Dressmaking: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

by Alison Smith

Perfect for anyone interested in sewing — whether it's updating an old top or creating an A-line skirt from scratch — Dressmaking covers everything one needs to know to make, alter, and customize clothes. Sewers will discover what supplies to buy and how to use them, the best fabrics to choose based on drape and weave, how to understand patterns and alter them, and the essential general techniques to master — plus patterns and detailed step-by-step instructions are provided for a skirt, dress, shirt, tee, jacket, and pair of pants — including suggested variations!

Finishing up with tips and inspiration on alterations, repairs, and customizing any clothes, from dealing with holes and tears to lengthening and shortening sleeves, this handy guide is the dressmaking bible no budding seamstress should be without.

Genres: Sewing, Nonfiction, Crafts, Fashion, Reference, Design, How To

320 pages, Hardcover

First published August 20, 2012

About the author

There is more than one Alison Smith in the Goodreads database. This entry is for Alison^^^^Smith, sewer and crafter.

Reviews

[Jennifer Adams]

Unfortunately this book is still being sold from book stores.

The link to download the patterns no longer works and the new owners of the publishing house refuse to answer emails. Another book for the bin. What a waste of my money.

[Megan]

This book is great for beginner sewists and is a great reference for long time sewists.

[Christine]

I bought this book as it was on offer and I had just bought my first pattern pack. I have had a sewing machine for a while, but use it to make bags and things that I make up myself so had never used a commercial pattern before.
This book was perfect for me. It takes you step by step through everything you need to make your own garments, from initial measurements, choosing the correct fabric, cutting out a pattern and what the markings mean through to the construction. What will also be handy when I have more experience, are the tips to alter a pattern to better suit your shape. At the back of the book are basic patterns that you can photocopy and step by step instructions to make different versions of skirts, tops and dresses. This is an excellent choice for the begginner dressmaker, but also has advance construction instructions for those who are a bit more confident.

[Anna]

Useful sewing tips at the beginner to intermediate level, but be careful with downloading the patterns from the accompanying website. I tried to use a pattern that should actually have been a little big on me, given my measurements, but was shocked to find when I tested it the garment was impossible-to-close-let-alone-move tight. Comparing the pattern with the measurements of the scaled-down versions in the book confirmed that the downloaded pattern was either incorrectly labeled or was missing its seam allowances. Either way, a draft garment is highly recommended so you don't waste time and material making something completely unwearable.

[Laura]

This book has a lot of great information and I love that the patterns are available free to print as needed in your own size. It takes the guess work out of it all. If your shape is different, this book will tell and show how to alter the pattern. The photos are great. Lots of good content. This is one of my first sewing books -- it's good for people who wants to start sewing clothes but doesn't know where to begin.

[Amanda Ramos]

Absolutely perfect for beginner sewers, who know patterns just don’t work for them.

[Goldenrod]

Bite sized, practical, great photos of fabric texture. Loved the introduction to each garment section, where the given patterns are shown in addition to variations in different cuts and fabrics. However, I don’t think I’ll come back for any of the garment patterns.

[Shahira8826]

"Dressmaking" by Alison Smith is an excellent resource for beginners. It includes several chapters on basic tools and techniques, along with a wealth of patterns in a variety of styles. I can’t wait to start trying them out!

[Rebekah]

I've learned sewing from watching my mom, working on a project with her years ago, and by teaching myself as inspiration hits me and I work on other projects. This book has been a great way to fill in some missing pieces. I especially like how the author includes lots of great photos, types of stitches and finishing techniques.

[Marci -]

I cannot believe how wonderful this book is! sonething for everyone with tricks and tips that will help you with that dress whether its a skirt or a full dress with all those defining stitches that will have everyone saying wow.

[Julie]

One day, I will make the dress on page 179. And I will wear it all the time.

This is a well put-together book with excellent instructions and illustrations. I won't make most of the featured garments, but I appreciate the chapters on fabrics and techniques. The Customizing section is only fair.

[skein]

perfectly acceptable, if you don't have a copy of the Reader's Digest Guide to Sewing nearby (maybe an unfair comparison? that book is a work of art and a joy forever.)

the clothing styles are curiously dated, considering the publication date.

[Angie]

It was alright but I got it for dresses. The book is called dressmaking. It should all be about dresses. I get why it's not because dressmaking covers a broader range than just dresses but it was disappointing to me.

[Tin Wahyuni]

good book for beginner :)

[A. Kuhlii]

Great beginner's guide--come back to this one or buy when you're ready to start some clothes projects.

[LadyS]

comprehensive.

[Montserrat]

I need help to know where to print the pattern that the book has.
My book is in spanish language, but I have not found the patterns in this site.

You can tell me the URL to download the patterns?

Thank you very much!

The book is very recommended.

[Josephine Kaisaali]

Good