Customer Reviews

One-Piece Wearables: 25 Chic Garments and Accessories to Sew from Single Pattern Pieces (Domestic Arts for Crafty Girls)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Great book of chic and easy projects that actually look great! The idea of a one piece pattern reminds me of Elizabeth Zimmerman's style of one piece knitting - all you need to do is sew the seams together to finish the garment. These projects are quick and easy and work well alone or with embellishments. Bottomline, this book is a base for creating an entire wardrobe, down to a purse! The book is spiral bound with an inside front cover pocket containing the patterns. Its made very sturdy and should take a beating on your sewing room/space table ( I have a preference for books built to withstand a fall from the height of an average sewing table). One wish for the author, in your next book, it would be great to see real life finished garment images instead of illustrated ones. Other than that, I love this book!

I bought this book for all the variety in it. Most items are simple, not terribly fitted pieces, but one bugs me: The Fitted Jacket. Even the 'large' is too small for me. It seems to me that this book, like so many patterns and such out there, is designed for the stick figures with no cleavage. I'm not a stick figure, and I very definitely have cleavage (I'm not vastly overweight, either). This book claims it's for seamstresses of all levels... but beginners would have it easy only if they already fit the 'stick figure' type, and don't have to drastically modify the pattern. The T-Tunic is awesome. I had to enlarge it as well, but that was easy enough. Some dresses I won't even bother making, as I won't be able to wear them. Strappy dresses and halters are great if you don't have to wear a bra, but the average woman does have to wear one, so we're out of luck.

More size options/modifications. A section on how to expand/shrink the patterns, when needed, would be awesome too. Still a good book, just needs a few more bits of information.

Some of the clothing patterns in the book are cute, like the halter top, but many of them are spring/summer patterns, and a lot of them seem to be for the slender model types, not curvier and/or larger types. Some of the patterns are of the "T-Tunic" type that you could do just as well making your own pattern for after taking your measurements, and why they weren't presented that way in the first place is a mystery.

And, not only is there no size info on the single size patterns provided, there are no instructions for adjusting the sizes if you want to, which makes one very reluctant to even go buy fabric to make any of these items.

The sewing instructions are unclear, and don't have enough pictures.

I would love to see this book re-published with more size options and better instructions. As it is, buy used or get your library to buy it.

Edited to add: Finally found the size ranges--they are printed in rather small print on the bottom of the pattern envelope. They run slightly larger than the sizes in Chic & Simple Sewing, but are still on the small side.

I do not know what some people are expecting from a book that gives you patterns from swim suits to evening wear. It is clearly for the experienced sewer: I have been sewing since I was 12 and it is 50 years later, I love this book.
All you have to do is take your own measurements and transfer them to the patterns and you have personalized patterns.
Besides if you had looked on the inside envelope it states that you have to cut the patterns on specific lines for small medium and large. I fall in the small to med range and most patterns are for less than 3 yards of material. Some items are not from a patterns but they show you how to cut the material to make that item. There are 25 garments and accessories in this book
None of these patterns are for FITTED patterns but for light and airy loose fitting garments, just what I like, especially for the summer months. You can make a nice halter or thin strap dress and make one of their cute tops as a nice cover up. You can make a hat and a purse to go with it, it is all in one package.
If you bought all these patterns indiviually it would cost alot more than the low price here.
I am looking forward to making my whole summer wardrobe, including the hat and the pocket books. I will cut some down to make little halter dresses for the poor children in my church.
If you have any knowledge of sewing and like to experiment with fabrics and patterns this is for you. You need an imagination to use this book if you do not have one, then pass this by. The only thing this book does not do is make the garment for you.
This is also the perfect book to enable you to use bed sheets that you have siting in the closet, I toss out the old bottom sheets and use the uppers to make lots of things.
This book has endless possibilities I would recommend it to a friend.

I am a fairly beginning sewer. I've made several items from traditional patterns and they look good enough for me to wear, and I've modified lots of items for a unique look all my own. This book does a lot of things right, even for someone as inexperienced as me. As a stepping off point, it is excellent to get your creativity flowing. It helps you understand a little more about construction, shape, etc. However, I just finished the armholes on the poncho project. They are HUGE and I fear the end result is going to look sloppy!!! My suggestion is that if you choose this book and make some pieces, try the garment on at each step of construction, think about your size before cutting too, because one size definitely does not fit all. I am on the small side of average. I fit medium size store bought items, so I took the instructions on faith that they would fit. Not so.
On the positive side, I learned how to used bias tape, so even if the poncho is not perfect, I learned something. It's just frustrating to put your time into something that you eventually cannot wear. It would be helpful if the book included photographs and not drawings of the projects. Leaves too much to the imagination for a beginner like me. I think I'll try one more project before giving up on this book and giving it to someone who can really sew.

I love the designs of this book, but they take up a lot more fabric yardage just to make sure it is a one-piece garment. My favorite designs are the dress on the cover and the beach coverup. The book came within a week and was the right price for me. Thank you Amazon.

This book has lots of very different ideas. I love almost every single one. She does a great walk-thru for me as a beginner but definitely has more advanced designs. Definitely recommend it for young women in their 20s and 30s.

I have never seen anything like it before and wasn't sure what I was going to get when I ordered the item. I was pleasantly surprised when I received the book and the all full size patterns. I can't believe this item is under $20 !!! It comes with full size patterns with a well constructed colorful book. It is a must have book for all beginners and pros alike. Usually this book without pattern will cost $20 or more. Most cloths are very wearable for any age, any shapes, and sizes. Most of all, the patterns look very easy. You are not going to be disappointed !!! I'm looking forward to part 2 of this book maybe with some more basics like sheath dresses, over size jackets, t-shirts, A-line skirts, night gowns, and etc.

This is an excellent book! I love how the author has displayed the 25 garment pieces that you can make from one pattern. What a wonderful ideal to work from one pattern. I hope the author comes up with a book for my little girls. The price is right as well.

This is an excellent book written by Sheila Brennan about construction of one piece garments. It has 25 garment ideas to work with such as Halter Top, Pouch-Pocket Top, Dress, Cape, Wraparound Miniskirt, Alter-Ego Bag , Hooded Scarf with pockets, Lounge Robe, Tunic, Apron, Bikini, more tops, dresses , skirt , clutch , hat and even a section on personalizing your pieces. It comes with 15 full-size patterns and is a nice spiral bound which makes it nice for use.
I think it is a nice addition to a sewing library because it has clear explanations for newbies yet for those with more sewing experience it has lots of nice ideas for inspiration.