Patterns from Finished Clothes: Re-Creating the Clothes You Love (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

There are several good reasons to duplicate clothing for which no commercial pattern exists: a fatal spill may have destroyed an expensive garment; there is a desire to copy a well-fitting purchase in a different fabric or color; or a favorite garment has been worn to the point that mending is no longer an option. Doyle demonstrates how to take an existing garment and make a pattern faithful to the original?without equipment more elaborate than cork sheeting, tracing wheel, pins, and paper. Assuming the reader is already familiar with basic garment construction, she works through the process of analyzing a finished garment and preparing a paper pattern and construction plan for it. In the process, she demonstrates how much the amateur sewer can learn about sewing by "dissecting" the work of commercial designers. A unique reference for sewing collections.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

“Step-by-step, the photos and line drawings show how to copy pants, sleeves, pleats, shirring, pockets, and other details. It covers copying asymmetrical garments and knit clothing that is stretched out of shape....Doyle suggests ways to vary the pattern, then shows garments she’s collected from used clothing stores to study for unusual details...I’m glad to welcome this book to my library.”—The Creative Machine.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Sterling Pub Co Inc (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806948744
• ISBN-13: 978-0806948744
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #722,138 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Make your own Patterns, August 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Patterns From Finished Clothes: Re-Creating the Clothes You Love (Paperback)

Wow! This is a terrific book. The instructions are clear and concise. The photos are great and show you step-by-step what to do. If you have clothes that you absolutely love and want to reproduce, this book is a great aide. You get to recreate clothes that you know are going to fit you well. There is some work involved but the results are worth it (most of us spend time altering patterns anyways, which is also time consuming). Once you have recreated a pattern from a garment that you love, you already know that the end result is going to be an outfit that you love to wear and that fits you well. Buy this book! It's well worth the money!

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource to have as a sewer!, January 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Patterns From Finished Clothes: Re-Creating the Clothes You Love (Paperback)

When you find an article of clothing which fits just right, who wouldn't love to be able to replace it when worn or even duplicate it? This gives you the tools to reproduce those items, generally without requiring that you deconstruct the item first, so that your original remains intact and wearable. I have previously had to take apart an item to make a pattern from it, or "guesstimate" and trace around it, adding on for seam allowances and such. The latter method proved faulty and left me with mismatched seams and other problems. I borrowed this book from the library first to get a feel for it, and decided it would be such a valuable resource in my sewing library that purchased a copy of my own. I look forward to utilizing these methods with future projects. Recommend!

21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Patterns From Finished Cloths: Re-Creating the Cloths You Lo, May 13, 2001

By	"hilohanky" (Keaau, hawaii United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Patterns From Finished Clothes: Re-Creating the Clothes You Love (Paperback)

I'm a rooky at the sewing game. Bought a bunch of books before taking lessons, and this one by Tracy Doyle is one the the best I've seen, so far... Buy it!