Jackets for Real People: Tailoring Made Easy (Sewing for Real People series) [Paperback]

Marta Alto (Author), Susan Neall (Author), Pati Palmer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2006 | Series: Sewing for Real People series

This new edition of a popular tailoring guide is double in size, adds color photography, and features new and speedier techniques that embrace fusible interfacing and an all-machine-sewn lining technique used in ready-to-wear. More than 700 photos and illustrations accompany instructions detailed enough to allow a beginner who has never taken a sewing class to glide through chapters on patterns and fabrics, proper cutting and marking, methods for pressing and seam finishing, and how-tos that ensure a perfect fit. The choice and tailoring of collars, buttonholes, pockets, and mitered back vents are shown to create individuality and flair, while special sections provide information about stripes and plaids, men's jackets, finishing touches, and helpful tools and notions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"These . . . authors and sewing consultants have long been known for their tips on simplifying sewing techniques."  —Handwoven on Easy, Easier, Easiest Tailoring, the first edition of this book

"Before-, during-, and after-fitting photos of real people in real garments . . . designed to cover every fit challenge imaginable."  —Sew News

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Palmer/Pletsch Publishing; 4 Rev Exp edition (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0935278664
• ISBN-13: 978-0935278668
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book, plus the Singer Library "Tailoring" book equals a good education, December 13, 2006

By 

K. Franklin "Are we there yet?" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jackets for Real People: Tailoring Made Easy (Sewing for Real People series) (Paperback)

I am a fan of Palmer and Pletsch books and have found them very helpful in many ways, but this book was a bit of a disappointment. While there are photos of many "real" women being fitted (helpful) the instructions for the actual tailoring are mostly illustrations. If you need to SEE what something is supposed to look like, a drawing can be inadequate, and that is why I have not given this book more stars. That said, if you get both the Singer Library book on Tailoring (which is full of photographs) and this book, you will have the tools you need to make a jacket. I was able to make a lovely tweed jacket on my first try using the Singer book alone. Then I tried to make one using JACKETS FOR REAL PEOPLE and kept going back to the Singer book for clarification. JACKETS FOR REAL PEOPLE is high on fit, lower on technique, while the Singer book is high on technique, lower on fit. Hope this helps.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Create a jacket step by step, March 5, 2008

By 

Aili Bindberg (Malmö, Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jackets for Real People: Tailoring Made Easy (Sewing for Real People series) (Paperback)

This book teaches you a lot of useful tailoring techniques, primarily speed tailoring using fusible interfacing. The book will guide you through each step of the process of making a jacket, from choosing appropriate fabric and pattern for your sewing skills, to fitting, cutting, marking and sewing the jacket and lining. They have excellent instructions for making welt pockets, bound buttonholes and bagging the lining. I don't know how I survived without this book! They also have a chapter about the most common fit alterations, but for more complete directions I recommend their book Fit for Real People.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Resource, August 28, 2010

By 

NuJoi "Create with me" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Jackets for Real People: Tailoring Made Easy (Sewing for Real People series) (Paperback)

Of the Fit For Real People Series, this is the most difficult of the three books. Perhaps rightfully so because a tailored jacket is a much a much more difficult garment. However, this book works hard to make the process more understandable. Early on, the book devotes a few pages to defining tailoring. Now, you know what you're in for! To increase your chances of success, the book suggests you divide the process of making a jacket into four blocks of time:

-Planning and Fitting
-Cutting Marking, Applying Interfacing and Pinning the Pieces into a ready-to-fit position
-Sewing and Pressing
-Finishing

The fabrics chapter is very informative. It's a fabric glossary with suggestions as to which fabrics are easiest and those that are not the fastest to sew. The section on appropriate seam finishes was helpful.

Chapter 4 is all about shaping fabrics. It defines lining, interfacing, underlining and interlining. It's mostly devoted to the discussion of interfacing. Surprise! There's a recommendation to use Perfect Fuse interfacing.

Chapter 6 covers pressing. The fitting discussion starts happening in Chapter 7. The real how-to begins in Chapter 9, Cutting Marking and Interfacing.

The next few chapters break down fitting and construction according to the various pieces of the garment:

-Jacket Front
-Back and Under Collar
-Sleeves, Shoulder Pads and Chest Shaping
-Facing, Upper Collar, Lining and Hems
-Bagging a Lining
-Buttonholes
-More Pockets
-Mitered Back Vent
-Finishing Touches
-The remaining chapters are:
-Tips That Will Improve All of Your Sewing
-Plaids and Stripes
-Men's Jackets

This book would be an excellent addition to any sewing library. It provides a wealth of information. There's an in-depth knowledge here that you won't get from the tailoring chapter in a general-reference sewing book. I'm glad I made the purchase.