I was wary of buying this book b/c I wasn't sure what it would contain. It isn't a "reading" book, but more of a reference manual. Something that is very handy for a self-proclaimed "beginner-intermediate" sewer. It has categorized all the types of fabrics according to weave and each one has it's own page. She describes how the fabric was made (interesting), how to care for it, what kind of needles to use with it, etc. Never again will I wonder what to do with cotton voile or anything else I either have never used or don't use often. This is like the modern encyclopedia for fabrics!