Random Book Acquisitions

 We went to McKay's Nashville a few days ago (McKay's is a small chain of enormous used media stores--books, music, movies, video games, instruments, toys) and I grabbed a few $1.50 sewing books

Fit For Real People by Pati Palmer and Marta Alto, 1998

I know the Palmer/Pletsch patterns have instructions on how to fit  pattern tissue, and this information is probably also all over the internet, but I still like physical books for things I would be doing away from the computer.  Eventually, maybe I'll finally start altering patterns to fit instead of settling for close enough or winging it as I cut.

 Kerstin Martensson's Kwik•Sew Method for Sewing Men's Wear, 1979

 

This one...I grabbed it because I may want to sew a proper suit jacket someday, and a quick glance seemed like it would have good guidance.  I forgot, though, that 1970s Kwik Sew was largely about using knits for everything even remotely possible, and this book is no exception.  It is a guide for sewing suits from double knit polyester.  But! It covers all sorts of other items of clothing, so it should still have some sort of use, beyond sitting on the book shelf and exuding disco brownness.

 

 Custom-Make Your Own Shoes and Handbags by Mary Wales Loomis, 1978

I admit, I bought this as a possible replacement for a book on making doll shoes that I used to have and has since become very expensive to replace. But, the enthusiasm with which this book is written...who knows, maybe I might try making my own simple but refined shoes, someday...