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8th out of 23 books
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13 voters
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Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified
by
Cal Patch
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 te...more
Until now, the aspiring DIY fashionista has been hard-pressed to find self-teaching tools other than dry te...more
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
September 22nd 2009
by Potter Craft
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I need to test it more seriously, but so far, very disappointing:
- the tone is too cutesy ( "ah, brownies". And let Laura Ingalls Wilde be the judge of what she would like. And the word stylizing, urgh) or too trendy ( "it is no secret sewing is the new hot craft") in a way that gets on my nerves. And instructions to make muslin versions time and again anytime one wants to make alterations make my teeth grind. Uh, no, generations of thrifty grandmothers in my bloo...more
- the tone is too cutesy ( "ah, brownies". And let Laura Ingalls Wilde be the judge of what she would like. And the word stylizing, urgh) or too trendy ( "it is no secret sewing is the new hot craft") in a way that gets on my nerves. And instructions to make muslin versions time and again anytime one wants to make alterations make my teeth grind. Uh, no, generations of thrifty grandmothers in my bloo...more
If you have some sewing experience (eg know the basics) and are interested in learning how to draft your own patterns, I can't recommend this book highly enough.
I've been sewing for 28 years and have made all sorts of garments, but I've never really taken the time to learn about fit and tailoring in any detail. I wanted to start at the beginning and go back and really learn the basic garment shapes, how to properly measure the body, how to draft slopers, etc. Most books I came acro...more
I've been sewing for 28 years and have made all sorts of garments, but I've never really taken the time to learn about fit and tailoring in any detail. I wanted to start at the beginning and go back and really learn the basic garment shapes, how to properly measure the body, how to draft slopers, etc. Most books I came acro...more
You know how you find the perfect dress--except maybe it would look better if it were a little longer, and the color doesn't really work with your complexion, and the you don't quite fill out the bodice or you fill it just a little too well? You find yourself thinking about what would truly make it perfect, yet none of these big time fashion designers seem to be in step and you can't really just go and make it yourself, right? I mean, pattern making is like the Holy Trinity and why hot dogs co...more
Not for me. In the introduction, she writes, "The clothing we currently wear tends to be relatively simple from a patternmaker's point of view. We don't wear finely tailored suits or dresses with princess seams, darts, and gussets. We wear simple knit tops, skirts, loose dresses, basic woven shirts, and pants. Their style tends to come from details, as opposed to dramatic or complicated cut and construction. Thus, it's quite possible to teach today's sewers how to make their own patter...more
This book zings right over my head as a person with beginner sewing skills and zero drafting skills. It's not that I don't understand - it's that more instruction is given through written paragraphs than with diagrams or visual aides. It's a tough subject to teach to someone through the medium of a book, I suppose. Standing next to a teacher who can say "draw your line like This" would probably help me more.
It did help me understand the whys and hows of pattern drafting,...more
It did help me understand the whys and hows of pattern drafting,...more
I'm not a fan of sewing books that are to technical. I need something fun, easy and quick to follow. This book was perfect for that. It gives you the basics for designing your own patterns. Now I can understand sewing patterns better. Which will come in handy when I need to modify them. It's a good book to have on hand for reference.
I didn't care for the designs in the book (not my taste), but I didn't read this book for that. I read this book in hopes it would teach me to design my...more
I didn't care for the designs in the book (not my taste), but I didn't read this book for that. I read this book in hopes it would teach me to design my...more
I'm not completely finished with this but I think it's safe to say that this book will be at the top of my Christmas wish list. This book is awesome, especially for someone who would rather make their own patterns rather than buy them. The styles in this book are cute, but I love that the authors gives readers a lot of options on how to change things and make personalized patterns and styles. I have actually already used some of the instructions to make a skirt; they were pretty easy to follow, ...more
I'm always watching for good books on pattern design. This one is very practical. Cal Patch starts at the beginning of flat pattern design, which is the technique I often use. She guides the reader step-by-step to create a custom-fit skirt, T-shirt, woven shirt, and pants and then shows how to add different design elements and vary the basic patterns for a wider variety of styles. For someone who already knows all the basics of sewing, this is a great book to use to develop pattern design sk...more
This is a great book to help understand pattern making. I have not yet made anything from this book and now realize that they don't include how to put together a garment, just how to create the patterns. Currently sewing clothes, this has helped me understand better how to adjust patterns for a better fit. This book, through a blog review of it, led me to The Perfect Fit, which goes through specifics of pattern modifications. This other book is very helpful not only because of the directions...more
I have been waiting for this book for SO long! As someone who makes up her own patterns for clothing but has absolutely NO formal training in patternmaking, I gobbled this one up as soon as I got it. I can't wait to start on some of these projects. For an amateur like me who wants to make patterns for themselves, this is a must-read!
