SEW IT AND WEAR IT

This was submitted without illustrations, which is a good way to read sewing (or even cook) books for review. The author writes clear directional sentences for words into action right from the start. The basics of selvage edge, the bias (and how to make a bias binding), the tacking start and the finishing touches all come in as needed in the outlines of sewing projects. The author starts the young readers from such non-defeating, fundamental forms as the pillow case, or two seam, shapes and proceeds to the steps that should be taken. It is probably the most effective sewing book to come through our office for some time because all the good little Kirkus reviewers think, whenever someone mentions needles, of obelisks rather than thread and since reading through this galley the least handy reviewer of all has been threatening to belly up to a sewing machine and knock out a blouse. Home Ec teachers regularly murmur complaints that there aren't enough of this sort of book around...