‘About this book Chapter 1: Tools and materials Essential equipment Choosing fabrics Why use a commercial pattern? How fo measure accurately Buying o commercial pattern Understanding your pattern Preparing a commercial patiemn Preparing your fabric Pinning, marking, and cutting out Chopter 3: Altering a pattern Simple alterations for ‘commercial patterns Simple bodice alterations Simple sleeve alterations Simple skit alterations Simple dress alterations Simple pants alterations: ” 48 50 56 7 a Chapter 4: Designing your ‘own patterns ‘Creating your own patiein Using pattem blocks ‘Making and fiting « tlle ‘Advanced pattern alterations Designing patterns Simple dart manipulation Styling sleeves and cuffs Siylng skits Sting dresses Colla sles Facings ond waistbands Pocket sles Chapter 5: The pattern blocks US SIZE 6 pattern blocks US SIZE 8 pattem blocks US SIZE 10 pattern blocks US SIZE 12 pattern blocks USSIZE 14 pattern blocks USSIZE 16 pattern blocks USSIZE 18 pattern blocks Chapter 6: Core sewing techniques Glossary Index Credits 63 64 66 68 72 a4 88 93 96 100 105 108 m 12 m4 16 18 120 122 124 142=| About this book Making your own clothes allows you to get the perfect fit, and once you have perfected the fit, you can begin fo add details of your ‘own design. This book guides you through the process of using ond adapting commercial sewing patterns to suit your body, and then moves on to explain how to create your own patterns using the pattern Here youll find a useful guide to the essential patter i i cutier’s tools and materials and the different types of thread Blake provided i ciigpter 5: available. There is also a directory of fabric ypes, with comprehensive information on fabric qualities and uses. All about commercial patterns (pages 1945) This section othe book is a guide to using commercial sewing pattems. I discusses everything from getting ready to buy a pattern based on your figure shape to ‘measuring yourself accurately, right down to how to Use the information on the pattern envelope. Youll ‘also find out about preparing your fabric for use, pinning, marking, and cuing out Adapt ‘Altering a commercial pattern (pages 47-61 ‘Once youve bought your pattern, you might find that you need to make some alterations in order to get the perlect fi in this chopter, yout leam how to make the most commonly used ‘alterations to commercial Patterns in order o improve the ft of your garments‘he patter blocks ages W125) ‘this section you'l find basic Jatiem blocks fora skin, todice, and sleeves in US. ites 6-18 (UK. 8-20), Scale 4e blocks up using the nid fo make your own Jersonalized pattern blocks. allor them to fit your figure ind use what you learned ‘the previous chopter 10 lesign your own pattems “The numbered gc helps you to keep “wack of where you are une transfering your design to pattern paper. About tnis Dook Be Design your own patterns jpages 63-109), In ofder to design your own clothes, you need 10 create basic pattern blocks forall he components that make up a.garment. In this chapter, yout learn not only how to create these basic components using the pattern blacks provided withthe book, but also how fo manipulate ther to different designs and styes that suit you. Find out about toling your designs as an essential part of the making process, and how to transfer your ‘two-dimensional design ideas into the three- ‘dimensional reaity of your own unique garments, Te blocks lac out on a orc ‘with squares that represent tin (@50m) 20 tat you can easily Irarste the nes ‘ofthe patten ‘locos to pattern tracing paper Core sewing techniques (boges 127-199) ‘This relresher course on core sewing techniques serves a5 0 Useful guide for beginners or {5 a handy reminder for those lready experienced in making their own clothes,