Maybe you learned to sew in school and have a sewing machine, but it hasn’t seen the outside of the closet since your last move. Or maybe you are completely new to the craft, with a lot of enthusiasm, but no idea how to thread a needle. No matter where you’re coming from in terms of experience, 100 Acts of Sewing designer Sonya Philip’s invaluable workbook The Act of Sewing: How to Make and Modify Clothes to Wear Every Day offers four basic patterns—two tops, a skirt, and a pair of pants—that empower you to express your personal style and make clothes that are comfortable and stylish.

After covering introductory concepts of sewing and construction, Sonya then provides suggestions for mixing the patterns together to create new garment iterations as you gain confidence—structural adjustments such as full bust, no bust, long torso, big, small, etc., as well as a range of possible alterations and embellishments including sleeves, pockets, hems, and more! Going beyond simple pattern instructions, this book will make sewing garments accessible for many different body types with sizes ranging from XS to 5X. The patterns provide a natural jumping off point for modification, allowing readers to design and decide. Mix and match the different elements to build unique combinations! The Act of Sewing encourages experimentation and customization.