They have fabric covers. I am blogging them chapter by chapter. I will be sewing projects from them using some vintage patterns and some modern but vintagey. Please stop by, I've started Volume 1-- Classic Techniques--the intro and it is topical to this blog as I talk about fashion and style from Madmen and Boardwalk Empire. I plan to develop a badge soon if you want to follow along with me.
Here is the link: Sewing Scholar