buttonholes, they look uneven and messy....I promised to make my fiance a shirt for our wedding, so I am getting very stressed out about it.
    ewronkowski@gmail.com

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  68. I would love to win and sew the Emery dress!

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  69. I love the style of the emery dress

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  70. Thanks for the giveaway! I have wanted to make this pattern for so long.

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  71. Seems like everyone's been pretty impressed by this book. Can't wait to check it out myself!

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  72. I really want to master sewing without pins, as quickly as possible...but I think I'm a bit too sloppy for that!

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  73. I want to master tracing and using Burda pattern books and the likes.

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  74. I would love to learn how to do pintucks, one of those vintage details which really makes a garment special

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  75. What a great book and giveaway.

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  76. After my last dress on the weekend, I need to get better at bias tape necklines!

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  77. Thank you so much for posting an excerpt from the book. It really is looking like the holy grail of sewing books!

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  78. Oops forgot to mention technique. I'd like to improve on all of them! :) I'm self taught, seem to fudge things as I go along and haven't found a book yet that's visual enough for my brain to completely understand.

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  79. The step about securing the threads in a Figure 8 just blew my mind. Such a simple detail (one that I've never done either) makes all the difference. No wonder I've failed at gathering and resorted to buying a gathering foot.

    Can't wait to see tips on zippers!

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  80. Oh man, this would be awesome!

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  81. What a lovely book! I am so enjoying reading the reviews for the blog tour. Love!

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  82. Hmm. What technique to master. Well, I'm pretty bad at making nice pleats so it would be great to master that! Thanks for the opportunity!

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  83. I would LOVE to win the pattern, thanks for the chance!

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  84. I really want to master darts...my darts are always pointy at the end and it is. not. pretty.

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  85. I would love to win. There are so many 'tricks' like the one shown today that make life so much easier and garments look more professional - I want to learn them all. Fingers crossed!

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  86. In fact, I'd like to master all my sewing techniques...

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  87. I would love to learn how to make dresses to wear! so I want to learn anything I DON"T know. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  88. Thank you both Christine and Anna for offering this giveaway! I want to improve my fitting, if that can be called a technique, and figure out lapped zippers.

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  89. I want to master pleats. They look so complicated but I'm sure I can figure it out with the help of a good guide like that one! And the Emery pattern has been on my "to-sew" list for a while now :)

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  90. I would like to learn more about fitting. I have my eye on the Emery dress for a while, so I would be very happy to win it.

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  91. I wasn't entirely convinced by the pattern at first, until I saw you and Lladybird in your versions. Thanks to you and Christine for the giveaway. That book looks thorough and amazing as well, btw.

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  92. I am pretty good at many sewing techniques. But fitting is really what I need to work on. I used to get mad that patterns wouldn't fit me out of the envelope (especially you McCalls!), but starting my own sewing blog and following other blogs made me finally realise that I need to learn fitting techniques!

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  93. I want to learn to match prints (and I need to get better at zippers). Thanks for the giveaway!

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  94. I'm so happy to see this tutorial, I always have trouble keeping tight gathers tight.
    Thanks!

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  95. As a beginner I would like to improve on everything, and to try and learn new techniques.

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  96. I would love to win this pattern, thank you for hosting the giveaway!

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  97. I would love to be confident at sewing zips. There are so many great patterns that use them and I could really expand my sewing repertoire! Thanks for the giveaway :)

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  98. I would love to get over the fear of altering patterns - it would open up so much possibility with my sewing. And the Emery dress is just lovely - I'd be really pleased to win!

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  99. I really want to master zips, I try to avoid them all the time!

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  100. I'd love to get better at fitting my random issues :)

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  101. Great giveaway! I am new to sewing, so I could really use help on everything from fitting to zippers

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  102. I really need to improve my rolled hems and fitting techniques.

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  103. I'm so looking forward to getting my hands on this book!! =)

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  104. I'm just learning how to sew - so I'd like to learn ALL the techniques! This book looks fabulous! And love that dress pattern!

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  105. Zippers! All kind of techniques would be great actually.

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  106. I would love to learn about bust adjustments!!

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  107. I want to do better at zippers. I'm good at inserting one side, but always have the WORST time making the second side match.

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  108. I would love to know more about pattern adjustments

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  109. Gathering is my kyptonite - I would really love to master it! I have such a hard time getting the gathers evenly distributed and even after basting, I still end up redoing sections. This tutorial was really helpful though. I never thought to wrap the loose threads around a pin so that they don't shift! I'd also like to learn how to put in a fly-front zipper.

