BOOK REVIEW: Fabric Manipulation 150 Creative Sewing Techniques by Ruth Singer Book Review

I purchased this book years ago, and have sat down to admire the examples within it, and to read the instructions many times, but it wasn’t until being stuck at home in spring 2020 that I realized I was ready to tackle some of the more complex techniques. Fabric Manipulation: 150 Creative Sewing Techniques by Ruth Singer was published in 2013 and is a wonderful resource to add to any sewing library, regardless of if you make garments or not. Many techniques are suited for either apparel or home decor, or could be created simply for the pleasure of making things.

Out of respect for the copyright protections of this book, I’m not going to show photographs of the interior, but lemme tell ya, it’s beautifully illustrated with drawings and photographs, and all instructions are quite clear. There is a section at the front outlining useful tools and materials to use when following along with the book; they are materials most home sewers have on hand, though you may find that certain projects will be easier with the right materials (think: silk pins, freezer paper, small sharp scissors). There are websites listed for procuring certain materials, but I found most of them are outdated by now.

The Table of Contents lists 27 different techniques, broken into three categories: Pleat & Fold, Stitch & Gather, and Apply & Layer. Each technique has a brief introduction, including when and where in the world it originated and/or is/was popular. While some techniques may seem intimidating at first, many of them are constructed entirely by hand, or with only minimal machine stitching, and anyone with a bit of patience and dexterity could have fun making them.

I created this card stock jig when we were still living in New York, following the Scalloped Edges tutorial in the book. Thank goodness I tucked it in the book and didn’t lose is, because I am ready to use it now! The book has several variations, and I find them pretty inspiring - lots of different ways to modify and utilize this kind of trim (you know I love trim!).

Yesterday I constructed a decorative box pleat trim following the book. While a little fiddly (as expected), it actually went much more quickly than I had anticipated, which has encouraged me to try some more of the variations in the book. I think this may just be the beginning for me!

Let me know if you try any of the techniques in the book, I’d love to know what it inspires! XO, Martha