Follow in the footsteps of a real group of beginner sewists who came together with author, Shea Henderson, to have her teach them on thing: to learn to use their sewing machines. The result of their journey is this learn-to-sew bible covering everything from the anatomy of a sewing machine, fabrics, essential tools and basic sewing techniques geared to the first-timer. Benefit from authentic advice from Shea's 12 students as they learned all about sewing machine feet, interfacings and stabilizers, threads, different fabrics and even zippers. Designed to progress over one year, there are 12 projects (one a month) advancing complete beginners one step at a time by building on the skills learned from the prior project. Feeling ambitious? Each project also includes 'extra credit' which uses the techniques from a project, but just a tiny bit more technical. The best part is that each of these lessons results in a finished project you actually want to use! Packed with hundreds of detailed how-to photographs, this award-winning book removes the mystery around your sewing matching, taking readers on an engaging, detailed, comprehensive sewing adventure from a simple pillow case to zipper pouches and bags and finished with a full-size quilt. Whether sewing in a group as Shea's students did, or learning to sew in your own space, this is the only guide to sewing you will need.