Built by Wendy Dresses: The Sew U Guide to Making a Girl's Best Frock

I am making the simple Dirndl Dress (one of the three basic patterns), and am a relative beginner. I have done many sewing projects (but, never with pre-made patterns). I found the brush up information helpful in the front, but was horrified when I went to sew the dress and didn't know that the sleeves required extra steps! Until help from YouTube, I had no idea sleeves needed to be "eased" in (gathered). According to the instructions, you just sew them right in! I am confused as to why she would include how to hem (fold over), but not how to insert a sleeve.

I love this book! I'm a beginner/intermediate sewer - I can follow a pattern, but whether or not it looks like anything you'd want to wear out of the house tends to be a toss-up. But this book has really improved my skills by teaching me how to make a pattern, making me understand how patterns go together and work, and encouraging me to fix my fit problems and really learn to alter things that didn't turn out right the first time. Now that I've made and perfected muslins for each of the three basic types of dresses Wendy talks about in the book, I can toss out a new variation on any of them in a single evening and wear it to work the next day. Not ALL of the patterns are my cup of tea, but I definitely wouldn't say they're dowdy or only for very skinny girls or too young or whatever the other complaints have been. As an average-to-curvy almost-30 year old, I can certainly make and wear at least half of them (my favorites so far are "uptown girl" and "9-to-5") - and I know enough now to alter the three basic patterns into anything ELSE I'd like to make them into (I used one of the dress patterns to make my very-first-ever button-down shirt). It's definitely not a book for beginners, but it might make an intermediate sewer into an advanced sewer!Very very very pleased with this book - probably one of my top-three most-useful sewing books.

I have Wendy's Sew U: A Guide to Creating Your Own Wardrobe and both this book and that one are missing steps in her instructions. She leaves out complete steps on some of her projects. Important steps. I can't really understand why or how but she did. However, I did enjoy both books. There were some great tips and I really liked her patterns. And because I'm not a total beginner I can figure out where she left out steps and what to do. Even if it takes a little seam ripping or cutting out new pattern pieces. I am not "dogging" this book. So far I really like it, but her instructions are a little hard to understand and again she leaves out total steps. The dresses are great in this book, too. A few I don't like, but not everyone can like everything. I just want to let any true beginners know: this book(or any of Wendy's books) may not be the book for you.

i bought it because i like this series and decided that i wanted to own the complete collection. i haven't made anything as of yet, and i'm not sure that i will. this is the least inspiring of her books, in my opinion. still, i couldn't resist purchasing it. i like how the wire bound pages open flat and it's easy to read. i'm glad i own it. i'm afraid that some of the dresses might be a little frumpy - maybe photos would help rather than the drawings.

I own all three of of Wendy's Built By Wendy books and I love them. There are so many great ideas in her books. I'm a better sewer now due to the projects I've done. The only thing i would have to say negatively about them is that her instructions aren't always as detailed as they should be. The pictures don't always give a clear view of what you are supposed to do. Otherwise it is an inspiring book that you gives you know how but alows you to create your own look.

I wish I had returned this book. The dresses are ugly and some of the instructions are either wrong or missing so many steps that you can't figure them out. For example, the French Sailor's Dress (pp. 123-126) has the yoke sewn to the dress at the neckline RIGHT sides together. I could not for the life of me figure that out. Are you supposed to hem the yoke and leave it free? Are you supposed to sew it down? I just cannot figure out how this is supposed to work. And it's not exactly a complicated pattern. I could figure it out on my own more easily without looking at this pattern. Also, the drawings are terrible. You don't get any idea how the dresses are really supposed to look. How hard would it be to take photos (like the Colette sawing book does) or feature better illustrations? A 7 year-old could draw better pictures. Don't waste your money. Does anyone know if she has a blog? I did a search but didn't come up with anything. I just want to ask about some patterns--mostly just to point out the mess of instructions....

Great book. Good reading and easy to understand.

There's quite a bit of hyperbole in the book's description. There aren't pictures of fronts and backs of finished garments. Drawings of the dresses and fabric descriptions don't seem very attractive. A new sewer could do just as well with a pattern from the big three, some basic tools and muslin yardage for a mock up. That's how I learned to sew dresses. One style, the shift, is quite similar to a dress I made in the ' 70's. A vintage pattern from that time would be easy for a beginner or trace out a t shirt, making it wider at the hem. Make it up in a knit fabric, and there is a dress that will fit better and be cheaper. If needing a fun book, try, Little Green Dress. Get a basic sewing book, like a Singer one from the library. Pattern instruction sheets provide a wealth of information as does the Internet. Check this book and her others from the library first for utility. The patterns are merely basic. If you don't think a shift or dirndl would be right for you, that wipes out 40% of the book. There are complete courses in fitting shoulders, bust, armholes, sleeves, waist, hips, back, and if one has a small or large deviation from the norm, money would be better spent on making trial garments and having someone help with fitting issues. This means, when it comes to sewing, it isn't flowery words that get the job done. Therefore, I don't recommend this book; neither for the newcomer to sewing or the experienced sewist.

I read lots of reviews on this before I ordered & hesitated as so many said it only caters for smaller sized ladies & as a uk 16 was uncertain if it was worth purchasing. I am so pleased I did. The sizes are xs,s,m,l & xl & I fall into large which sounds about right to me. Some may have had problems as the patterns (or slopers) dont have seam allowences & you have to add these yourself which is easy enough to do but if you don't the garment will be too small!Anyway is shows lots of different options that you could use to adapt three basic dress patterns. Eg. collars, cuffs, hems, pockets, trims etc. & then there are samples/ideas off how to do this. 25 in total. Suprizingly these 25 dresses are all very differnt.I have never used anything from 'built by wendy' before but if this is format of her other books I would like them too!It's very clear & easy to follow.I can't decide whether its a + or - that there are no real photographes in the book - it is VERY well illustrated but nothing seems real. But then again real pictures may put you off certain designs or date or limit your own creativity???All in a must for anyone that wants to make their own dresses.

The book is fabulous, really good template for a variety of dresses, and lots of lovely ideas for changing the style. I was going to knock a star off only because I bought this book second hand, and it was described as being in good used condition - but it missing its spiral binding, which means all the pages fall out whenever I pick it up! But that's not the fault of the book, which I think is great.

some sewing instructions quite sparse so need some dressmaking experience. Some necklines do not sit very well as they need to be cut on the curve of the neckline rather than straight. This ensures that they sit round the shoulders/neck rather than standing off from it. However some good basic shapes to play around with if you already have some skills.

ok

Loved it. Received in good condition and looking forward to putting this book to good use. Thank you very much.