Comments on Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing: My Other Favorite Patternmaking Book

i just stated learning to make patterns on my own ...

2012-02-11T21:08:00.072-05:00

i just stated learning to make patterns on my own and thats the book that i have been using, hopefully its not too overwhelming for me

I found the Margolis book and the Readers Digest b...

2012-02-05T20:31:49.451-05:00

I found the Margolis book and the Readers Digest book at a used book store for $3 dollars each. Yes, THREE. I was so happy about my find, and I have actually used the Margolis book already (I figure if I'm going to go to the trouble of sewing something, I might as well fix whatever is bugging me about it, even if it requires a major rework.) I'm going to keep my eyes peeled there for some more good finds!

Thanks for this post. I picked up the 2nd or 3rd ...

2012-02-04T08:03:56.697-05:00

Thanks for this post. I picked up the 2nd or 3rd edition of this book (from the 90s) from the library. The illustrations are laughable, but the info seems great. It's a bit overwhelming for a newbie to pattern making (like myself) but I'm looking forward to perusing.

I know Book Depository (www.bookdepository.com) ha...

2012-01-30T21:49:00.946-05:00

I know Book Depository (www.bookdepository.com) has the 5th edition with DVD for AUD$92.92. Shipping is free. On so many recommendations I'm going to go ahead and buy it.

Im a total fan..in fact, i started pattern making ...

2012-01-27T00:30:25.379-05:00

Im a total fan..in fact, i started pattern making only after buying this book. Its perfect for even a novice like me..:D
Merlin
www.loveitseams.wordpress.com

I have the second edition of this from my college ...

2012-01-26T20:17:36.308-05:00

I have the second edition of this from my college days. The illustrations in that one are super 80's and I kind of love them.
It's a great book and I refer to it often.

I love this book - its totally worth the price tag...

2012-01-26T20:17:35.274-05:00

I love this book - its totally worth the price tag!

I have a really old version of Helen Armstrongs bo...

2012-01-26T16:26:55.265-05:00

I have a really old version of Helen Armstrongs book but I love it. It's like a bible for pattern making. I love all the old fashion illustrations because it makes me think outside the current ready to wear circle.

I don't have many sewing books - two in fact -...

2012-01-26T11:42:25.093-05:00

I don't have many sewing books - two in fact - but this book is one of them. I have learned a lot from it, but I really want to dive into it a bit more this year.

I just got the 5th Edition of this book for Christ...

2012-01-26T10:41:22.964-05:00

I just got the 5th Edition of this book for Christmas and it is the pride of my bookshelf. I just finished a Diploma of Costume and this was the book our teacher used for our pattern drafting classes in first year (though I think it was the 2nd or 3rd edition) and was our recommended text. It's definitely a text book so I wouldn't really recommend it for beginners, but for anyone who is really keen on drafting, it's such a great resource. Not exactly light reading though, and definitely not a 'read front to back' book either!

For anyone who is looking at buying the latest edition (5th) I'd highly recommend going with the spiral hardcover version. I think it's actually cheaper than the soft cover version and the spiral bind means you can lay it out flat without having to worry about pages flipping over. Very handy!

I am also a fan of that book. I bought it some tim...

2012-01-26T10:07:45.433-05:00

I am also a fan of that book. I bought it some time ago. I wish there was a metric version though!

Perfect timing for me with this post! My teenage d...

2012-01-26T06:43:35.137-05:00

Perfect timing for me with this post! My teenage daughter loves do design and sketch outfits. She and a friend has just started taking design class with a local designer. Neither of them know how to sew but I plan to teach them. I have been sewing for more years than I care admit but have never made my own patterns. I am going to get the less expensive book first and see how it goes! So exciting!

I have Pattern Making for Fashion Design as well (...

2012-01-26T06:26:15.260-05:00

I have Pattern Making for Fashion Design as well (5th ed.) but for blocks I prefer Metric Pattern Cutting for Womenswear (5th ed.). The blocks still need to be fitted but that's not a big deal.
Apparently "Metric Pattern Cutting" is expensive in America, but over here in the UK it's very affordable - only about £20.

I own tonnes of pattern making books - some modern...

2012-01-26T06:18:47.978-05:00

I own tonnes of pattern making books - some modern, many vintage. But,n but I have not read them all (yet!).

One I have read and found really great (and met the author on 2 of his short courses for London College of Fashion) is Pattern Cutting by Dennic Chunman Lo. Reviewed here by loads of bloggers:

Tilly and the Buttons's review,
Fashion-Incubator.com - Kathleen Fasanella's review,
FlossieTeacake's review,
Artisan's Square.

