Creating Couture Embellishment

I have wanted this book for many years but couldn’t afford to buy it. When I did purchase it, I wished that I outdone have bought it many years ago. It not only has a lot of beautiful pictures, photos and diagrams, but it gives examples, methods and techniques for adding embellishments like beads and stitching. If you need only one book, then this could be the one to buy, and it is an absolute joy to read.

Having worked as a couturier for 2 years in a couture fashion house, I can highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to have, either inspiration on embellishment or to expand their knowledge. Couture sewing techniques are not often shared or published and this is a great introduction to a variety of embellishments and finishings. My only regret is that wish I had discovered this book whilst studying fashion.There is a review below that mentions that no Haute Couturier would sew sequins on with an overlock and therefore this book is rubbish. All I can say about that review is this person clearly does not know the industry as many varying techniques are used and although sewing sequins on with an OL may seem commercial, it is a technique one should definitely learn and may encounter. Secondly throwing around the tagline Haute Couture without knowing the true definition just shows the true authenticity of the reviewer. Couture and Haute Couture are two separate entities and although a Haute Couturier may not use this technique. This book does not claim to be a part of Haute Couture industry in which only there are 12 official members and 106 guest members, Haute Couture techniques is a different level entirely. Essentially ignore this bad comment and stupidly rated 1 star.

How to work with just about every kind of embellishment on cloth. Beading, quilting, lace, frills, pleats, tucks, feathers; you name it, it's here. There's a chunk of information on trimming and working with feathers I never knew about. Just need enough time off the day job to go and practice all the lovely techniques in this book. I'm not a designer or a pro sewer but if you are, I'm sure you will get a lot of use from this book.

A great fashion book to flick through, even if I may never try all (or any!) of the methods.

I found this to be an absolutely wonderful book. It shows how to undertake all sorts of embellishing - ribbons, embroidery, lace - all you could wish for. Fantastic illustrations of each technique with detailed instructions so you can try them for yourself. 400 pages and includes further reading resources. One of the best books I have ever bought.

Very useful book

Wow! Stunning photos, lots of inspiration.

This book is for beginners. If you are advanced in sewing and want to learn designer couture techniques is not for you.