Sewing the New Classics: Clothes with Easy Style

I bought this book a long time ago (through a crafting book club, and it came with the paper patterns at the time so you didn't have to enlarge the pages in the back), and it's a great source for learning the "how" of sewing. The patterns don't have seam allowances added in, so you get a good idea of how to change patterns around without forgetting to add in seams. The patterns are very basic with very little fitting details, and there are no "dress" patterns, although they give you instructions on how to make certain views into dresses. There is also some basic information about fabric types that was useful when I started sewing. There are 2 vests, 3 shirts, 2 skirts, 2 pants, and at least one jacket pattern with instructions, as well as tons of ideas for personalizing them. My only complaints with the book is that there are no dresses, there are no indications on how much fabric you would need to make a dress variation, and I would have loved some details on how to fit things like princess seams and darts.

The basics, with that little extra, that can make a great wardrobe. Simple instructions.