Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing

That should be the correct version. My two older ones are 1976 and 1981 (reprint of the 1978 edition): both contain the tailoring section.

I have a couple editions, but the 1976 edition is the one I like best, especially because it contains the tailoring section. It is always near the machine I'm using at the time, while the one is in the bookcase, seldom used. Emily

Well, yesterday I went straight to the website and bought it, at the ridiculous price of EUR 8.53, plus 3.00 p+p. I think I paid for my German version almost 30 EUR. The condition of this one is pronounced 'good', whatever that means, but I won't mind if it's not exactly in pristine condition, as long as it contains what I want to know and the pages don't stick together. The unpleasant thing about the German copy (with which I mean to work) is that it has a slightly mouldy smell, like a smoker's book that has been stored in a garage or some place like that for a winter. Did you tell me about the febreze treatment, Kate? If so, could you please tell again how it's done, seems I've developed a TEFAL (R) brain - nothings sticks.

Thanks!

U.

Thanks, I just took the risk (see reply to Kate) and hope that it doesn't contain all kinds of nonsense like machine embroidery or whatever. I guess, the earlier the edition the better, so we'll see.

Thanks, U.

Spray the Febreeze onto several sheets of kitchen paper and let them dry. Park them between the pages for a couple of weeks, moving them to new pages every few days. If you can no longer smell the Febreeze but the book still pongs, do again with new Febreeze!

Hey-ho,

today the RDCGTS arrived and it seems to me that the book is in excellent condition - well, much better than my own German copy at least - and holds all the infromation I want. (OK, didn't have much time to flip through it, Christine being awake and on a rampage through the living room.) I really wonder why they only wanted EUR 8.53, plus 3.00 p+p for it. I have to look again, perhaps there are some pages missing or some other nasty surprise awaits me. Oh, I checked my old e-mails: the German copy cost me EUR 18.18 (incl. p+p). Anyway, now I'll be able to follow discussions in this place much better, with all the vocabulary at hand (and will, hopefully, be able to express myself clearer, too).

U.

Congratulations on your new book It seems you are going to be busy getting acquainted with it. If there are any pages missing, I'm certain someone here can copy them for you.

Ursala, your command of the English language is excellent. I imagine if we didn't know differently, many of us would think your first language is English. My DSIL spoke German fluently, and I tried to learn enough to converse with her occasionally, but was never able to get farther than a few words and phrases. Emily

Ursula, you write English better than many native speakers of English. Learning specialized vocabulary will help with sewing, just as it does with any particular field. The hardest part for adult learners is always the accent and rhythm of another language, which is why it is so valuable for small children to begin learning another language. Nursery rhymes are pronunciation exercises, have you noticed?

Oh yes, given the number of tasks I've set myself for this year, yes, I'll need it. So far no pages seem to be missing, but I fully rely on the community to supply any missing ones. Isn't that what e-friends are for? ;-)

Dear me, I'm beginning to feel a little embarrassed. Really, I hadn't been fishing for compliments, it's just my natural lack of self-assuredness that sometimes catches up on me. I can't forget my part in the sloper thread, my complete ingnorance of that topic and how I had to struggle with the replies. Well, I feel like I'm playing with the big girls now, and I mean to be worthy of it. and I love to learn, especially stuff that interests me. So there. ;-)

Well, personally I think that learning languages is not only a matter of how hard you study, it's also got to do with what you feel for the culture. Having been so impressed with our trips to Ireland when I was a little child, I felt probably very much inclined to lear English (never heard of a language called Gaelic until in my teens ;-)); Latin, on the other hand was my second language at school and I trembled in fear of the teacher and my dad, who tried to learn vocabulary and grammar with me, regularly breaking into fits of rage on my stupidity which was caused by fear of his tantrums... I think you can see where this leads. ;-) When they tried to make me learn French for a third language (guess I was abut 15 at that time), I went on strike, meaning that I'd be present in class, but always having some private reading under the table, taking care that my marks stayed barely acceptly as not to endanger my promotion into the next grade. My parents had to accept that I obviously wasn't going to learn that language and let me off.

Today I wish they'd have let me take French as second language, then I might have reasonable command of two living languages beside my own. As it is, I have no real clue about Latin (though I can translate most words vaguely correct) and can't string together any sentence in French apart from: Excusez moi, je ne parle pas le francais. At least you tried to learn out of your own choice. If you didn't get far, well, never mind, you were grown up at that time. Another point is that internationally successful pop songs are not very often in German. And I've always heard that German is somewhat hard to learn. See, nothing wrong there. ;-)

U.

Oh dear, as stated in my reply to Emily, I hadn't been fishing for compliments, just suffered a bout of lack in self-assuredness. Thank you for the nice compliment, anyway. ;-)

It's not only nursery rhymes, any song will do. ;-) I used to sing along to sea shanties, songs from the US civil war, Western songs and Beatles songs before I'd attend school, whatever my parents' record closet would supply. However, if I remember correctly, much of what I sung could be filed under 'pure mondegreen'. I remember playing outside on my own, singing imaginary English songs. Luckily nobody ever heard me. ;-) However, I have to remember this and give Christine a better dose of songs, both German and English. Thanks for reminding me. You know how it is, one is so busy with feeding and cleaning and washing that sometimes one forgets that a clean pronounciation of the native tongue is to be prized higher than a clean pair of trousers. (Well, not always, but I'm sure you got the meaning. ;-))

U.

After reading some of these posts, I couldn't resist. I went to Amazon.com and ordered a 1976 edition.

Thanks

You'll enjoy reading it, then use it often for references. I found 2 on Amazon last year for 2 of my DDs, and now that the other one has decided to sew at age 54, I have to find one for her birthday next month. Emily