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With her "choose-your-own-adventure" approach to sewing, Tanya Whelan offers an invaluable collection of patterns that empowers sewers to become designers. The trick is a set of patterns for 6 skirts and 8 bodices that line up perfectly at the waist, plus an additional 4 sleeve styles and 4 necklines. Tanya gives readers clear instructions and easy-to-follow step-by-step diagrams that allow them to use the enclosed pattern pieces to create up to 219 fitted dresses, including simple strapless designs, sheaths, and halter gowns. The book covers basic dress construction and altering techniques for women of all shapes and sizes. Review: Beginners must buy it . - Beautiful book with basic pattern n thier is technique how to manipulate it into new designs frm basic. Step by step technique shown how to sew it brilliant book for beginners . Review: Five Stars - It's so useful for the beginners like me... Worth buying and you can get it fast..
| Best Sellers Rank | #241,480 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #609 in Lifestyle & Personal Style Guides (Books) #1,243 in Crafts & Hobbies (Books) #1,943 in Handicrafts, Decorative Arts & Crafts |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 915 Reviews |
S**K
Beginners must buy it .
Beautiful book with basic pattern n thier is technique how to manipulate it into new designs frm basic. Step by step technique shown how to sew it brilliant book for beginners .
A**R
Five Stars
It's so useful for the beginners like me... Worth buying and you can get it fast..
R**I
Good
Lovely Book with a lot of ideas but it is not for people who are sewing for the first time or a beginner if your size does not match to the pattern size chart then you have to know how to alter the patterns For me the size did not match so I tired to alter the basic bodice pattern - in that i had to change the height and the waist line, but for princess bodice i think i will not use the paper pattern, i prefer to create my own then do modifications as per book instructions for the Off-the shoulder bodice where princess bodice paper pattern is used. No back neck detail and no back side picture of the halter dresses or any other dress. IF YOUR SIZE MATCHES THEN BUY IT as the book has lot of good ideas. Variety of Patterns to Mix and Match - 10 Bodices, 8 Skirts, 9 Neck Patterns with more variations like Simple Yoke Variation Dress, Blue Skies Dress with gathers below shoulder, Modern Apron Dress, Mint Dreams Dress, A line Wrap Dress. Sleeve Modifications include – Bell Sleeves, Split Bell Sleeves, All in One Cap Sleeves, Kimono Sleeves, Puffed Sleeves. Boning is used in the Strapless and Halter Dresses. Overall the book is good for people those who know how to alter patterns. The best thing in this book are the Dart Modifications and the Gathered Patterns, it shows the minute details can change the look of the dress. The Skirt Patterns are very good. The Six Panel Skirt is a lovely pattern. The Halter Neck with its two variations, The Cowl Neck pattern, Off-The Shoulder pattern, The Button Down Dress are the best ones of the Bodice Patterns.
D**U
👌👍
Good designs...
A**H
Candyland for the Dressmaking Enthusiast!!
This is an excellent book that incorporates all aspects of dressmaking into one easy-to-read reference. In addition to the mix-and-match pieces (bodices, necklines/collars, sleeves, and skirts), the book also has sections on techniques (including installing zippers), linings/facings, fabric basics, and fit. The funnest part is being given the tools to be creative with dress design in a detailed, but clear, way. As a lover of vintage dresses, there is enough information here to keep me occupied with hobby dressmaking for years. The best part of the book is that it shows how you can modify any of the bodice designs to come up with the look that you're after. The author shows you how to shift darts, turn darts into gathers, turn darts into pleats, color block through pattern modification, etc. Suddenly, I can look at any dress and understand how a basic bodice (sloper, as I think it's called in the industry) can be modified to create that particular look. Suddenly, I have a totally different set of eyes when I look at dresses (Modcloth, anyone?), and I know that I have the tools to create the pattern for the design. As everything perfect in life, the book has a few flaws. First, the section on pattern fitting (which most of us have to do) is quite short, and, as the author herself states, is not very comprehensive. But it does have fit basics, such as bust adjustments. If you are new to adjustments and fit, a second reference on pattern fitting would be great to have on hand. Make sure that you know what adjustments you need for your own body, given the sizing of the pieces, before attempting all the splendid pattern modifications that the author describes! In particular, definitely be sure to get a great fit with the basic bodice by making as many toiles as you need before heading into pattern modification candyland. Second, there are so many awesome dress photos in the book, but none of them say anything about the type of fabric used for the sample. For those of us who are less experienced, seeing how different fabrics look off the bolt and on the body would be very educational. Not a complaint, just a wish. Third, if you are new to dressmaking, the instructions are very clear. However, there is not a section where a single dress is created step-by-step from start to finish. If you are not detail-oriented, it is easy to miss small, but crucial things as you flip between sections (which the author is very good about referencing, but still...). But if you are an adventurous beginner, definitely go for it. All in all, this book is wonderful! I am so glad that I bought it. For the intelligent sewer who would prefer to design rather than follow a pattern - this is it. PS As others have stated, you will be doing some tracing to be able to use the patterns.
C**A
Peccato sia scritto in inglese...
Libro fantastico per chi ha già confidenza nel confezionare abiti. Il risultato finale è pari, se non migliore ai vestiti esposti nelle boutiques a caro prezzo. Potrete avere tutti i vestiti che avete sempre sognato in un unico libro! Mi ricorda tanto il "gira la moda" con qui giocavo sempre. Se in alcuni punti le misure vi sembrano inesatte, consiglio di usare tessuti molto elasticizzati.
R**O
I love this book!
Yes, you will have to draft, and you will have to fit your pattern, but instructions are clear and I know I'm going to learn a lot on the way. And it gives you so many possibilities: collars, sleeves, skirts, bodices.
M**A
Beautiful easy designs!
Simple dresses and multiple designs easy to follow! Many upcoming projects!
J**V
Très bon point de départ
J'ai de l'expérience pour dessiner mes propres patrons au lieu de les acheter tout prêts, et généralement c'est ce que je fais - mais pour les créations moins "personnelles", comme des petites robes d'été, c'est sympa d'avoir déjà quelque chose de tout prêt à simplement tracer et couper. Bien sur, il est recommandé d'ajuster les patrons basiques à son corps avant de commencer, mais le livre contient des instructions pour ce faire. Ayant une toile basique à vos mesures, les modifications seront toujours les mêmes pour tous les patrons et toutes les combinaisons que ce livre permet. Les instructions de montage sont sommaires mais assez claires et bien illustrées.
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