The Point of the Needle: Why Sewing Matters

by Barbara Burman

From the pleasures of mending to the problems of fast fashion, an intimate look at the creativity, community, and deep meaning sewed into every stitch.

Tens of millions of people sew for necessity or pleasure every day, yet the craft is surprisingly under-appreciated. The Point of the Needle redresses the balance: this is a book that argues for sewing's place in our lives. It celebrates not only sewing's recent resurgence but...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1789147190
• ISBN13: 9781789147193
• Release Date: December 2023
• Publisher: Reaktion Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Very Academic

This book reads like a college thesis. It starts out very dry and long winded; re-stating numerous points multiple times. Often leaving the reading feeling like chapters are far longer than they have to be; or should be for that matter. It wasn’t until I was more than half way through the book before the topic matter started to pick up any speed at all. Luckily, it managed to pick up enough speed to get it off the ground finally. But, was short lived before it came in for a soft landing. Was it worth reading? Yes, but not for entertainment purposes. More of a study in anthropology and possibly historic significance. I am normally a bit if a nerd and love reading non-fiction; but I really had to force myself to read this one to finally get that it did have value. Just could have stood for an editor to give it a push in the right direction before it was released out into the wild 😁

Woke

One might wonder if a person can take a book on sewing and turn it into a woke tome. This elitist author has succeeded, all the way down to the pronoun "their" for a him, and the sewing of a drag queen dress. No longer are there "seamstresses" now they are "makers." If wokeness is your thing and you like to sew, this is your book.