Perfectly Fitted: Creating Personalized Patterns for a Limitless Wardrobe

by Lynne Garner

Learn to create your own sewing patterns with the use of muslin through Lynne Garner's step-by-step instructions. The resulting patterns fit, are shaped specifically for the body intended, and work with any fabric. Lynne also demonstrates how to adapt a basic bodice, plus sleeve and skirt blocks to create a limitless number of gorgeous tops, trousers, skirts and dresses that all fit to perfection. Choose from a range of styles or follow professional tips to create your own look.

Genres: Sewing, Crafts, Nonfiction, Patternmaking

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Lynne has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her earliest stories, mixing mystery with the paranormal, are still in the loft somewhere, buried under considerable dust.

After teaching crafts in her early thirties, Lynne began writing how-to features for craft magazines before setting herself a challenge: get a craft book published. In 1999 The Guild of Master Craftsmen published her first. Thirteen craft books followed.

In 2007 Piccadilly Press published her picture book A Book for Bramble, which was published in four languages. Her second picture book The Best Jumper aired on CBeebies, reached readers in the United States, was published in three languages, and was optioned for animation. A third title, Dog Did It, found its way to Australia. She has had five picture books published in total.

Lynne then turned her attention to folk tales, retelling traditional stories for a modern audience. Her collections feature some of the world's best-loved tricksters including Anansi the Spider, Brer Rabbit, and Coyote, as well as original characters in her Moon Meadow Farm series, set in the English countryside of the 1940s and 50s.

More recently, Lynne has been exploring scriptwriting. Her third short script was shortlisted at a scriptwriting festival, a sign that her storytelling instincts travel well across different forms.

She is still writing. The loft, however, remains firmly closed.

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly I don't think I'm drawn to the "pin and mark the fabric on your body" method of pattern making, although maybe I'll change my tune after I've tried the "do it all with math" method. The first requires a buddy to do all the work, which could be why it's not resonating with me. The galleries of things you can make once your pattern blocks are done is nice, if slim.

[Shell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The methods seem good enough, if you have a competent friend to assist. I just found the fabric and style choices to be really boring (and the colors terrible on the model) and so haven't been inspired to try anything. Also, I don't feel like the samples fit the model well at all, which doesn't give me much faith.
Will revisit this review if I ever get around to seriously trying a block.

[Lei · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book because it makes using a muslin visually friendly. I would think that those with the interest in making their own patterns would benefit from this book. At the same time, it's an easy read and has a good number of photos to illustrate what is being explained.