I highly recommend this book. I bought mine just u...

2012-01-26T02:56:15.121-05:00

I highly recommend this book. I bought mine just under a year ago when looking to replace my rather dated Metric Pattern Cutting by Winifred Aldrich, (which was bought in 1995 when I started my tertiary fashion study). As I live in New Zealand I purchased mine from an english site, my version is the international edition which has metric conversion charts. Was the best $$ spent, very comprehensive and i would recommend for beginners and experienced pattern makers alike.

I like the pattern cutting series of books by Wini...

2012-01-26T02:49:08.724-05:00

I like the pattern cutting series of books by Winifred Aldrich. I used these to learn the craft when I studied Fashion 28 years ago - oh my I feel old now. They are a little dated but give you all the basics of cutting.

Next on my list to buy is Pattern Magic by Tomoko Nakamichi. Looks very interestng.

Oops, I'm a noodle-- McCunn's bodice isn&#...

2012-01-26T02:09:13.766-05:00

Oops, I'm a noodle-- McCunn's bodice isn't done as I described above-- it's the skirt darts that are handled differently. Sorry!

How funny-- I just got this book through interlibr...

2012-01-26T01:14:42.469-05:00

How funny-- I just got this book through interlibrary loan! It's fantastic, though the '80s styles are cringeable. I keep showing Husband the illustrations. "Why are all the ladies so cranky-faced? Is it because they have to wear those horrible designs?"

At the recommendation of Casey Brown and Megan Nielsen, I've also picked up Donald McCunn's "How to Make Sewing Patterns." It's a bit more approachable. (For the ladies who couldn't get the Armstrong fitted shell to work, McCunn takes a different approach-- you try on your dart-less bodice and pinch the darts out, rather than just drawing them in where they 'should' be on the flat pattern, a la Armstrong. I wonder if this method would be better for those of us who aren't B-cups?)

LOVE this book! I got it as a student at FIDM and ...

2012-01-26T00:51:49.646-05:00

LOVE this book! I got it as a student at FIDM and am actually re-using it now in another college course. Even with just the basics of pattern you. An use this book to develop patterns. I love it and use it all the time!

I do have Adele's book, but not this one. For ...

2012-01-25T23:53:59.498-05:00

I do have Adele's book, but not this one. For some reason when I was in the burn of purchasing a serious textbook on pattern drafting I picked Connie Armstrong's book "Patternmaking Made Easy." I think its a good text, but have to admit that it would be easier to learn if navigated by an instructor.

Not too long ago I bought Building Patterns by Suzy Furrer. Um, this book is AMAZING! Seriously. It was written not just for fashion design students - as she mentions in the beginning of the book - but also for the "serious sewing enthusiast." A category I feel most aptly describes how I feel about sewing. Not only is the book very well written, but its written in such a way that is completely understandable. Plus she takes advantage of the "moulage" approach to drafting the bodice. Have to say, its a very impressive text and one that is completely worth every single penny.

xoxo, Sunni

I have the 4th and yeah, it is completely worth th...

2012-01-25T23:34:14.297-05:00

I have the 4th and yeah, it is completely worth the cash to own this text as a ready reference when pattern making and fitting. Sometimes I just look at it for fun. hehehe I also have her book on Draping but I think I like this one best....k.

I have both "Patternmaking for Fashion Design...

2012-01-25T19:20:54.620-05:00

I have both "Patternmaking for Fashion Design" and "Draping for Apparel Design" (both by Helen Joseph-Armstrong) and LOVE them. Should use them more, but being a university student in chemistry doesn't seem to leave enough time. Oh, and you NEED to look at the book "Professional Sewing Techniques for Designers", it has changed my sewing-experience forever! It's the perfect partner for any pattern-making book!

I love this book too. I have the 3rd edition and h...

2012-01-25T18:29:16.463-05:00

I love this book too. I have the 3rd edition and have referred to it for years. I too feel overwhelmed by it but as you say, if I follow it step by step it all works out in the end. I have other books I refer to for simpler things, but for sleeves and bust shaping I always refer to this volume. As for the hairstyles, I remember real people walking around with those hairstyles. I laugh when I see them in the book. It is a great book.

I don't have that book, but I do have the Adel...

2012-01-25T16:00:09.521-05:00

I don't have that book, but I do have the Adele Margolis book. It is super clear and a great source of inspiration. I love all the examples of styles paired with the flat pattern sketch. "Oh that's how you do that!"

Love this book!!!!!

2012-01-25T15:52:09.322-05:00

Love this book!!!!!