This was only my second foray into pattern cutting, the first being by adaptation of a basic pattern, (Betty Foster), but by carefully following instructions I was able to create the paper pattern, and make the garment to fit me. Il libro è in inglese ma è scorrevole e molto ben comprensibile una volta imparati i vocaboli tecnici di base. I have the fourth of the edition of this book and I have to admit that I find it a bit much… I love it to pieces- don’t get me wrong and I can see t has it’s uses but how the hell do you transfer whats in the book to a pattern?

All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. There are straightforward instructions for creating a basic bodice, skirt, dress, trouser and sleeve block. Pattern cutting paper - I tend just to use a roll of recycled brown paper at the moment by RUSPEPA which you can find here . The rest of the book has been updated where necessary: in particular, new blocks for tailored shirts, new details on how to adapt men's blocks for women's wear, and a revision of sizing and labelling information.I do think another book which details how to sew clothes together and various techniques would be a good companion. My other criticism here is that the bodice block is drafted without any waist shaping, this is added as an option at the end of the section and isn’t done in the clearest of ways. I do have this book, so had a read of the relevant section on seam allowances, to see if I could help you. Winifred was formerly Professor of Clothing Technology at Nottingham Trent University and a practicing fashion designer. Aldrich actually walks you through loads of variations (around 20-30) to each of the blocks and shows you how to change necklines, openings, collars, gathering, sleeves…I could go on, but you get the idea.

Metric Pattern Cutting for Women’s Wear provides a straightforward introduction to the principles of form pattern cutting for garments to fit the body shape, and flat pattern cutting for casual garments and jersey wear.You might find it helpful to use our free Introduction to Pattern Cutting eBook to give you a better understanding of all the pattern cutting symbols and terminology. The size charts of body measurements have been revised, reflecting the changing shape of women′s bodies. There’s nothing that I felt that wasn’t included for what I was personally designing, and to help even more, there’s an index at the back as well so that you can flip right to the page that you need! As you can see from the above photo, the layout is super clear, with diagrams illustrating the feature of the garment that you want to make, how you need to hack the block, and then some very concise writing accompanying the diagrams so that you know which measurements to use and where to cut to get there.

The yoke especially, could be held up to your partner's shoulders, to see if there is any extra width.No markings, blind stamped ownership seal to corner of half-title, Near Fine; no dust jacket as published. It includes instructions for using stretch and jersey fabrics as well as the more traditional woven fabrics.

Edit 4/10/22: I just looked closer at the instructions and realised that they do actually tell you to lengthen the bodice at the centre front by 1cm, and I just missed that step. They're such a time and money saver in the long run, especially if you're about to make something in a very expensive fabric or you think you'll make the pattern again and again. I would like to thank Alec Aldrich, Ann Rodgers and Dawn Stubbs for their help with the earlier editions of this book; James Aldrich for his technical support; Stephen Chalkley for the provision of my CAD system. I bought this new edition for my daughter and will be borrowing it back as it has some very useful additional chapters to my original.

Obviously, a big feature of the book is the fact that all of the measurements are metric rather than imperial, which means that you won’t find any mention of inches, just centimetres. I absolutely loved it, the classes are intensive but every week from when I entered until when I left Christine's studio it was like entering a time warp! This seems to conflict with the method of working without seam allowances which is used in my two previous books written for women's wear and children's wear.