The Savvy Seamstress: An Illustrated Guide to Customizing Your Favorite Patterns

Description

Transform your favorite garment patterns, one small detail at a time. Add or remove pockets, adjust the neckline, or swap a zippered back to a button front! With step-by-step instructions, clear illustrations, and how-to photos, you'll learn to make and sew endless variations on your favorite men's, women's, and children's garment patterns, with a professional finish. Whether you have basic sewing skills or are a confident dressmaker, you can learn to be your own fashion designer.

Nicole Mallalieu has been sewing obsessively since the age of three. Since then, she has achieved a degree in fashion and worked as a designer, pattern maker, author, sewing teacher and fashion lecturer. She lives in Melbourne, Australia. Visit her blog at nicolemdesign.blogspot.com

In this guide, Mallalieu (The Better Bag Maker) takes experienced sewists step-by-step through the process of adapting and adjusting commercial sewing patterns. The focus is on making changes to the garment, such as adding pockets, adding or changing fasteners (zippers, buttons, etc.), and adjusting collars, cuffs, and sleeves. Each chapter focuses on a specific topic, and Mallalieu provides a concise explanation and expert tips, as well as numerous diagrams and photographs. VERDICT Skilled sewists interested in altering their favorite patterns will find an abundance of advice here; sewists seeking to change the fit of garments should look to the late Nancy Zieman's classic Pattern Fitting with Confidence.--Library Journal, January 2018