How Patterns Work: The Fundamental Principles of Pattern Making and Sewing in Fashion Design

I bought this because I enjoyed Assembils "How to start sewing". It describes everything so well, at a really steady pace, and with well annotated diagrams. This book complements what I have learned myself from commercial patterns & YouTube - rather than just "monkey see monkey do", Its given me the confidence to understand how a pattern should be drafted and how it would hold together.

Logical, clear explanations that build knowledge as the chapters develop. Designed to offer an understanding of three main methods of adapting patterns or pattern blocks to achieve various outcomes. 1) Cut & Spread Technique 2) Pivot & Trace Technique 3) Drape techniques Teaches you the ‘why’ as well as the ‘how’ to help you decide the best methods for you and your projects. It left me feeling confident now to choose the right way for me to adapt the patterns that haven’t fitted as well as they could and to continue learning how to refine my own pattern making skills. It’s also clarified quite a few techniques I’d struggled to grasp from other books on Pattern making. It’s an easy read and a good reference guide. Like a fool I bought it and left it sitting on a book shelf for almost a year - I’ve just read it through in a couple of days and it’s a really logical well thought out book that I’ll refer back to time and time again.

Just one look inside the contents listed in this book tells you how comprehensively this subject is covered. I have had a quick overview and read various parts and am now starting at the beginning. Although I am a fairly experienced dressmaker and tailor I am forcing myself to begin here rather than cherry pick the parts I am more interested in because that is format the editors wish you to follow to get the most out of the material. It promises that this method will give the sewer a new and fuller understanding of the whole subject of pattern making. When and if I follow this through I should be much better informed.

Excellent and much needed explainer. It's by necessity slow and deliberate, taking yiu through everything step by step. The intro and summaries at the beginning and end of chapters may seem redundant but they are designed to make sure the knowledge is bedding in. Through repetition. It did get slow when we got to pattern alterations three ways, but still an important bool

This is a very good book, although it is a bit repetitive with the wording I don’t see this as a problem it helps you remember what you have learnt, The only thing that it doesn’t go into detail on is ease and how much ease to add which is a bit disappointing, also some of the pages fell out ( printing companies fault) I would say I did enjoy reading it and it makes a very good reference book for beginners or experienced alike

This book was not around when I trained in pattern cutting. This is a tragic fact. It would have saved me so much angst. As a visual learner I found a lot of the other books confusing but I ploughed on. I am a professional couturier now and still found this book informative, it articulated simply all the fundamental principles I now take for granted. I will be using it as a valuable resource when passing the skills on to others and also to remind me of the "how and why" when I come to do something I haven't done for a while. A must have tool for the experienced and beginner alike. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Buy it now or regret it later.

I actually learned something from this book, and that is so amazing. I have short term memory problems therefore learning is very difficult, however this book and the sister book from these authors have been so well thought out and written that even though it becomes quite technical, every little detail is explained not only how to but more importantly why each process is undertaken. There are plenty of illustrations, only black and white, but the book is so much better for them, the are very well drawn and so much better than colour photos. Overall, if you want to learn pattern making and sewing, this book is a must. Ps get the companion book called - How to start sewing, it costs a lot but you will get the best 600 plus pages on sewing you could ever get. Both these books ought to be taught in schools.

I did read this book from cover to cover and found some parts interesting. It is a book for beginners and was not the book to move my sewing on as I hoped it would. In the end the one I liked the best was Simplicity Simply the best sewing book which is an all round great reference guidebook for sewing from basic to mush more intermediate and advanced sewing and fitting techniques. Hope that helps you if you are looking.

A good book for beginner who wants to learn about detail of pattern making concept

It is definitely a technical book and the reading is a bit dry. However, it is very interesting for those who want to learn "How Patterns Work". While you do need to have previous experience/knowledge of sewing basics, this book is a worthwhile addition to any sewing library. The construction quality of the book is very well done and should withstand many readings. A truly valuable resource book.

The book was very unsatisfactory. It just showed how to make a tube with the chest measurements, waist measurements and hip measurements. It said to refer to other books to make the full pattern. Why would I need this book if I have to refer to other books which give me a full pattern. I returned this book and got a refund. I had to pay Rs.250/- courier chargers to send this book to Delhi. I live in Mumbai

I've just bought the book, together with How Pattern Works. Better than expected, better than my school books, in a word better than ever. Let me say that it is written in a very simple and clear way, although rich of concepts and complete, full of examples and diagrams. Useful for both beginners and pro. I'm definitely satisfied.

This is a great text. The key here like the title says is "The Fundamental Principles". I saw another piece of feedback saying it wasn't great as there person wanted to learn how to make patterns. This isn't the book for that. This is the quick to pick up guideline for when you already know how to make a pattern and you just want to refresh or remind yourself of the fundamentals. Easy to read on my iPad too. Thanks.