The Beginner's Guide to Dressmaking by Wendy Ward
The Beginners Guide To Dressmaking: Sewing techniques and patterns to make your own clothes by Wendy Ward
This is the ultimate guide to how to make your own clothes even if you have never done so before. As well as step-by-step instructions for 14 key dressmaking techniques, there are six classic, wearable garments to choose from. Included are full-scale multi-sized paper patterns for all 6 garments so you can get started immediately.
The garments include a maxi dress/skirt, jersey top, simple jacket, trousers, fishtail skirt and a shift dress. The author has also included an additional section on ways to modify the basic patterns using ideas such as pockets and collars which you can choose to add to the basic patterns as your skills improve. Pattern pieces for these customising ideas are also included on the pull-out pattern sheets.
Written by a fashion industry professional and qualified teacher who has been teaching people to sew for 7 years, you will be guided through each project step-by-step and be making your own new wardrobe of perfectly fitting clothes in no time.
CONTENTS:
1. The Projects:
- a classic T-shirt
- Maxi Dress/Skirt
- Trousers
- Fishtail skirt
- Simple boxy biker style jacket
- a classic Shift dress.
2. Techniques - covering all the basic dressmaking techniques you need to get started on making your own clothes, explained and illustrated in detail:
- Working with fabric
- Using paper patterns
- Taking measurements
- Sewing machine basics
- Seams
- Hems
- Darts
- Gathering
- Pleats
- Centred zip
- Using bias binding
- Understitching
- Setting in sleeves
- Sewing knit fabrics.
3. Customising - ideas for modifying the basic patterns:
- Adding custom seams
- Adding ruffles
- Adding patch pockets
- Adding side seam pockets
- Adding collars.
4. Glossary – a comprehensive list of fabrics and sewing techniques written in an accessible user-friendly style without lots of technical jargon.
5. Suppliers - a list of good sources of all the materials used in the book.
NOTE: The patterns are printed full-scale in 5 sizes which cover the following range: bust 84-101cm (33-40"), waist 68-85cm (27-33.5"), hips 92-109cm (36-43"). Three of the patterns are for stretch fabrics so aren't very fitted, the other three patterns are for woven fabrics and two of them are fairly fitted.