sewing Archives - Awful Library Books

Celebrity Sewing Bee

July 20, 2021 Holly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 14 comments

Francine Coffey’s Celebrity Sewing Bee
Coffey
1974

Submitter: When the title says “celebrity sewing bee” they really meant a lot of Dinah Shore. The one area that was really popular during the pandemic was our crafting section. So much so, you could spot the books that needed weeding by glancing over to that section and seeing what did not go out the door. This was one of them – and with reason.

Holly: I can’t imagine why a sewing book with celebrities from 47 years ago isn’t popular anymore. <sarcasm> There are all kinds of great ideas here: put fabric on your ceiling, or Elmer’s glue some fabric to your floor! Make a diet-friendly birthday cake-shaped bag! Re-purpose bandanas into a dress (hey, if you can make a skirt out of curtains, you can make a dress out of masks! I’m sure that’s the next craft craze.)

T-Shirting

July 13, 2021 Holly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 11 comments

T-Shirting: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting it On Your Chest
Platt
1975

Submitter: I had high hopes from the cover this book might be a groovy book that, when put out on display might get someone to check it out. But alas, its one of those disappointing craft books with bad black and white images.

Holly: Fair warning before you scroll down: two of these images are potentially NSFW. One is a t-shirt model with “special skills” (image 6 below). This might have been a cool book in 1975, but I agree with Submitter: black and white images are just disappointing in a craft book. I want to see those chest handprints in living color (image 3 below…NSFW…).

Blanket Fashion

October 19, 2020 Mary Kelly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 20 comments

Quilted Clothing
Laury
1982

As a half-baked fan of sewing and quilting, I can appreciate the skills that these examples show off. I can also appreciate that they are warm enough for the toughest winters. I recognize that my uniform of dresses and cardigans for work hardly make me a fashionista, even among librarians. I still have to say no to wearing a blanket.

Girl Lessons

November 14, 2018 Mary Kelly Ladies only! 15 comments

Here’s How Schreiber 1967 This is one of those special books that tells you how to be a girl: appropriate hair and makeup, sewing, entertaining, diet, decorating, and gift wrapping. These are skills that will really pay off when you

Fun and Fancy Fashion!

July 11, 2016 Mary Kelly Looking Good 18 comments

Fun and Fancy Jackets and Vests Folk Art Using No-Sew Applique 1995 Tired of the cardigan? Try a snazzy vest to jazz up the library! These are FUN and FANCY! How can you not love it? No Sew applique is

Relax in your homemade leisure suit

December 2, 2015 Mary Kelly Looking Good 25 comments

Sewing for Men and Boys Simplicity Pattern Corp 1973 Time to get groovy with your sewing machine! The 1970s come alive for all the men in your life. Casual wear to a snappy suit can be yours with this sewing book. I will

Skirtains, Anyone?

July 23, 2015 Holly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 50 comments

Alchemy Arts: Recycling is Chic MacKay and Jennings 2010 This book was recently weeded from a medium sized public library for a complete lack of check-outs. It’s not awful, exactly, but definitely a little weird. The examples are described in general

Pregnancy Fashion Sewing

May 29, 2014 Holly Ladies only!, Looking Good 13 comments

Patterns for Pregnancy Musgrave 1987 Submitter: I worked in a large city public library for about 2 years where I located this relic of 1980’s maternity fashion. Patterns for Pregnancy is an interesting concept: sew your own maternity clothing for a fraction of