Period & Contemporary: Patterns for Fashion Dolls [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Hazel McMahon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2001

At last, a new pattern book that brings to life a century of fashion highlights! Filled with over fifteen ensembles, each costume is complimented with historically researched accessories. The 200 colour photographs show the reader how styles have evolved throughout the century. This book includes designs from the Edwardian era, the Roaring Twenties, and outfits right out of the 21st century. Rated according to difficulty, basic sewers need not be intimidated and can be inspired to even bigger projects. Each pattern also includes directions as to how it can be embellished for the more accomplished sewer.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Hazel McMahon

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Hobby House Press; illustrated edition edition (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875886086
• ISBN-13: 978-0875886084
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,255,922 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, but, January 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Period & Contemporary: Patterns for Fashion Dolls (Paperback)

This is an exciting book with some beautiful designs that are well presented. The only down side, and for me it was a big one,is that after purchasing the book, you have to enlarge the patterns on a copier. Since this will make the enlargement larger than a standard page, it takes either extra large paper (expensive) or several copies to get the entire pattern. This adds considerably to the price of the book. I would have preferred the publisher include the patterns in the correct size.

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forget those paper patterns, June 25, 2002

By 

Mrs Carol Clark (Worcestershire, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Period & Contemporary: Patterns for Fashion Dolls (Paperback)

I bought this title because I enjoy making outfits for Gene and Madra. In the past I have mainly used patterns by leading manafacturers, which by the time you have bought two or three you would have paid for this book which gives you lots more designs to choose from.
After reading the reveiws of others, I thought I'd give it a try.
The book gives you plenty of ideas and you can adapt pattern pieces together to create an outfit all of your own. It also gives you tips on making accessories and suppliers of items needed to complete your outfit.
The only thing against this book for some people may be the fact that you have to enlarge the pattern pieces to scale, but I tried enlarging them on my scanner, then I printed them onto cheap paper this worked fine for me.
I still gave the book 5 stars because it is well thought out, beautifully illustrated and I think well worth the money.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Fun!, January 5, 2002

By 

A. Lupia "amlbee" (Branford, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Period & Contemporary: Patterns for Fashion Dolls (Paperback)

I am a very recent Gene groupie and ordered this book for myself for Christmas and what fun I have been having! Not only are the pictures just fabulous (great close-ups and color photography) but the instructions are clear and easy to follow. I am a very experienced seamstress, but these instructions would be easy for just about any level of skill. The suggested techniques, fabric selections and reference material all add to the authenticity of costuming Gene in all her splendor! (Actually, all the clothes and accessories fit not only Gene, but her 15-1/2" cousins as well: Madra, Tyler and some others I have yet to meet personally!) Victorian through Mod fashions are represented . Suggestions are given for variations and modifications for these outfits and accessories to keep this Gene lover busy for a long time to come! What I also very much like about this book is the innovation the author uses for adapting items probably on hand; i.e., costume jewlery earrings which were made into a small purse, hats from bits and pieces of silk flowers and feathers, and the use of fabrics and materials from vintage sources like old belts and handbags, beaded sweaters, etc. The mind tingles with possibilties! Hmmmm....I seem to remember a red beaded sweater given to me as a present a few years ago.....it really is a bit too small....where did I put my sissors???!!!