Book & DVD Review: Sewing A to Z

I am a big fan of Nancy Zieman's books. She can distill difficult techniques with clear and concise language. In that respect, this book does not disappoint. When I think about Zieman's contributions to the sewing community, to me, she is known for great gadgets and notions and finding novel ways of doing things.  This book delivers both.

Here's what's covered in the book:

• Anchor Cloth
• Applique
• Basting
• Belt Loops
• Bias
• Binding (quilting)
• Blanket Stitching
• Blind Hemming
• Buttonholes
• Buttons
• Casings
• Chain Stitch (quilting)
• Circles 
• Cutting, Patterns
• Cutting, (quilting)
• Darts (unique technique)
• Decorative Stitches
• Double Needles
• Easing Seams
• Easing Sleeves (unique technique)
• Edgestitching
• Elastic Types
• Elastic, Basic Technique
• Elastic, Clear Technique
• Fabric Tubes (gadget/notion)
• Facings
• Fusible Web
• Gathers (unique technique)
• Grading
• Grainline
• Half-Square Triangles (quilting)
• Hems
• Hooks & Eyes
• Interfacing
• Jackets, Extended Facings
• Jackets, Sleeve Lining
• Knit, Identification
• Knit, Seams (unique technique)
• Knit, Types
• Layering a Quilt
• Layout
• Marking
• Mitered Corners, Pockets
• Mitered Corners, Quilt Borders
• Nap
• Needles
• Nips
• Notches
• Organizing, Fabric
• Organizing, Needles
• Organizing, Patterns
• Organizing, Projects
• Patch Pockets
• Pintucks
• Piping
• Pivoting
• Pleats
• Pocket Flaps
• Quarter Marks, Pins
• Quarter Marks, Pressing
• Quarter-Square Triangles (quilting)
• Quilting Options
• Ribbing
• Ripping
• Rod Pocket
• Ruffles
• Seam Finishes
• Seams, French
• Seams, Traditional
• Serging, Chain Stitch
• Serging, Cover Stitch
• Serging, Flatlock Stitch
• Serging, Overlock Stitch (4-thread and 3-thread)
• Serging, Rolled Edges
• Serging, Rolled Lettuce Edge
• Sleeves (unique technique)
• Snaps, Basic
• Snaps, Swing/Hanging
• Squaring a Quilt Top
• Stabilizers
• Staystitching
• Strata
• Tension
• Thread
• Topstitching
• Underlining
• Understitching
• Vinyl
• Waistband
• Wrapped Corners
• Yo-Yos
• Zigzag stitch
• Zippers (centered, lapped, invisible and exposed)

There are also "Notes from Nancy" peppered throughout the book. The book would be great for a beginner's sewing library. The way Zieman presents her techniques adds nice clarity and, in some cases, new approaches to the techniques presented in other books.

The DVD is excellent.  Zieman is a great educator and techniques are demonstrated in her usual clear style. All of the topics in the book aren't covered by the DVD. You can certainly use the book without the DVD, but I do recommend both. My only complaint about the DVD is that two of the topics are listed under bonus material and so you have to go through an extra menu to get to them.

Test drive the DVD here, here and here.