Book Review: The Little Green Dress By Tina Sparkles

Never shop retail again with this chic and sweet collection of DIY patterns from a former host of DIY Network’s Stylelicious, Tina Sparkles. Joining the green movement was never so easy — and cost saving! With Sparkles’ stripped-down approach to patterning and sewing, the delightful dresses, tops, skirts, and pants in this fashion-forward project book will not only raise your eco-IQ, but open your eyes to new methods for sewing garments. Author Tina Sparkles, a talented and imaginative designer, offers up an array of project ideas that are both earth- and user-friendly. Readers can pick and choose the patterns that suit them best, from A-line, tiered, and bubble skirts to “body tube” dresses and “cap-sleeve cutie” blouses. Included are sewing and shopping resources and a fitting guide.

Little Green Dresses: 50 Original Patterns for Repurposed Dresses, Tops, Skirts, and More 

by Tina Sparkles

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book shows readers how to re-use/harvest cloth from old clothes, and how to refashion clothes. Chapter 1: Sewing introduction, with the 4 levels of sewing
Chapter 2: Using and Creating Patterns
Chapter 3: Tops (Patterns)
Chapter 4: Skirts (Patterns)
Chapter 5: Dresses (Patterns)
Chapter 6: Bottoms and Rompers (Patterns)

When I read this title, I was like, "Yay! Finally a way to re-use all those clothes that have become too big for me to wear!" Which, this book is good for giving ideas on how to re-use those ex-large clothes that no longer fit, but for me this book was more for a beginner sewer than for someone who is intermediate or advanced. But, it still has it's good points for any sewer to have it in her library.

Good points for this book include that it gives not only the pattern difficulty (Levels 1-4), it also gives the sewing difficulty (Levels 1-4). All patterns are referred back to previous patterns, so it is best to start at the beginning with a Sewing Level 1, Pattern Level 1 and work your way forward instead of skipping around. Everything in this book builds upon itself, which makes it a great beginner sewer book.

Also, Chapter 2 gives wonderful introduction and ideas on how to create, patterns, use tools for creating, measuring for your pattern, copycatting a pattern you like and the basics on using a pattern. And this is great, because we all know that sometimes we experienced sewers need that refresher on how to do something. And if you have never made your own pattern before, this gives you some great pointers.

Personally, I found this book to be targeting the young adults and teenagers. I personally found very few outfits that were appealing to me as an adult.

Highly recommend for the new sewer, the needed refresher on techniques, and for those who want to learn to create their own patterns using recycled/reused fabrics from clothing.



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