I just made my first skirt using the instructions in this book, and I'm so excited! For beginning sewists, I would recommend this book only in conjunction with another (like Sew U) that gives more detailed instructions on sewing and stuff like inserting zippers. But for patternmaking, I'm thrilled to have this as a resource.
I'm not rating the book yet because I haven't tried the more difficult patterns, and I'm very skeptical that Patch doesn't include any darts in her upper-body patte...more
I'm not rating the book yet because I haven't tried the more difficult patterns, and I'm very skeptical that Patch doesn't include any darts in her upper-body patte...more
i love this book. it is so helpful. i found it more helpful than sew u by wendy. maybe this is so because i had read sew u before and having that knowledge made it easier for me to understand everything, but then again this book concentrates way more on pattern making than the sewing aspect..
i pretty much read everything, but the actual pattern parts (except for the first one). i glanced through them and will start on some in the near future.
i pretty much read everything, but the actual pattern parts (except for the first one). i glanced through them and will start on some in the near future.
I've drafted both pants and a tee from this book with only marginal success. If you are REALLY interested in drafting your own patterns, this book is not for you. The information presented about altering patterns is helpful however.
Some good ideas for beginner sewers (including non-ugly, actually CUTE clothing, which seems to be a rarity in sewing, esp beginning sewing books); I'd like to try some of these patterns, so we'll see how it works!
Great beginning patternmaking/sewing book. The author walks you through each step of the process in a very conversational way. If you ever get a chance to take a class from Cal Patch, I recommend you do so.
Sometimes when patterns aren't included sewing can seem a bit daunting. They had some good ideas but unfortunately patterns are not included in this book and you have to draft them yourself!
I've just started drafting a pattern for one of the skirts in the book, and am finding Cal Patch's instructions easy to follow. She is good at making the steps understandable and logical - why am I making this dart here, or how should I plan the sweep of the skirt?
I'm guessing this will be one of my most useful books on pattern-making and sewing, as the layout is good, the pictures look inviting, and the language is easy to follow.
I highly recommend this book to those who want to le...more
I'm guessing this will be one of my most useful books on pattern-making and sewing, as the layout is good, the pictures look inviting, and the language is easy to follow.
I highly recommend this book to those who want to le...more
I got this book from the library but I think I'm going to buy a copy of it. It's step-by-step reference for drafting your own patterns. I'm sure I will use what is taught in this book over and over.
Another strong resource for future patternmaking. It's more recent, too, so the fashions referenced feel more modern.
Clear instructions with enough diagramming and pictures along with an excellently developed book teaching pattern-making. Great!
will post what I think of using the patterning making steps when I make something--for all my sewing friends ;0
draft your own patterns. lots of variety and wearable, attractive styles of shirts, skirts, dresses...
This book takes you step by step through making basic patterns. It also gives you some fun details.
Really helpful and inspiring, written with great attitude! I plan to use it a lot this summer.
Awesome instructions for making custom patterns for yourself or someone else you love to sew for...
cool stuff-a little advanced for me
Pretty disappointing.
I saw a number of reviews, but one I thought old both sides of the story was Liesl's (from Oliver + Co) review. I put this book on my Amazon Wishlist and then I reserved it at the library so I could see if I really wanted to devote shelf space to this book.
Some interesting ideas on measurement and fitting.
I picked this up at the library, but may have to purchase a copy for the house. Awesome book for understanding basic clothing construction and patternmaking. Worth picking up just for the measurement page!
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