How to Make Sewing Patterns, second edition

If you are an odd size and can never find clothes that fit properly, this book can help you make your own clothes. It is not complicated, but they present all the things that need to be considered when making a flat pattern to fit and round body. It was well worth the money. I can now trace a premade item of clothing and make proper adjustments to make a pattern that fits me. Now my clothes fit and are exactly the color and fabric I choose.

This book is a fantastic resource for those who want to learn pattern drafting, and then use those patterns to create their own clothing. It contains images that are easy to follow along with if you are a visual learner, as well as well written instructions for those who prefer that. This book is easy enough for a beginner to follow, but contains enough information that even a seasoned tailor/ seamstress could learn new techniques.

Clearly written, instructive for not just making patterns, but adjustments. This is my go-to pattern advice and creation book. I am not educated in pattern design, but I am self taught and have created several pieces for myself using the old edition, which finally fell apart from love and overuse. This edition has more information. I do think it's a great place to start with your own designs, but you need to know how to sew first. It's an addition to your skills, not the tell-all book of sewing your patterns. It's just what I wanted and it's a classic for a reason. I love it so much, that I keep it close and available in my craft room at all times.

This book is perfect for learning how to draft or modify sewing patterns.

This book is good for beginners who wish to learn how to make slopers and basic pattern from them. To be more clear however, this book basically covered all the patterns and lessons that my basic flat pattern making class covered in college. Bishop sleeves, as well as basic cuffs and collars, it also covers pants however which is nice since we didn't have enough time to do pants in my class. I will however say the method they use to draft the bodice pattern, the steps aren't clear to me. I have had pattern experience before and it doesn't follow the standard A-B and B-C method which a lot of schools teach which is nice since there were to many things to remember and remembering the measurements to use is much easier such as the armpit to waist measurement, apex to shoulder and such which I appreciate but, because of how to steps were written I can only say I like it. The saving grace of it however is the simplicity of the skirt and pants pattern explanation. I do however feel better equipped to go to my next level of pattern making class after going through this book.

I bought this book to assist me in altering commercial patterns. Even though it gives instructions to develop a sloper, which provides those skills in developing and making patterns, it is possible to use on commercial patterns. Her illustrations are very good. Instructions are clear.

very educational very helpful to a novis like me thanks to the author for writting so well the photo models thanks to them also i am very glad to own this book

Maybe I simply overestimated my sewing/sewing terms knowldge (even though I've been sewing for a few years now and finally decided to learn how to draft my own patterns as I was starting to not be able to find what I wanted commercially), but the instructions in this book don't seem super clear to me. I feel like too often it relies on you remembering something from several pages ago (and that you may have done several days ago if you don't have the time to do it all in one go) rather that reiterating. For example, when you put the skirt sloper together, it simply says "Sew the back from the hip to the hem." Though earlier you added 1/2" to that particular line after completing the basic measurements/shape of the pattern piece, it's not abundantly clear if that is where you are supposed to sew your seam. Some of the other sides of the garment (after the basic shape is established sans-seam allowance) have 1-1 1/2" allowances added. And as you're not supposed to sew the sides of the skirt sloper until after you mark a few of the darts, you're left to wrestle with something that won't stay up unless you pin it (or "secure it at the waist" as the book says- providing no input on how to do that). And if you're pinning it to stay up, isn't that eating up fabric that should be free so that the dart can be formed? Perhaps I'm over-complicating this in my head.Personally, I do not find these instructions clear. But as I said, that may be because I do not know all of the correct terminology or techniques that I might be expected to know before picking up this book. I have been sewing for a few years now- mainly costumes for comic con and a few normal clothing items but enough that I'm pretty comfortable with my skills and have altered many patterns- but I just can't wrap my head around some of the things set out in this book. The pictures are tiny, black and white, and not the best of quality so they are difficult to follow. The instructions for measuring were quite good and helpful (I liked how it would clue you in to things like x measurement is usually this amount more or less than y measurement) but past that I'm a bit lost. I would like to be able to use this book and follow the instructions to make a sloper, but I think I will have to find another technique for now. Perhaps I'll come back to it another day.