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  110. I would love to learn more about fitting techniques and how to properly adjust patterns

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  111. It would be nice to learn more advanced sewing construction techniques, such as boning and waist stays in dresses.

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  112. I'd like to learn how to different seam finishes, flat fell, french etc to make my garments look more professional :)

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  113. Thanks for sharing! Hopefully I win so I can make an Emery as cute as yours!

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  114. I'd want to master finishing techniques.

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  115. As a beginner, the photo guide will be really helpful. Zippers and buttonholes are what I'm most fearful of.

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  116. I need to improve my invisible zips fore sure!

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  117. The book looks lovely!Thank you for the giveaway!Your Emery dress is beautiful!Since I'm into pants/jeans sewing lately, I'd like to master the fly-front zipper!

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  118. I definitely will love to master the bias binding technique, every time I do it looks like a little girl do it, maybe a little girl can do it better then me lol.

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  119. The book looks fantastic and I'm eager to get my hands on one. And I've been drooling over the Emery dress for a while now. So, hoping to win...I'd love to learn how to do a lapped zipper and pin tucks! Thanks so much for the giveaway. Now crossing my fingers and toes!

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  120. Look at those pictures - so crisp, so clear, so pretty! x

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  121. This book looks great! I would love to win the Emery Dress!

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  122. I need more work of bias binding techniques and inserting zippers.

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  123. I really need help when it comes to slippery fabrics, like voiles. And a pattern is nothing ti balk at

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  124. Have seen so many gorgeous Emerys online (especially your Plaid festive one, Anna!) - would love to give it a go!

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  125. Aww would looove to win this pattern, such a fab dress.
    And Anna, your blog is my absolute favourite read. Very inspiring and motivating for me to sew more. Thank you! Andrea xxx

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  126. Wow the book is super detailed and walks one through all the steps needed to complete a technique.

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  127. I'm not completely sure this pattern would look good on me, but you and other bloggers have made it look so fantastic I'd love to give it a shot!

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  128. This book looks fantastic. I'd love to make myself an emery dress. Yours are so cute!

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  129. So much detail. What a great looking book. I would love to master sewing with delicate silk fabric.

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  130. I have been dying to try this, having seen so many amazing versions!!!

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  131. I'm still a sewing novice, so I really want to master curved seams so that I don't keep making tucks in my fabric! The Emery dress looks like such a beautiful pattern!

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  132. This book looks so useful, even to the non-beginner. As for the Emery dress pattern, it's been on my wishlist since it was released. It's just postage to NZ... :-(

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  133. As a beginner, I'm most concerned with fitting things properly. Because I want my clothes to look cuuuuuuuuute!

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  134. I would want to master all types of zippers! I love the photos included in this book.

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  135. I love this giveaway! I'm struggling with sewing a front fly zip at this moment and would love to learn more about fitting garments!

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  136. I'd love to learn more about front fly zippers and doing plackets.

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  137. The book looks great! I need to master inserting zips so I don't continually shy away from patterns that use them!

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  138. Fingers crossed, thanks for this great give away Anna !

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  139. Lovely giveaway! I'd love to make myself an Emery dress using construction techniques from this book!

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  140. I'd love to learn how to properly do a zip fly!

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  141. Seen a bit about this book, does look gd, love photo heavy guides.

    Hannah.

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  142. I would love to learn the mysterious ways of buttonholes...

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  143. Zippers...I know, i am still stuck on those :( This book would just be awesome :)

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  144. I want to master sleeve cuff and placket.

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  145. I've challenged myself to make more dresses and try some new techniques this year. This dress looks like a good place to start! : )

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  146. I'm really excited about the book! It sounds like a great resource.

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  147. I would love to master the collar and collar stand tecniques :)

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  148. I'd love to master facings and lining garments...

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  149. Ooo, lovely giveaway! This is a pattern on my ever-growing I really want to make one of these...

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  150. I'd really like to have a better understanding of basic sewing techniques in general!

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  151. I want to hem knits on my old machine!
    mandiprout80 at gmail dot com

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  152. Thanks so much Christine & Anna for this giveaway! The book has been getting rave reviews from everyone & while I thought I didn't need any more sewing books, I'm sorely tempted!! Welt pockets are something I really want to learn but have been a total scaredy-cat so far & have completely avoided them.

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  153. The Emery dress is lovely, I would love to win the pattern :)

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  154. Oh, the Emery dress is so pretty!
    I would love to try out that pattern

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