Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified
by Cal Patch
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Book Summary Information
Author: Cal PatchEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-09-22
ISBN: 0307451399
Number of pages: 160
Publisher: Potter Craft
Book Reviews of Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified
Book Review: Excellent for beginners - and beyond!
Summary: 5 Stars
There are many sewing-related books currently being published to appeal to a young demographic that has not learned about sewing or pattern making in school. Some offer easy projects that can be (supposedly) done in a weekend, or a day, or that use one yard or one piece of fabric. Others have patterns included, in a limited range of sizes that may not work for you. All of these approaches have their merits, but this book offers so much more. You can learn to create a pattern to fit your exact figure, and use it to create stylish clothing that is not difficult to sew. This book gives clear instructions for creating basic clothing patterns drafted to an person's individual body measurements. There are no patterns included with the book, and no "sizes". The patterns you create are completely custom-drafted. You can sew for yourself, or use this method to create patterns to fit other people. (In fact, the author encourages her readers to use their new pattern-making knowledge to create original designs that they can market).
There are excellent instructions for taking a complete -and I do mean complete - set of body measurements. Be sure to do this exactly as intructed, and don't be tempted to skip this part or take fewer measurements! Taking measurements is probably the hardest part of the whole project, but once that is done you will find everything else much easier. After you have made and tested the first pattern,there are further instructions for modifiying the basic pattern to create various styles. The book includes simple sewing instructions, and all of the sample garments in the book can be made using a basic home sewing machine and ordinary materials and notions that you can find in any sewing store. (Experienced sewers can just substitute whatever methods they normally prefer). Amazingly, the author makes this entire process completely understandable, by using plain non-technical language. I learned pattern-drafting many years ago from more traditional books. I wish I had started with this one! The only negative is that all garments are modelled by young women with pre-pubescent non-curvy figures. However, don't assume that this book can only be used to create clothes for flat and hipless figures. The process of measuring and drafting will work for anyone as long as the measurements are taken honestly and accurately. This book could actually be very useful for older women, whose figures don't conform to ready-to-wear sizing or to commercial patterns any more. (Note that women with adult curves will probably want to learn how to add bust darts or extra fitting ease, if they have not already done so).
Summary of Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified
If you?ve ever watched Project Runway and wished you were a contestant, or you?re simply ready to take your sewing to a new level, Design-It-Yourself Clothes teaches you the fundamentals of modern patternmaking so that you, too, can create your own inspired clothing.Until now, the aspiring DIY fashionista has been hard-pressed to find self-teaching tools other than dry textbooks or books with outdated looks. Finally, in Design-It-Yourself Clothes, former Urban Outfitters designer Cal Patch brings her youthful aesthetic to a how-to book. If you want to wear something you can?t find on store racks and make clothes that express your individual style, or if you?ve reached a sewing plateau and want to add pattern drafting to your repertoire, Design-It-Yourself Clothes is the book you have been waiting for.
In five key projects (each with four variations)?a perfect-fitting dress, T-shirt, button-down shirt, A-line skirt, and pants?Patch shares the art of patternmaking. At its core, it?s much simpler than you think. Patch covers everything an intermediate sewer needs to know in order to become a fabulous fashion designer, from designing the patterns, taking your own measurements, and choosing fabrics to actually sewing the clothing. You will also learn how to stylize patterns by using darts, waistbands, patch pockets, and ruffles. Patch offers tips, explanations, options, and exercises throughout that will make the design process that much easier.
But besides showing you how to create clothing from scratch, she also teaches you how to rub off patterns from existing clothing?so if you have a pair of pants that you love but are worn out, or you have your eye on a piece in the store with a prohibitive price tag, you can figure out how to get the looks you want by using your own two hands.
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