Customer Reviews:
 Absolutely georgous stuff January 15, 2007
pmegan (Massachusetts)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Okay, I will agree with the previous two reviews about both the elitist attitude (extremely expensive materials, not for beginners) and that the clothes are pretty out of date and in most of the country your daughter would be snickered at for wearing a lace tea-gown outside the house. But I still love this magazine.
There are beginner's projects that come along every once and a while: there was a multi-issue album quilt last year that explained all of the techniques perfectly (it would be great if they could sell that as a stand-alone pattern, it was a wonderful introduction). It's true that not every issue has them, but if you look on the newsstand you can usually find if the new issue has one. The thing is that it's a magazine for people who enjoy heirloom sewing: knitting magazines don't have explicit instructions on how to purl, quilting magazines don't show you how to use a rotary cutter. Sew Beautiful just assumes that you have a working knowledge of heirloom sewing: and they do have a very quick primer on lace sewing techniques in the center pullout.
If you're interested in learning heirloom techniques, I still recommend purchasing this magazine, even if only a few issues at a newstand. You'll be introduced to a lot of the most popular designers and their techniques, and you'll find out the best resources (shops, classes, books) to learn. It's also a great aspirational magazine, and though I would never dress my kids in most of the clothes that grace their pages, a lot of the details can easily be adapted to more play-friendly clothes.
One tip: if you buy the magazine and use the pull-out card to buy a subscription, it only costs $25 a year, as opposed to Amazon's $35 a year.
 Good Resource BUT NOT THE BEST December 30, 2004
Southern Princess (Georgia)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
This magazine is great in the fact it has free patterns, if you want to stay out of date. I was a subscriber for 2 years, wanting heirloom tips, patterns, etc. Most of the free patterns are out of style, puffed sleeves, odd waistlines. If you wait 15 or so years they will be back in style. Some of the tips are good, great color pictures, many of Martha Pullen's extended family, but out of date and out of touch with current styling trends. Not many people wear leg-of-mutton puff sleeves in today's society.
 Beautiful heirloom sewing indeed, but a bit elitist. June 15, 2003
A. Ryan (Westminster, CA USA)
31 out of 32 found this review helpful
Sew Beautiful magazine is one of the few American magazines devoted to heirloom sewing, smocking and the fine needle arts. Without a doubt, SB boasts the most attractively photographed articles, projects and layouts. Each issue features exquisite examples of heirloom-quality garments, pillows, notions, etc. - all lavishly displayed in charming settings. This publication is a visual pleasure to leaf through.So what's the problem - why not the full five stars? Well... Since I took up smocking and needle arts in 1997 I have subscribed to SB for one year and bought issues off the stand intermittently since. As a beginner and an intermediate level sew-er, I rarely find anything do-able in the pages of SB. The projects, patterns and features are really geared toward quite advanced heirloom sewers/needleworkers. It can be quite overwhelming, even intimidating, to admire for instance a lovely christening gown ensemble that requires high-level handstitching skills, and several tricks on the sewing machine that I can't begin to fathom without hours of instruction. Often, obscure specialized tools and machine feet are required. And how many beginners want to practice on the hard-to-find and pricey fabrics and trims so casually recommended, like swiss nelona and dupioni silk? Alternatives like plain old imperial batiste and cotton floss are so seldom mentioned as to give the reader the impression that they just aren't suitable for heirloom sewing. After my subscription ran out I was left with the feeling that I may never "catch up" enough (or be wealthy enough) to attempt most of the gorgeous items in SB. I have seen a few other magazines that address this problem by providing illustrated, step-by-step guides in the back sections to the handwork stitches that are required for the projects. This is very practical and reassuring for newbies. One Australian magazine even has kits available by mail order or internet for all their charming projects. It would be great to see more of that in SB, as well as more projects that you don't have to have advanced skills to attempt. On the whole, SB is nicely done and I could recommend it for the more advanced level smockers and needleworkers.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle.
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