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Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified [Paperback]

Cal Patch
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)

List Price: $24.99
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Book Description

September 22, 2009
If you’ve ever watched Project Runway and wished you were a contestant, or you’re simply ready to take your sewing to a new level, Design-It-Yourself Clothes teaches you the fundamentals of modern patternmaking so that you, too, can create your own inspired clothing.


Until now, the aspiring DIY fashionista has been hard-pressed to find self-teaching tools other than dry textbooks or books with outdated looks. Finally, in Design-It-Yourself Clothes, former Urban Outfitters designer Cal Patch brings her youthful aesthetic to a how-to book. If you want to wear something you can’t find on store racks and make clothes that express your individual style, or if you’ve reached a sewing plateau and want to add pattern drafting to your repertoire, Design-It-Yourself Clothes is the book you have been waiting for.

In five key projects (each with four variations)–a perfect-fitting dress, T-shirt, button-down shirt, A-line skirt, and pants–Patch shares the art of patternmaking. At its core, it’s much simpler than you think. Patch covers everything an intermediate sewer needs to know in order to become a fabulous fashion designer, from designing the patterns, taking your own measurements, and choosing fabrics to actually sewing the clothing. You will also learn how to stylize patterns by using darts, waistbands, patch pockets, and ruffles. Patch offers tips, explanations, options, and exercises throughout that will make the design process that much easier.

But besides showing you how to create clothing from scratch, she also teaches you how to rub off patterns from existing clothing–so if you have a pair of pants that you love but are worn out, or you have your eye on a piece in the store with a prohibitive price tag, you can figure out how to get the looks you want by using your own two hands.

Frequently Bought Together

Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified + How to Use, Adapt, and Design Sewing Patterns: From store-bought patterns to drafting your own: a complete guide to fashion sewing with confidence + The Complete Photo Guide to Perfect Fitting
Price for all three: $48.93

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

CAL PATCH was a clothing designer for Urban Outfitters and Free People before creating her own label, Hodge Podge. She teaches sewing and patternmaking throughout New York City.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 160 pages
  • Publisher: Potter Craft (September 22, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0307451399
  • ISBN-13: 978-0307451392
  • Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.6 x 10.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Very easy to understand and pictures help. B. Rachal  |  9 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
417 of 426 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Video Review February 16, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Length: 1:56 Mins
I bought this book for two reasons:
1. I was tired of store bought patterns not keeping up with fashion trends.
2. I wanted to learn pattern making for a better fit.

This book goes into good detail without getting too technical and overwhelming. The book is organized into 3 parts with an additional section on Making Patterns from Existing Clothes.

An interesting fact about the author:
Cal Patch was a clothing designer for Urban Outfitters and Free People before creating her own label.

**I did a video review so others could get a better peak of "what's inside the book"**
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210 of 215 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars be carefull if you are large busted November 11, 2009
Format:Paperback
This is a great book if you have a very small bust eg B cup or less. The author doesn't tell you how to add a bust dart to the shirt if you need one . The only bust darts mentioned are for the dress with straps and it doesn't tell you how to add darts accurately, just by folding fabric on the figure.
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90 of 91 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book, even for a beginner! October 10, 2009
Format:Paperback
Picked this up at the library, and I HAVE TO BUY IT! I have never seen a tutorial so easy to understand, so well-done, very nice photos, CURRENT styles, and easy enough for me to attempt with my <very basic> pattern-reading and sewing skills. In fact, if you never design a piece yourself, you will finally understand everything about how commercial patterns are fitted, and how to adjust ill-fitting patterns to your own body. Reading her book is like taking a college course, and you get to keep it as a reference. I am so inspired to make my own clothes, and feel like, although she mentions for the intermediate sewer, following her book might be easier than other methods. There are good books out there, but most styles are so definitely "dated." You will love this book!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Small changes to basic patterns
Sewing has many aspects -pattern drafting, pattern design, pattern fit, fabrics, sewing, change the look with trims. Read more
Published 25 days ago by PenWalk
5.0 out of 5 stars Patternmaking
This book helps a sewer be able to make those patterns that they cannot find online or in stores. It breaks down the different aspects of various garments and explains part of the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gina M. Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars Life-changing book. Seriously.
I've been interested in drafting my own patterns for a long time. I took a class once. Bought a book or two. But I always got overwhelmed and discouraged. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Elizabeth Bennett
3.0 out of 5 stars Ehhh, There Are Others I like Better
Very experienced at sewing but not so much at patternmaking and altering I purchased this book hoping to use it as a good how to reference book for those purposes. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tnafbrat
4.0 out of 5 stars design it yourself clothes
This book is really ideal for a younger woman with styles. The pictures are sharp and clear. Good directions on each design. Read more
Published 2 months ago by mamafiore
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for those with visual learning.....
I am in the very beginning stages of pattern making, but am an experienced seamstress, if that is even possible. Read more
Published 5 months ago by MrsPriss
1.0 out of 5 stars Clothes Style Good, Instructions Bad!
I have to agree with a lot of the negative reviews, except when come to the style of clothing in the book. I would wear ALL of the clothing. Read more
Published 7 months ago by T. White
3.0 out of 5 stars A decent book for beginners
This book has very easy to follow instructions, although there are some typos throughout that lead to confusion. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Rabid Sofa Pillow
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice encouragement
When I read the beginning pages, the first think I can think of is how warm is the author's tone toward the reader. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ninoy
5.0 out of 5 stars Makes pattern making accessible!
This book is just what I was hoping for! It makes pattern making accessible and will help me take my sewing skills to the next level. Granted, the patterns are casual and simple. Read more
Published 14 months ago by A. Ferrara
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