Book List

I love technical books. Anything that teaches you how to make something for yourself is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately there's a lot of books out there that pretend to be more than they are. Buying books from places like Amazon may result in the occassional disappointment but for the convenience and range I'm yet to find it's equal (and no they didn't pay me to say that). Below is a list of fashion books I can actually comment on because I own them.

Metric Pattern Cutting

by Winifred Aldrich. This book is one of my all time favorites. I guess I like it so much because it was one of my college text books. It's been revised a few times and there's versions for men and children. It does seem a little out dated but the principles are all still valid, making it good value for money. Highly recommended for the home sewist if you've never done any pattern making before.

Rating: 8/10 Highly Recommended

Shirt Making

by David Page coffin. Although I've only had this book a short time I have to put it forward as a very good basic book for creating shirts and addressing fitting problems. I was a little disappointed that it showed pattern making only by copying existing shirts or by draping, although there is much to be said for draping when you're working with difficult figures. The book more than compensates with a host of tweaks and techniques well suited to the beginner. What I particularly enjoyed were the illustrations of where and why wrinkling occurs, showing that even though measurements might be identical from person to person, body shape and posture can be completely different ... meaning that sometimes draping is a more direct technique.

Rating: 7/10 Recommended

Pattern Cutting for Lingerie, Beachwear & Liesurewear

by Ann Hagar. At first glance this book is very reminiscent of the Winifred Aldrich books. It has a very similar approach and presentation, but provided a little more useful and technical detail with respect to bra patterns. I'm not completely happy with the bra technique's maturity, but there is little else out there that might even remotely qualify as a proper pattern making book for bras. While I recognise that bra making books do exist they are based on copying existing bras or using paper and sticky tape which while semi-ok for the home sewist, are completely useless for the fashion student or industry. I'd like to see a more modern and revised technique version of this book!

Rating: 7/10 Recommended

Dress Pattern Designing

by Natalie Bray. Not the easiest book to navigate through, but who am I to complain about that :-). It's another basic pattern making book which I would recommend only if your in the habit of collecting books on the subject. It is a good book but there are better ones around. It does show how to manipulate blocks to create the varying styles as good as any of the others ... I just didn't find it that exciting to read. I do have the second book in the series but haven't read it yet.

Rating: 6/10 OK

Knitting Lingerie Style

by Joan McGowan-Michael. I simply adore this book. Ok so it's not a really informative book on pattern making but when we're talking about knitting with wool we really aren't worrying about a perfect fit. What we're looking for is the cute and cuddly feeling and this book inspires it better than any other. Whenever I've lost my way as a pattern maker I simply breeze through the pictures to remind myself what the point of clothing a femine body shape is all about. Beautifully photographed and nicely written. I've not used any of the knitting patterns in it as yet so I can't say how good they are ... I use it to reminiss, inspire and motivate. Makes a great coffee table book too!

Rating: 8/10 Recommended as inspiration!

High Fashion Sewing Secrets

by Claire B. Shaeffer. I bought this book looking for fitting tips that might further mature my pattern making techniques but was reassured that a basic block (aka sloper) is just that, basic. The book is full of great sewing tips and explains many of the techniques you see on commercial patterns yet are left wondering what they mean. Whether it's how to insert a welt pocket or a perfect sleeve, this book covers the actual sewing part so well I think everyone should read it at some point! There isn't however enough relating to patterns for my liking but that probably wasn't the author's intention. I might try another of this authors books in future.

8/10 Highly Recommended

Pattern Making - A Comprehensive Reference for Fashion Design

by Sylvia Rosen. This book is appropriately titled. It should be every fashion student's bible. It provides excellent coverage of both flat and 3D pattern making. It's not really aimed at the home sewist. Much of the text is designed such that you work through the book step by step filling in charts and tables as you go. I only wish I had had such a text back when I was studying. No swimwear, lingerie or bras however. Essential for the fashion student, not recommended for the home sewist.

9/10 Highly Recommended

The Lingerie Handbook

by Rebecca Apsan. This is a book I bought on amazon that I was hoping was something else. I was hoping it might be aimed more at the home sewist and have a few construction hints, but alas, it was merely a book on how to select the correct bra and panties. I'm only mentioning it here because it's actually very good with a lot of fitting hints. In all honesty it would make a great gift to a young girl who is coming to that stage in life and you'd like a professional and understanding way of explaining things. Packed full of tips, tricks, right and wrong photos and happy girlie images. It'd be well placed on your bookshelf next to "where do babies come from" and "so your child says they're gay".

8/10 Recommended as a parenting book