Customer Reviews

Patternmaking for Fashion Design

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is such a great book!! I just took a class in flat pattern drafting and now that I know how to use the book, I feel like I can draft almost anything!!

This book is packed with dozens of different patterns, from different types of pants to different types of skirts. But I have two gripes with it.

My first problem is that some of the instructions seem like certain, important, key manuvers (i.e. how to blend the hip line into the waist line, from the slack pattern) are more inferred than they are explained. It feels like the author assumes that the reader knows to do this as opposed to that. Unfortunately, little things like that can result in the wrong fit. I wish the author could have explained the instructions more, like why this has to be done and why that won't work... I know this was created for the more experienced sewer but the format seems so much for the beginner.... It just felt a little misleading to see that each step is clearly organized only to find that in between steps there are un-noted, excluded instructions/reasons that are obviously very important to the final pattern.

My second problem is that alot of the styles seem very dated and downright dowdy. Yolks? I don't see many people wearing yolks these days, nor do I see them on ready-to-wear clothes in the stores. I probably have the 2nd edition but still, it wasn't written that long ago. But then again, as they say, to each their own.

I really wanted to give this book 5 stars for being the only comprehensive and somewhat up=to-date book on patternmaking available today but I felt that it could have been much better and less of a struggle for us less-experience sewers. So, if you've taken patternmaking classes before and are well-versed in dressmaking, this book would be great for you. As for the rest of us, this book is not as kind to the beginner.

I am using the third edition of this book for my flat pattern drafting class. Despite good recommendations, my classmates and instructors all really dislike the book. I had a chance to compare it with the second edition, and I found out why we have had so many problems (e.g., exercises not working correctly, contradictory information in the text, missing information, etc.). It seems that when the third edition was created, a lot of essential instructions and information were taken out of the book. There are also innumerable editorial errors. As a reference text, this book is voluminous although not comprehensive. A lot of the information is presented with no explanation. There is a lot of conceptual information about pattern drafting that this book doesn't include, and overall, I don't recommend it as a book for teaching oneself how to draft patterns. If you do use it as a text, be prepared to be skeptical of the exercise directions, and remember to use a lot of common sense. Personally, I am now going to try to get a copy of the second edition, because I did really like it. The exercises were easy to follow (unlike the third edition), and the book does tell how to draft just about anything.

I am fairly new to sewing and, while using the third edition of this book, I continually came up with problems getting the assignments done for class. The third edition has left out many of the basic instructions which are needed for the more novice seamstress. In addition, there were errors in calculations that even I, as a beginner, found. The second edition is more comprehensive and more geared to those with limited knowledge and experience in this field. I would recommend using the second edition for those individuals who may need a little more direction in designing and completing garments.

This is a great book to learn how to make patterns and also a great reference if you already know how. The pictures and diagrams are very detailed and helpful and the instructions are easy to read. I highly reccomend it!

Okay, this book promises good stuff, but ... could it be any harder to understand? You basically need two books to interpret how to make a single pattern. Very vague. We use this book at FIDM and I think it would have been better if the two books we use were put into one. Use it if you must, because it is a good reference for children's and body suits. Also, the illustrations are better than most.

I am living in Jamaica West Indies,We do not have this book here on the market so a friend who travel brought it and lown it to me .As a fashion desinging teacher i found this book very good,i need one for myself but i can notbuy it through this method.
So the bottom line is i used this book as my teaching guide.
Thank you.
I am,
Cynthia Mcdonald.
31 Aqualitavale Ave,
Kingston 20.
jamaica West Indes.

I was introduced to this book through a pattern making class, and though I have not read this book page-by-page, I found to be very useful. I have a sloper of my own measurements that I use for my own designs, but this book provides a copy of various half-scale slopers you can use to practice with. There is also a chapter on making your own sloper, but I just skimmed over it.

This book teaches you the basic principles behind pattern manipulation. You can use the principles in this book to make original designs of your own. There is so much information in this book that I cannot touch on everything and keep this review short, so it's a bit long. Once you have your own sloper made, and understand the principles that this book teaches you, you will never need to buy a store bought pattern.

There are 36 chapters in this book; and just to give you an idea of how broad a scope of pattern manipulation this book touches on I'll list the chapters:
1. The work room, 2. Model Form and Measurements, 3. Drafting the Basic Pattern Set, 4. Dart Manipulation (Principle #1), 5. Designing with Darts (Tuck-darts, Pleats, Flares, and Gathers), 6. Stylelines, 7. Added Fullness (Principle #2), 8. Yokes, Flanges, Pin Tucks, and Pleat Tucks, 9. Contouring (Principle #3), 10. Collars, 11. Built-up Necklines, 12. Cowls, 13. Skirts/Circles and Cascades, 14. Sleeves, 15. Kimono, Raglan, Drop, Shoulder, and Exaggerated Armholes, 16. Buttons, Buttonholes, and Facings, 17. Plackets and Pockets, 18. Dresses without Waistline Seams (Based on Torso foundation), 19. Strapless Foundations, 20. Patternmaking for Bias-cut Dresses, 21. Shirts, 22. Jackets and Coats, 23. Capes and Hoods, 24. Knock-Off-Copying Ready-Made Designs, 25. Pants, 26. Knits-Stretch and Shrinkage Factors, 27. Knit Foundaiton, 28. Actionwear for Dance and Exercise, 29. Swimwear, 30. Introduction to Childreswear, 31. Drafting the Basic Pattern Set Measurement taking Standard Measurement Charts, 32. Collars, Sleeves, and Skirts, 33. Dresses and Jumpers, 34. Tops, 35. Pant and Jump Suits, 36. Bodysuits, Leotards, Maillots, and Swimwear,

A wonderful book for designing your clothes even on amateur level. Good pictures, lots of variations, and excellent guide for implementing designs into patterns. And the best part is the large number of ideas to try. Combined to the Fashion Design Manual by Pamela Stecker one should be able to get personal results.

This book i feel is a great first book on patternmaking for fashion students. The information is clear & easy to follow.Yet for more intricate & complex designs look elsewear.On a personal note I do not like the block making section..And as someone who works in the metric system I find myself waisting a lot of time converting imperial into metric. All that being said i would not be without it.