Customer Reviews

Singer Perfect Plus: Sew a Mix-and-Match Wardrobe for Plus and Petite-Plus Sizes

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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!

I've been a tremendous fan of Kathleen Cheetham's pattern line, Petite Plus Patterns ever since I first saw her tiny ad in the back of a sewing magazine very many years ago. Since that time I've purchased & sewn many of her patterns with excellent results. Not only are Kathleen's patterns designed to fit and flatter the shorter fuller figure, thus avoiding many of the tedious pattern alterations needed when using commercial patterns (which are drafted for standard 5'6" "B" cup figures), but Kathleen also includes a tremendous amount of information on her instructions sheets on how to adjust various pattern areas to get just the perfect fit for your individual body. Her pattern sheets are a complete fitting course in themselves. I was thrilled when her book came out -- in fact I first saw it reviewed on a sewing blog -- and had ordered it from Amazon within minutes of reading the blog entry. While a lot of the information presented in the book is indeed pretty basic, the book is still of value to even an experienced seamstress like myself (I've been sewing for 37 years). It includes 4 basic patterns which you can make up in endless variations for a lifetime of mix & match wardrobes. In fact, I can honestly say that the purchase price of the book was worth it to me just for the jacket pattern alone -- I love the lines of this jacket, I've been searching endlessly for this style but until now have not found one that would fit my proportions. Thank you Kathleen --- I now have the jacket pattern of my dreams --- the rest of the book is just gravy!

Overall, this product is underpriced, in my opinion, for all that it offers: multi-sized full-sized patterns; detailed instructions that are written in plain language; and is well illustrated I found this book to be very user-friendly, straight forward & detailed enough that someone with good basic skills can successfully tackle these projects. For someone who wants to learn to tweak a pattern to their personal measurements, this is a great place to start. I am thoroughly pleased that there are so many variations for putting these patterns together. I appreciate that this product takes into account the reality that I might be as round as I am tall instead of a tall, large, & shapely industry standard. The downside for me is that I am a plus-plus size & the patterns only go up to size 24. If that info was stated, I missed it. I am keeping the product because the information & its presentation is excellent even though the patterns are too small for me. An awesome addition to my sewing library.

This is a great resource for the plus size woman and even has patterns included. Lots of possibilities for combinations. I am sure I will use this a lot. It was recommended to me by another plus size sewer.

I am delighted with Kathleen's book!!!!! I am a frustrated sewer, as commercial patterns do not fit me. Her book is designed for the curvy petite woman/girl, and includes 4 basic, multi-size patterns, and wonderful, CLEAR instructions, with photos you can comprehend!!!! Lots of very helpful further alterations. A breath of fresh air to look at/read, the ring binding helpful in a work area. Just love it. Very positive, and a morale booster as well. (Of course, you can lengthen/shorten the patterns, if need be).

Really like this book. It's a great value (especially buying a gently used copy) because you get four basic patterns and fabulous instructions on how to put them together. Petite Plus patterns individually retail for $18-$20 each so the four patterns even when you buy the book at full price are a good value. And these are patterns that aren't available at this time in the regular line. If you are a petite but most especially if you are a D-cup, these patterns and wonderful. The only down-side is they start at size 14. But they are all multi-sized so it's pretty easy to grade down a size or two.

This book is well layed out and easy to understand. I'm enjoying the patterns too. I would make one suggestion and that is to include Plus Plus sizes. But it's just right for me.

I really like this book. The fabric choices are a bit of a put-off, but if you have any imagination, you should be able to see the possibilities. The book (w/ 4 patterns included) is now priced under $8, which makes it a great deal considering that each of her patterns cost about $20. I compared the line drawing of the jacket pattern included in the book to my favorite tweed blazer that I paid over $200 for at Talbots and they are a very close match.

Perfect for plus size petites.