Written for novice stitchers by the author of the popular sewing blog Tilly and the Buttons , this book presents the sewing basics in an informal style, with Tilly's friendly and encouraging voice cheering the reader on throughout. I'm also the designer behind West Beach Knits knitting patterns and I host a Knitting and Sewing channel on YouTube where you can see all of this in person. Love at First Stitch is also available in Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, North American English, Norwegian and Swedish. This book has been used by so many dressmakers there is a huge variety of ideas that you can draw inspiration from (check out this Pinterest board).

Regular readers will be familiar with my reviews of online classes, but as my sewing library expands I realise how handy it would have been to have a little more detail to hand before I bought some of my books. The book is set out so that you can quickly flip for reference to something, and its designed so lovely, that I often just sit down with it and flick through because it makes me happy.Love at First Stitch gives you all the know-how you need to start making the dresses of your dreams. Since the best way to learn is to get stuck in, Love at First Stitch starts you sewing straight away.

With jargon-busting tutorials and a down-to-earth attitude, the book takes you from the absolute basics of threading your sewing machine through to creating a wardrobe full of gorgeous clothes that you'll be proud to say you made yourself. Love at First Stitch offers a refreshing approach to dressmaking for modern makers, taking you from the basics of threading your sewing machine through creating gorgeous garments that you'll love to wear.Build your skills and confidence one project at a time: new techniques are introduced when you need them. The Tilly and the Buttons blog, started in 2010, has been read over 17 million times by nearly 5 million people around the world. The styling on her projects also means that there is a lot here for dressmakers who already have a good basic skills set. Her first book, Love at First Stitch, was a Sunday Times bestseller, published in ten international editions. There's been a couple of times when I've looked at a shirt pattern and thought to myself 'I'll just make a Mimi' instead, because I know it is achievable.