The Dressmaking Companion

This effective debut primer from stylist Guyet details the sewing skills required to create a dress. Surveying needle types, Guyet recommends ballpoint for knitted fabric and stretch needles for elastics. An overview of marking aids suggests using tailor’s wax on wool, and a breakdown of cutting supplies notes that pinking shears are ideal for clipping seam allowances. Guyet outlines typical uses and care instructions for various fabrics, explaining that taffeta is usually reserved for formal outfits and should be dry-cleaned, while microfiber is commonly used in more casual dresses and should be hand-washed. She also provides meticulous instructions with accompanying photos showing how to thread a bobbin and needle on a sewing machine, as well as how to sew basting stitches, blind hem stitches, catch stitches, and slip stitches by hand. Elsewhere, she shares how to take measurements; create collars, darts, hems, and pleats; and decode sewing pattern symbols. There are no projects, meaning that this serves primarily as a reference guide. The straightforward explanations ensure that this largely succeeds, but true beginners might wish for a bit more detail on some of the more complex techniques, such as attaching zippers and creating piped pockets. Still, this helpful handbook has much to offer budding sewists.

This is an A5 hardback book, full of useful information for any keen sewist. Although the title is dressmaking, it includes a number of good reference sections. Beginning at your sewing machine, equipment, needles, threads, fabrics etc before covering the different techniques and pattern translation to guide you through making different parts of a garment.

The book is produced on quality thick paper and printed really clearly with nice illustrations and soft coloured photographs. It is easy to follow and simply explained to assist a beginner to dressmaking, or for those that have forgotten techniques.

I have been given this book to review and think its a handy reference book for any sewing room shelf.

This really is an excellent ‘companion’, and will surely become your best friend. There is so much useful information contained in this little book - everything from a tour of the sewing machine, through to collars, pockets and buttonholes, with everything in between. 

I will keep my copy close to hand - no more scrabbling around to find sewing machine manuals or instructions on how to do a Tunisian neckline. All the help and advice is here, in one place - excellent!

It is a fantastic pocket sized book containing absolutely everything you need to know if you are going to do any dressmaking. The book is split into three key sections - Part One is the guide to using and maintaining your sewing machine and the equipment needed for dressmaking. The guide is really well illustrated with drawn or photographic illustrations. Part Two covers fabrics and recommends which fabrics to use for which items. It shows you how to measure yourself against a pattern and the vocabulary and pattern symbols. Part Three is all about techniques covering different stitches seams bindings, ease, gathers and darts and covers the tricky elements of dressmaking such as necklines collars and pockets. I think this book is a really useful reference guide for dressmakers. It has a sturdy hard cover so will withstand regular use and is definitely going to find a permanent home on my sewing table. Excellent value at £9.99.

The Dressmaking Companion by Laure Guyet is a pocket sized hardback book of information aimed at the beginner to sewing/dressmaking.

The book tries to cover everything from sewing machine anatomy to all you need to know to make your first garment, and everything in between. But of course it’s quite difficult to catch everything in a small pocket sized book, for instance there is very little about sleeves, but quite a bit about pockets by comparison.

For the content that’s given there are good clear photographs and an easy to read font with simple narrative.  Sewing examples, in the photos, are worked up in a light or white fabric on a white background, a darker fabric might have been a better choice.

There is definitely a fair bit of beginner friendly information such as different hand and machine stitches, the importance of taking measurements and a section on sewing vocabulary to name a few.

A good starting point for a complete beginner.

The Dressmaking Companion is the perfect pocket-sized guide to take with you wherever you sew. It offers invaluable advice on how to get the most from your sewing machine and create a wardrobe you’ll be proud of. Whether you’re selecting fabric, understanding patterns, or mastering techniques from collars to buttonholes, this handy little book provides the support you need. This handy little book is the perfect companion for fabric shopping and garment creation. It’s packed with well-illustrated tips, techniques, and trusted advice on everything from threading your machine and choosing the right fabric to fitting zips, darts, pockets, and vents.

A Must-Have Resource for Dressmakers of All Levels

The Dressmaking Companion by Laure Guyet is a beautifully presented and incredibly useful guide for anyone interested in dressmaking, whether you’re a beginner or more experienced.

This book is a sturdy, compact sized book, which is well-structured, covering everything from essential techniques and fabric choices to more advanced tailoring skills. The step-by-step instructions are clear and accompanied by helpful, colourful illustrations, making it easy to follow along. I particularly appreciate the practical tips throughout, which help to build confidence when tackling new techniques. It covers everything from the anatomy of your sewing machine, fabrics and patterns, through to pleats and pockets.

The style of the book is both engaging and informative, with a clean, modern layout that makes it a pleasure to read. It’s not just a technical manual—it feels like having a knowledgeable mentor guiding you through each stage of the process.

In terms of value, the price is reasonable at £9.99, considering the wealth of information inside. It’s a book that you’ll keep coming back to, making it a worthwhile addition to any sewing enthusiast’s collection.

Overall, The Dressmaking Companion is a fantastic reference book that I highly recommend. Whether you’re making your first garment or refining your dressmaking skills, this book will be an invaluable companion in your sewing journey.

Laure Guyet, previously a professional stylist, turned to teaching sewing and dressmaking, as she is passionate about sharing her knowledge with young and older enthusiasts alike! She supports her students in understanding how to use a sewing machine to bring their creative ideas to life. Laure sees the promotion of sewing, the understanding of different fabrics, and the construction of a garment as essential to her teaching practice. Laure works in Paris, France.