Customer Reviews

Make Your Own Patterns: An Easy Step-By-Step Guide To Making Over 60 Patterns

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Patterns are so easy to find nowadays for $1.99 (or at the very least, at half price), that only those with fitting difficulties would want to draft from scratch, and this book assumes that the user has the perfect, very young figure. I am quite experienced at both alterations and drafting from body measurements, and I can tell you that the thing which is most overlooked is that the greatest variation in the body is from the side view, while her waist and hip values assumes half of each measurement falls in the front and half falls in the back of the body, which is true for almost no one who is not on the cast of "Friends." If you have fitting problems sufficient to drive you to want to make your own patterns, this book will do nothing for you, whether you have a large or drooping bust, large derriere, low abdomen, flabby upper arms, etc. I personally prefer "Bodymapping" by Kathy Illian, "Fantastic Fit for Every Body" by Gale Grigg Hazen, or even "Every Sewer's Guide to the Perfect Fit" by Mary Morris & Sally McCann. A to-die-for pattern-making book (although it does not cover fitting) is "Make Your Own Patterns" by Adele Margolis. It is not flashy, but the wealth of information is breathtaking and inspiring. If you want to be avant-garde, then "Make Your Own Japanese Clothes" by John Marshall is a super little book.

A real help is an actual mold of your body (neither difficult nor expensive to do, and a hysterically funny weekend project for two sewing friends), as described in "My Twin Dress Form" by Carol Stith. I don't know if it is still in print, but it is the absolute best way to produce a proper sewing mannequin. No matter what your figure characteristics, you can produce pretty good results if you have an accurate model to drape on.

I have a number of books intended for the professional that are too expensive to recommend, but if you want to be *really* chic, the absolute best of the best is "Modern Pattern Design" by Harriet Pepin. This gem is a Funk & Wagnalls Company publication from 1942, and it is utterly delightful. Many of the techniques are within the range of anyone even slightly willing to try something new, and they are so old that they are new again. You don't even have to draft a pattern from scratch (although detailed directions are given if you wish to do so) to apply some of the details. If you love the clothes in old movies, this book has more than pictures; it has details on how to produce them.

I would recommend any of the above books over this one.

I have been drafting patterns for years and have read many patternmaking books, from the usual books found at public libraries to the expensive, comprehensive pattern-drafting textbooks. Many books offer the instruction needed to draft an effective, well-fitting pattern. However, many are very costly, dry, technically focused with little to offer for readability, photos, and enjoyablity. Make Your Own Patterns: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Making Over 60 Patterns, is a wonderful blend of affordability, how-to drafting skill, clear, easy instruction, and a pleasing format and layout that makes for optimum user-friendly use, particularly for someone new to making their own patterns.

Rene Bergh takes you through understanding and taking your measurements, then step-by-step through how these measurements create a two-dimensional pattern to fit a three-dimensional form. Hands-on patternmaking occurs as you create your own "sloper" or pattern shell custom fit to you! You then use these basic pattern pieces to create almost limitless designs and styles all to your own preference and liking. Bergh presents dozens of examples with clear step-by-step instructions on how to duplicate the design technique with your own basic pattern sloper you made. She includes full-color drawings or photos that illustrate the finished design, as well as the technical diagrams to accompany the step-by-step instruction, when needed. It all combines for a readable book with concepts that are clear and easy to duplicate.

Sewing experience would be recommended for this book, as well as familiarity and comfort with various types of clothing patterns. You do not need to be an expert in the least, however, and even if you have only sewn with commercial patterns and never made a pattern or adjustment of your own, you could be well on your way to creating your own special style with this book. I am not plus-sized and fit a standard pattern size, however, I have used this book's techniques to create dozens of patterns for plus size friends and relatives of all types and curves. They have all turned out beautifully with an excellent fit. Infact, when drafting specifically for a plus size friend, this is my preferred book to reference, or when drafting for myself. This is also a fun reference book to flip through when you're looking for a new idea or inspiration to add a special touch to your sewing.

