Reading List - The Pattern Making Primer

The Pattern Making Primer

The Pattern Making Primer - All you need to know about designing, adapting and customizing sewing patterns.
By Jo Barnfield and Andrew Richards
Published by Rotovision and Barrons
ISBN: 978-1-4380-0083-1
Available from Amazon Here: 

This book landed on my desk this week, a long awaited pattern cutting book by Jo Barnfield and Andrew Richards and what a lovely looking pattern cutting book it is.

I had a very minor role offering a few words of wisdom on running your own label and the brilliant Jo and Andrew are based at Bath Spa University and City of Bath College. I'd recommend both for studying fashion.

Pattern cutting books in general an be a little heavy going, it's the technical side of design that took me a long time to get my head round.
The basics of pattern cutting is simply like a big jigsaw with only a few pieces. All the pieces fit together to make a garment. As long as one piece fits to the next you on the right tracks.
It took me three years to understand this until someone uttered the words above and it clicked.

The Pattern Making Primer is beautifully clear and easy to follow with great illustrations, covering every garment detail from cowls to collars and capes. It includes the basics of block building, darts and adapting patterns and gradually works you up to the more complicated details of patterns and cut throughout the projects. I'm going to learn a thing or two also.

What I really love is the look of the book, it's amazing how this makes it far easier to follow and with current designs that you can relate too in your own wardrobe I think this book will be an essential on the bookcase for beginners and professionals.
If you are thinking of studying fashion or just really want to learn pattern cutting get this book.

You read more from Jo Barnfield and her extensive knowledge on all things fashion design here on her blog.

Reading List - The Readers Digest Complete Guide to Sewing

I'm going to start off at the very beginning, some will already have this legendary book. If you don't have it, get it, as this is the sewing Bible. 

The Readers Digest Complete Guide to Sewing - 1976 - prepared with technical assistance from The Singer Company. 519 pages long. 

The books covers everything you need to know about sewing from start to finish which is the important part. Don't worry about it being old, the older techniques are the best.

It details with clear illustrations threading your machine, bobbins and tools. Covers basic patten cutting and fitting and clear construction techniques. There are whole chapters on sleeves and waistbands and zips. The book may be 36 years old but the information you need is still the same and this is more complex than many sewing books today which don't seem to be as concise.

Our sewing machines are still very much the same so the methods haven't dated and it's the go to book when you need to learn to finish a neckline, add a pocket etc. The book has all you need to get started in sewing. 

 At the back of the book there are also some amazing DIY's. You can make a whole foam furniture set for your living room! I am just imagining the looks on your faces when you open this section of the book, (lots of giggles at the rain hat)  it's certainly not for the unambitious.
The original book is available from Amazon here.