The Sewing Library ~ The Mary Frances Sewing Book

I'm often asked to recommend good books to help people on their sewing journey and my answer is always the same! Anything, more or less, published before 1987! Modern books simply can't/don't compare to the depth and breadth of knowledge held withing the pages of vintage sewing books. Simple explanations with excellent illustrations add to how brilliant these books are.

I thought I'd share some favourites from my own sewing book archive, starting with one of my oldest and most magical!

The Mary Frances Sewing Book ~ Adventures among the thimble people, 1913, is one of the most delightful tomes on my sewing room bookshelf. Made all the more special as it was a gift from a lovely student.

The book is both a learn to sew manual for a little girl but also a story about her sewing adventures, aided and accompanied by anthropomorphic creatures, the Thimble people, a fairy. and a sewing bird. It is one of the most delightful things I've ever seen!

The illustrations throughout are wonderful as are the graphics and although it's fairytale like, the knowledge contained within the story is perfect.

How to work a running stitch!

The skills start with the most basic, how to sew various stitches, what each piece of equipment does, they build up through each chapter so that, by the end of the book, Mary Frances has sewn an entire wardrobe for her little doll and every one has had a jolly good time!

Such glorious illustrations!

It's quite hard to come by original editions from the time, but I have found a copy of The Mary Frances Sewing Book here should you wish to add this to your sewing bookshelf. I highly recommend it!

Contained within are also little tissue patterns in these beautifully illustrated pockets, and as far as I can tell, they're all still complete in my original edition ~ a book that is now over 120 years old! A little tattered and foxed around the edges but still going strong.

This book makes me want to be doll sized so I can make these lovely dainties for my own wardrobe!

So many practical snippets! What size needle for what job in and amongst the magical tale.

All of these pieces for sleepwear are simply charming ~ the perfect little collection to have sweet dreams in.

Although some of the tissue patterns have been used, some are still intact. I love the typography and hand drawn quality, something I have tried to replicate in all my patterns.

There's so much imagination that has gone into this book and it puts me in mind of the Cottingly fairies and Beatrix Potter.

Sewing advice I always give to students ~ listen to your machine! If it doesn't sound happy, then it isn't! Stop sewing immediately!

By the end of the book, Mary Frances has made an entire capsule collection for her doll and my heart is uplifted and joyful from sharing her magical sewing adventure!

I hope you have enjoyed this little bit of magic too!?

Happy Sewing,

Tara x