Singer Perfect Plus: Sew a Mix-and-Match Wardrobe for Plus and Petite-Plus Sizes [Spiral-bound]

Kathleen Cheetham (Author)

Book Description

Series: Singer | Publication Date: February 1, 2009

Kathleen Cheetham presents her original garment patterns and detailed sewing instruction so plus-size women can create a closetful of flattering shapes and silhouettes. By working with the 4 enclosed patterns, step-by-step construction, and fitting instruction, readers can create a wardrobe of versatile and stylish garments—which can be adapted for office wear, casual wear, or evening wear, just by varying the colors, fabrics, and finishing details.

 

The four enclosed patterns are for pants, a blouse, skirt, and jacket—to create 20 unique garments. Each garment is shown in petite to full sizes, from size 14 to 24. The author also includes her patented Perfect Fit guide for each garment style, based on grading rules she has developed herself for her own line of commercial patterns. Author also provides a gallery of 51 outfits for a wardrobe made with the four patterns.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Cheetham, Kathleen. Singer® Perfect Plus: Sew a Mix-and-Match Wardrobe for Plus and Petite-Plus Sizes. Creative Pub: Quayside. 2009. c.144p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-58923-394-2. $25. FIBER CRAFTS

Cheetham’s projects for casual and workplace fashions are accessible for beginning sewers. The mix-and-match tips are reminiscent of fashion magazine features, providing hints for assembling creative outfits. It’s refreshing to see the clothes modeled on an actual plus-sized woman (the author herself).  --Library Journal, August 2009

About the Author

Kathleen Cheetham teaches workshops and sells her pattern line at trade shows throughout the U.S. and Canada. She also runs a woman’s custom tailoring shop and teaches classes on fitting and design. Her articles have appeared in Threads magazine and her line of patterns has been featured in Sew News, Threads, Australian Stitches, and Sewing World UK. She is a graduate of Kwantlen University College, Richmond, British Columbia.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 144 pages
• Publisher: Creative Publishing international; Spi edition (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589233948
• ISBN-13: 978-1589233942
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #655,542 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not sure about this book, February 21, 2009

By 

Gail Rodgers "moonwishes" (North East, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Singer Perfect Plus: Sew a Mix-and-Match Wardrobe for Plus and Petite-Plus Sizes (Spiral-bound)

I heard about this book and put it on my wish list, then ran into a copy of it. I'm glad I did. The beginning of the book covered how to put together a coordinating wardrobe which looked like it had some interesting points. When I got into the 'meat' of the book is when I started getting diappointed. Please note this book should have been titled Perfect Plus for Petite Plus. The patterns are sized for a woman 5' 2" tall. As a plus sized woman that is 5' 10" I'm not anxious to start cutting apart and adjusting EVERY pattern piece as they would be too short. At least plus sized patterns from the regular pattern manufacturers are based on a 5' 6" woman. Huge difference.

As others have stated in their reviews, they were very disappointed in the looks of the clothes on the model (or was it the author?). I cringed when seeing the striped shirt in a full front view. The stripes on the collar weren't matched at all and so it looked like it was made by a careless sewer, either at a factory or home. I'm trying to get away from the 'dorky homemade' look in clothes, so that set my bells ringing. Assuming these were the best possible examples for the book, I wonder what all else in the book isn't made correctly. The same blouse shown without the jacket didn't look like it fit at all and had all sorts of ripples. My husband looked at the blouse and agreed with me that I wasn't being fussy, it was sewn wrong.

I commend the author on completing the daunting task of writing a book, but this book needed more prepublication work that would have had me buying the book rather than taking a pass on it.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the right book at the right time, February 16, 2009

By 

S. Ness (north Vancouver Island, BC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Singer Perfect Plus: Sew a Mix-and-Match Wardrobe for Plus and Petite-Plus Sizes (Spiral-bound)

This is just the book for me as I'm returning to sewing after many decades. Kathleen's book is much more than an instruction manual on fitting a pattern. The chapters on evaluating your needs and designing your wardrobe could have been written with me in mind. As a recent retiree I have moved to a rural location with plans to travel several times a year. My old city work wardrobe is woefully inadequate. Kathleen walks the reader/sewer through the steps to creating a coordinated wardrobe that works for all phases of life. I'm a former teacher and find that her book reads like the ideal textbook as the instructions are clear and concise, her style is warm and supportive and the text is supported by graphics and pictures that emphasize the main points. I'm just ready to cut out my first pattern and feel confident that I can do it!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book even if you're not petite or plus size, February 17, 2009

By 

Carole D. "Carole D." (East Coast) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Singer Perfect Plus: Sew a Mix-and-Match Wardrobe for Plus and Petite-Plus Sizes (Spiral-bound)

I was anxious to get my hands on a copy of this book when I first read about it's publication. I have not been disappointed.

Perfect Plus is like a textbook with all the answers. It's ultimately readable, very well organized, loads of photos and diagrams (charts, too), great instructions, excellent tips, and great incentive to take four simple patterns and be creative by varying choice of fabrics, colors, etc. for a complete wardrobe. Kathleen has even provided information how to fit and flatter my non-standard body which is neither petite nor plus size.

With four patterns included, plus the wealth of information provided, this book is worth every penny!