Introduction | Books | Magazines | Professional Resources | Related Articles | Sample Business Plans | Start-up Issues
Sewing is an ancient craft involving the stitching of cloth, animal skins, furs, or other materials, using needle and thread. Its use is nearly universal among human populations and dates back to Paleolithic times (30,000 BC). Sewing predates the weaving of cloth.
Sewing is used primarily to produce clothing and household furnishings as curtains, bedclothes, upholstery, and table linens. It is also used for sails, bellows, skin boats, and other items shaped out of flexible materials such as canvas and leather.
Most sewing in the industrial world is done by machines. Pieces of a garment or the edge of a cloth are firstly tacked together. Some people sew clothes for themselves and their families. More often home sewers sew to repair clothes, such as mending a torn seam or replacing a loose button. A person who sews for a living is known as a seamstress, dressmaker, tailor, or garment worker.
"Plain" sewing is done for functional reasons: making or mending clothing or household linens. "Fancy" sewing is primarily decorative, including techniques such as shirring, embroidery, or quilting.
Sewing is the foundation for many needle arts and crafts, such as applique, canvas work, and patchwork.
List of stitches
- back tack
- backstitch - for imitating machine stitches
- basting stitch (or tacking) - for temporary fixing
- blanket stitch
- blind stitch (or hem stitch)
- buttonhole stitch
- chain stitch
- cross-stitch
- feather stitch
- hemming stitch
- lockstitch
- overlock
- padding stitch
- running stitch - for seams and gathering
- slip stitch - for fastening a folded edge to a flat piece of fabric, or to another folded edge
- straight stitch
- topstitch
- whipstitch (or oversewing stitch) - for protecting edges
- zig-zag stitch
Business
Sewing as a business is classified as an industry based on its purpose. It can be
in the manufacturing industry as a textile product (NAICS Code
314999) if what is produced is a new product,
such as an article of clothing. It can be in the arts industry if the sewing is considered
to be a work of art (NAICS Code 711510),
rather than a product.
There are a variety of ways people make money from sewing. Some sell their sewing locally, at trade shows or via the internet. Others sell original patterns or kits they have designed themselves. And, still others teach sewing. The best way to learn more about the viabiiity of any of these business models is to participate in associations and workshops, subscribe to magazines that are related to your interests, and read books that give more in-depth information about the business.
Introduction | Books | Magazines | Professional Resources | Related Articles | Sample Business Plans | Start-up Issues
The Basic Guide to Pricing Your Craftwork
Basic formulas for pricing craftwork, retail or wholesale.
The Basic Guide to Selling Arts & Crafts
Step-by-step help on over 150 topics for marketing your home made crafts.
The Basic Guide to Selling Crafts on the Internet
Unravels the mysteries of selling crafts online with clear, step-by-step advice.
Blueprints of Fashion
Home sewing patterns of the 1940s.
Bridal Couture
Fine sewing techniques for wedding gowns and evening wear.
Business and Legal Forms for Crafts
A complete set of business and legal forms designed to meet the active craftperson's every need.
The Business of Sewing, Volume 1
Sample price lists; lists of organizations and lending institutions; payment methods
you can offer your customers; how to get a merchant account for credit card sales;
how to collect money on past due accounts; buying in bulk with a list of
suppliers and a sample letter to contact them; business and financial plans;
studio design, networking; time management;
tackling your fears; turning sewing into a business and making the transition; how
to avoid getting frustrated; industry statistics.
The Business of Sewing, Volume 2
How to make a "Consumer Price List", and how to structure a "Working Price List"
and the use of both; what "Pricing" method is best for you and how to handle price
resistance; how to conduct production analysis with a time and motion
study; how to make a project inventory list; how to market your business;
subcontractors or fabricators and how to hire them; E-commerce and
on-line merchant accounts, web design, shopping carts and E-newsletters;
how to write books and articles, teach seminars and workshops, and produce sewing
audios and videos.
The Business of Teaching Sewing
Guide to setting up a business, identifying what, where and when to teach,
creating lesson plans and visuals for teaching, then marketing yourself and your
product.
The Complete Book of Sewing
A practical step-by-step guide to every technique.
Crafting as a Business
How to develop a thriving retail business.
Crafting for Dollars
Covers every aspect of starting and managing your own craft-based business.
Crafts and Crafts Shows
Good business practice in dealing with customers, pricing, and presentation in the show booth.
The Crafts Business Answer Book & Resource Guide
Answers to questions about starting, marketing, and managing a homebased business
efficiently, legally, and profitably.
Dream Sewing Spaces
Design and organization for spaces large and small.
Encyclopedia of Sewing Machine Techniques
Get creative with your sewing machine, extend its potential, and achieve more
professional results.
Free Stuff for Sewing Fanatics on the Internet
Guide on where to find information on many types of sewing, notions, fabrics, discussion
groups, and mailing lists, as well as free patterns and project sheets.
Handmade for Profit
Hundreds of secrets to success in selling arts & crafts.
High Fashion Sewing Secrets from the World's Best Designers
A step-by-step guide to sewing stylish seams, buttonholes, pockets, collars, hems,
and more.
Make It Profitable!
The best ideas and information from 80 professionals in various fields of the craft industry.
New Complete Guide to Sewing
Step-by-step techniques for making clothes and home accessories.
Publish Your Patterns
How to write, print, and market your designs.
Sew to Success
How to make money in a home-based sewing business.
Sewing Edges and Corners
Decorative techniques for your home and wardrobe.
Sewing Secrets from the Fashion Industry
Proven methods to help you sew like the pros.
Sewing with Knits
Classic, stylish garments from swimsuits to eveningwear.
Shirtmaking
Developing skills for fine sewing.
Simplicity's Simply the Best Sewing Book
Comprehensive source of sewing information for both new and experienced sewers.
Soft Animals A to Z
Sew a collection of 26 realistic toys.
Upholstery Basics
Complete step-by-step full-color photo guide.
Your Crafts Business: A Legal Guide
Explains legal principles that protect a crafts business and help it grow. It also
provides practical advice on how to deal with day-to-day problems -- such as dealing
with delinquent payments. The book provides over a dozen tear-out contracts and other
legal forms, plus step-by-step instructions to fill them out.
The Zapp Method of Couture Sewing
Tailor garments easily, using any pattern.
Introduction | Books | Magazines | Professional Resources | Related Articles | Sample Business Plans | Start-up Issues
Burda Moden
Fashion magazine offering dozens of patterns per issue for sewing at home, with particular
emphasis on styles and cuts for plus-size women. Also, includes the latest trends featured on
the runways of Dusseldorf, Paris, and Milan.
Clotildes Sewing Savvy
Patterns, ideas, and practical sewing tips for home decorating, wearables, gifts, and
accessories. Patterns come with step-by-step instructions and full-color photos.
Inspiration
Features the work of top needlework, smocking, and sewing designers from Australia and
around the world, complete with embroidery keys, full-size patterns, illustrations, and
step-by-step directions for completing projects at home.
Sew News
Articles, interviews, product reviews, patterns, the latest in professional techniques
and time saving tips for the home seamstress.
Sewing World
Patterns, instruction, tips, current designs, product reviews, letters, and other articles of interest to sewing enthusiasts.
Vogue Patterns Magazine
Exclusive designer originals expert advise on fitting, fabrics and the latest sewing products.
Free pattern and chance to win latest tools.
