The
OpenLibrary might be an overlooked resource for books.
Recently, I have found several books there I wish I had available when I started sewing - and these were interesting read even more than 20 years as amateur dressmaker.
First, let's start with very good sewing machine "manual". One of the best books I have found how to
learn to be the best "sewing machine operator" you can be. The book is
Sewing without pins for everyone , published 1977. The "without pins" part is a bit misleading (and optional).
Another two books from the same publisher, meant for dressmaker. The books are a bit different. Again, solid read for every beginner in my opinion. If you have non-proportional figure, both of these books are priceless and easy to understand.
Slacks cut-to-fit for your figure. It discuss woman's slacks but I would take this book over every other even
for the first sewn men's
trousers. The book has it all (well, not the tailoring part) - including adaptation of the pattern to the figure in easy to understand steps. It is a bit different than any other I have seen - it starts on purpose with (any) commercial pattern two sizes too small - and through pivot and slide pattern adaptation creates a pattern modified to the figure. It goes over first fitting and sewing and discuss the pattern adaptation for different style. All in all, very solid book up to the point where you are ready for "real" tailoring.
The second one is
Dresses cut-to-fit for your figure . The book is similar to the previous and something I wish I had when I started sewing. For women with non-standard figure this method takes quite a lot of the frustration from the process.
For anybody interested in this method, the company has produced "Fit and Sew Manual". You can still get it today - they are selling it in Etsy shop and it is probably one of the better fitting / pattern adaptation books even today. Unfortunately, the postage would be for me 3x the price of the manual (and bother with the import duties) and so I haven't seen it.
And now for tailoring books, often with waiting lists:Two of the forum's recommended books
PoulinCabrera, Women'sAnd
Basic Tailoring, Time Life books (the whole series available and recommended as interesting read)
I'll go through the rest of my list later, but these were the hidden or not so hidden pearls there.