Library Journal Review

Everyone has a favorite article of clothing that has been worn so much that it's torn, worn, or in need of repair. In this dual-purpose guide, Wild, the creative director for the U.S. edition of sewing magazine BurdaStyle and its companion website, provides easy-to-follow tips for repairing garments, as well as embellishment methods that can be used to cover up everything from tears to broken straps. The tips are divided into broad categories (e.g., runs, rips, and flaws; closures; hems and fittings), then further subdivided by the type of fabric or damage. Most of the fixes are easier than they seem at the outset-it turns out that a lot can be done with fusible interfacing and simple hand-sewing techniques. Each of the chapters also include a variety of suggestions for covering up or restyling clothing; these range from simple patches and appliques to adding darts or a brand-new lining to a garment. Wild's conversational tone and "you can do this" attitude makes even the most daunting of repairs seem like a breeze. VERDICT Repairing or reinventing old clothing goes hand-in-hand with upcycling and creative repurposing, and this well-organized book is appropriate for sewists (and nonsewists) of all skill levels. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.