Even if you have no interest in making a custom fit and drafted pattern, this book could be invaluable for how to make basic and varied design changes to a regular commercial pattern you found at a fabric store. You could browse the fabric store pattern catalogs knowing that you can pick and choose patterns that fit your basic liking and change the details for your own style and taste! Or you could say, "I'll just make my own!" Enjoy!

This book starts out immediately with drafting a fitted bodice, which is remarkably easy and accurate. It goes on to illustrate how to draft basic bodices, skirts and pants, and how to modify them with design features. It is not in anyway a textbook on pattern drafting and does not go into any detail regarding pivoting darts, determining ease or fitting specific figures. It is more a starting point for designing independantly and could well be used in conjuction with an existing sloper or basic commercial pattern.

My hat is off to Ms. Bergh. She has successfully illustrated a simplistic method to creating original fashions. Not only are the styles contemporary, but the explanations are clear and complete. I've been hunting for such a book for three years. Having tried several books, this book has left the others wanting. It includes tools needed, step by step illustrations, color photos as well as color illustrations. I was most impressed with the pattern drawing methods which allowed me to tailor the design right down to the last mm. This is different than the general over all theories given in other books. The book inspires confidence.

It took awhile for me to discover that almost nobody (literally, no BODY!) can use commercial patterns without considerable alteration. Authors such as Nancy Zieman explain why this is so in their books on pattern alteration, as well as suggesting possible solutions. Rene Bergh goes an important step further: avoid many of the commercial pattern misfit issues by making your own pattern from scratch! I've tried it and it's fairly simple to do. There is a minimum of math involved; anybody who can use a ruler and recognize a 90º angle can apply the instructions in this book.
I've used the book frequently to draft patterns for theatrical costumes; it has been lifesaving! In sum, I'd recommend this to anyone, particularly a novice or non-professional pattern drafter.

While I agree with the comment about Bergh's assumption that everyone measures the same front and back (but if you read carefully you find out how to draft a pattern that fits your real shape), I still found this a very useful book. Even if one is not plus size, as one gets older, one's figure gets more, shall we say, individual and this book DOES help one to draft and redraft slopers and then patterns. I have sewn for over twenty years and all I ever did before was to follow instructions until I bought this book. I have been working my way through drafting and making different skirt styles, and the end results are really much better fitted (and therefore more comfortable too) than anything I made before. I will next move on to pants, I hope, and then tops. In the meantime my "fixing" of commercial patterns which fit me badly has improved beyond all measure. Yes, this book is simple and yes, it is not very advanced and there is no advice about design, but I have slowly learned a fair bit from it and for me it was worth the money. The useful thing that she gives (if you are not plus size it has to be admitted) is a set of slopers which you can scale up to make your own. I guess the reason she cannot do this for plus sizes is the fact that plus size bodies tend to vary more in the way they distribute bulk (see Kathleen Fasanella's very informative website on this topic and on why manufacturere find this group hard to cater for). So this book is good for people like me - people who can sew but are novices at pattern drafting, who want to move on from just "following instructions" but do not have very specific fitting issues. I think I might have benefited more if it were a bit more chatty and encouraging, but that might irritate other personality types. Good enough for me.

this book is to the point, easy and straight forward instructions,the illustrations are good. I would recommend this book for beginners or those who prefer making their own patterns instead of buying.

This book is great for those who would rather prefer to make their own patterns and design their own outfits. The photos make following the directions easy and the explanations are perfectly understandable. What a great book!

Rene Bergh takes the mystery out of making patterns by providing simple instructions that anyone can do. I especially like the instructions for making pants patterns. I have never been able to make pants that fit properly, and now I can make them whenever I want. Hooray! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sewing and would like to make clothes that fit properly.

I just got this book and read through it, and I have to say I am very pleased! I haven't made anything from it yet, but the instructions are very clear. The only things I disliked were the clothes they made for the model in the pictures are hideous, also I didn't see any drawings or instructions for working on the BACK of a bodice. The drawings are very good. I love that it comes with quarter-sized pattern peices in the back which you can size up and adjust to fit you if you decide not to make your own from the step by step guide to a basic bodice she gives you.