Customer Reviews

Principles of Flat Pattern Design

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

 

 

This book is really nice, very informative, laid-out well and its information is very clear and fairly easy to follow. While it's a textbook, and therefore its primary audience is students of design, a skilled sewer will find this book to be very helpful nontheless. It's definitely for the beginner pattern-maker, and that's why it's successful not only as a text book but as a simple instruction book as well.

It outlines a brief (i.e. a few paragraphs) history of pattern making. Then it outlines all the tools (oak tag, pattern paper, french curves, hip curves etc.) of pattern making and how those tools are used. Next the book discusses darts, gathers and other ways to fit and add fullness to garments. After these introductions to pattern-making and fitting, MacDonald addresses the basics of EVERY TYPE of garment you will ever want to make! Seriously.

She addresses bodices, variations on bodices, darting for different figures, and then goes on to sleeves (variations on sleeves include cowl, raglan, kimono, lantern, leg o mutton and more!). She addresses variations and fitting techniques for the following: bodices, sleeves, necklines, pants, shorts, skirts (every skirt you've ever heard of and some you haven't!), tunics and dresses, collars, cuffs and closures!

While some of the techniques are a little outdated fashion-wise, (lantern sleeves and sweet-heart necklines - yuck!) the important thing is that it teaches you how to make EVERYTHING which is great experience nonetheless. And once you're familiar with pattern making for the various pieces - you can use what you've learned to make EXACTLY what you want!

This is, in short, a very thorough and clear book.

The above reviewer is absolutely correct. This book was a textbook used in two sewing courses I took. It is clearly written, well explained, and well illustrated. It is also very thorough in going through variations for each type of garment. One nice thing about it is that each chapter builds on previous knowledge and incorporates it into the practice designs featured at the end of the chapter. It also features half-size slopers to work with in the back of the book.
I would give it four and a half stars if I could. I think four is too low as it so excellently presented, but there is one problem. It is indeed a book for beginners, and it doesn't cover all types of garments. It goes through bodices, skirts, collars, sleeves, a small section on blouses, and pants. It discusses dart manipulation, seamlines and fullness, pleats and tucks, yokes, closures and facings and pockets.
It does not discuss bias designs, knits or stretch fabric. Neither is there a section on drafting jackets or coats, which cannot be derived solely from the lessons in the book. The chapter on blouses and dartless torso designs is brief.
In short, it is an excellent and highly recommended book for a beginner, but if you are serious about pattern drafting, it won't be the only book you'll ever need. This is why I have Helen Joseph Armstrong's "Patternmaking for Fashion Design" in my wish list.