Patternmaking: the Basics

Amazing book in step by step instruction format. My only problem is that sometimes you are left wondering what certain measurements are, only to find them explained in the next step. So a quick check of what comes next can make the process a little clearer. Even so, a well presented book and easy to follow. I am anything but a standard size/shape, and I now have a pattern that fits me, unlike all the off the shelf patterns you can buy that need altering at every point. Looking forward to advancing to the second book.

Arrived on time and as expected. Very pleased.

Useful book. Great ideas

Very pleased with product.

I have to say that I have looked at (via library) other pattern making books but I still wanted one of my own that was for beginners. It was kind of a stretch for me to buy this book since it was so new and there were no reviews on it yet.First off, this is a good book, but that's mostly what I'll say in its praise. This book really does explain why certain lines are drawn, why darts are placed in what position, and how to measure properly. It is helpful in making the basic top and skirt blocks. Besides those very basic things, it has a bunch of pattern-drafting help for shirts, skirts, sleeves, and collars. There are no pants (with the exception of a pair of culottes in the skirt section) and no dresses.Maybe it is only because it is the Basics book, or maybe for reasons I'm unsure of, most of these patterns seem a little outdated to me. I know this book came out this year, but a lot of the patterns she helps you make seem more related to the 80's-ish era. There are a lot of leg-of-muttonesque sleeves with gathers on top or throughout, flounces around the wrists, and all of the tops in here are button up. I know enough, though, to not add the seam allowance if I wanted a top without a button closure, or to add the seam allowance in the back for a zipper, but this book still seems to be lacking certain points. Again, she might cover the more "modern" clothes in her Advanced book that is coming out but I don't know that for sure.All in all this book really is a good one, but I don't know if it's recommendable. The book I borrowed from my library was Pattern Drafting for Dressmaking by Pamela C. Stringer. It's a very old book but I feel like the designs in it can be more modern and useful than this book. The pictures are very helpful, though, and I feel like I might get more out of it once I read it through a few more times. It's probably more helpful than I'm making it out to be, but it's still not quite what I was wanting.