Turn-of-the-Century Fashion Patterns and Tailoring Techniques (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Classic 1901 guide to cutting ladies’ tailor-made clothing includes patterns and detailed instructions for creating over 60 garments and parts of wearing apparel: leg-o-mutton sleeves, broad collars, military cape, knickerbockers, bloomers, opera cloak, riding breeches, and much more. The perfect reference for recreating vintage clothing for costume parties and theatrical productions.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; illustrated edition edition (October 16, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486412415
• ISBN-13: 978-0486412412
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #598,815 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Basic Tailored Styles; You Create the Variations, October 30, 2000

By A Customer

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In case you're wondering which turn of the century the title refers to, it's the 20th, not the 21st. This is a reprint of the 1901 edition of _The "Standard" Work on Cutting Ladies' Tailor-Made Garments_, by the Jno. J. Mitchell Co. It is a drafting manual and pattern book for women's tailored garments, such as suits and coats. Like most such tailor's drafting books (they were published into the 1940s but died out along with custom tailoring), it gives the most basic patterns for conservative styles. The garment maker was expected to vary the patterns to provide styles beyond the basics and/or update the basics to the season's trends; to provide his/her own trim ideas; and to draft/grade the correct size for the wearer.

This edition is very similar to the 1908 edition of _The "Standard" Work on Cutting Ladies' Tailor-Made Garments_, which also has been reprinted and is available under the title, _Ladies' Tailor-Made Garments 1908_, by S. S. Gordon. The 1908 edition contains many of the same patterns, but was reorganized and enlarged.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars its great...if you love edwardian costuming, March 21, 2006

By	J. Wilson "Costumer and Avid Reader" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you really like the Edwardian period, this is a good addition to your costuming library. But if you're a beginner I wouldn't recommend it.

Instead of giving you the pattern and the picture of what the pattern will make, it gives you a pattern and a few examples of the kind of garment the pattern will make. For example: it gives lots of pictures of tight fitting jackets, and somewhere later in the book it gives lots of patterns for "tight-fitting jackets"). This means that for each pattern you much have knowledge of the style, tailoring techniques, and most importantly, alteration. This is why it isn't for beginners.

I would first suggest a more straightforward book like The Voice of Fashion: 79 Turn-Of-The Century Patterns By Frances Grimble or The Edwardian Modiste: 85 Authentic Patterns By Frances Grimble. But if you can't get books on Edwardian fashions and patterns, go for it.

I would buy Turn-of-the-Century Fashion Patterns and Tailoring Techniques for three reasons:
1. The clothes in it are really cute
2. it can act as a source book
3. it's great for people who are absolutely IN LOVE with Edwardian clothing, like I am.

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It, January 14, 2007

By	M. A. Wilson (Nevada USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was looking for patterns for victorian costumes and this book more than fit the bill. You must have more than average knowledge of sewing though.