Creating Couture Embellishment

This book is as beautiful as it is informative! It’s become the most used reference in my collection. The instructions are comprehensive, straightforward, and complete. I cannot speak highly enough of Miller’s work and I recommend this for intermediate and advanced sewists.

(A version of this was originally posted by me in direct response to the one star review.)I've now purchased this book and I disagree with the review from the person claiming to have worked in a couture house (not saying he/she didn't work at one). Yes, the author of this book does recommend the Reader's Digest book but under this context "When writing Creating Couture Embellishment, I assumed the reader had a basic knowledge of sewing. If you are a beginner sewer I recommend the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing, but any book with basic hand and machine sewing techniques is fine. " This is a totally appropriate recommendation for the Reader's Digest Sewing Guide. Look, I am a Claire Schaeffer devotee, but her books are not for beginners. I do agree you will not learn couture constructions techniques from this book.Miller also notes "Different embellishments go in and out of style in the fashion world. No Matter. Because so many different kinds of embellishment techniques are presented here, the current trend or the next, as well as traditional styles are all contained in this one book." (This explains the smocking)This, most importantly, is not a couture construction book. It never claims to be. It offers a wide array of techniques that can be used to embellish garments. It does make a great supplement to couture construction books.The flower section isn't that great. Not that I've worked at a grand maison, but I have watched many of their videos. You won't learn to cut, paint and shape individual flowers using hot irons from this book, nor will you learn tambour beading. The flower techniques in this book involved gathered ribbons and do look homemade/craftsy. Overall the book has more machine sewing than I would expect from a couture book but a reader can easily make the switch to hand sewing if interested.I am fairly familiar with books on the market in English on couture sewing and embellishment. I have them all, even the old ones. I do think this book nicely fills a hole in what is already on the market. I'm giving it five stars. I think ET, the one-star reviewer, has a bit of a grudge or she doesn't understand what information is available for home sewers with couture aspirations who have never worked at a grand maison. If you admire couture runway shows and wonder how some of the embellishment are created, this book can help. The pleating sections are especially good. Some folks would never consider taking apart commercial trim and using sections of it. This book helps you think about raw materials in a new way.

I really like this book! Although I am not a professional tailor/seamstress I enjoy fashion sewing for fun. I have many sewing books and this one actually shows you techniques that are not usually covered. Will I use all the methods? Probably not, but it’s interesting to see how they are done.It’s well written, has large diagrams and pictures, and easy to use. It’s also just a nice book; nice paper, graphics, etc.

I pre-ordered this book and could barely wait for it to arrive. It did not disappoint!Although I am an amateur "sewist" at best, I have really enjoyed perusing the manytypes of embellishments for visual delight and inspiration. I expect some day to usethe book as a reference when I need just the right "touch" to finish off a garment orother project. Both the pictures and the texts are clear and helpful. Thank you, EllenW. Miller, for filling the need for such a complete, well organized treatment of embellishments!

i think this is seriously my favorite book i own. this is a great book for designers who want to learn these techniques, even if you never do them yourself you will still know how it is done so you can get better your designing skills

Nothing new! For the price I was expecting a lot of new ideas. The examples in the book look like 80’s & 90’s clothing. I learned one new thing, I don’t know if it’s worth the price.

First, I want to thank Ellen Miller for writing such a wonderful and comprehensive book. Since I received the book in the mail, I've been paging through the numerous techniques. The photographs and detailed instructions are clear and well-illustrated. There are so many techniques to explore.As a long-time sewer, I had yet to find one book that included this many techniques with easy to understand instructions. Fellow sewists - you will not be disappointed.

Flipping through the pages of this beautiful book renewed my enthusiasm (and courage) for projects I'd set aside as too complex or too frustrating to continue. I have a bone to pick with the author, because I spent an entire precious beautiful summer New England day INDOORS sewing. I'm excited to make progress again with better outcomes for items I had thought abandoned forever -- and others I might not otherwise have attempted.-Dr. Seat-of-the-Pants