Pattern Cutting Primer
by Andrew Richards and Jo Barnfield
To avoid copyright infringement material, I will including links to where you can see more images.
I came across this book by chance when I was at the central library with my students. After browsing through it, I knew I had to have it to go with my pattern cutting book collection at home. At first sight, you might not think this book is as good as it seems. You might think it’s another dressmaking or pattern cutting book for the home sewer.
You will be pleasantly surprised. The book is paper back, making it a good weight for carrying around during my journeys to work. The book is a good size for the amount of information it covers. The cover was simple, eye catching and modern. The layout inside is very clean and nothing too busy to the eye.
The step-by-step illustrations are so intuitive and illustrations are simply one of the best I have seen around. So beautiful! I like how everything is spaced out and not all squished on a page. It is very informative and covers pattern cutting from beginning to end. This is a book every student will want. This is a great reference book and covers everything a pattern cutter need. Whether you are a beginner or experience, this book is a must have. The designs they show you are probably what most people would make and wear, so nothing crazy and elaborate. This is a good book to start off with until you are ready to move onto more difficult designs and patterns. It is very reassuring that both the authors are tutors and are currently teaching at Bath Spa University, UK. CLICK
This book teaches you to use the flat pattern technique. It does not show you how to pattern cut from scratch though, but using the blocks provided. The book gives you the basic dress, sleeve, and skirt blocks. You will have to scale this up. Afterwards you will have to adjust it to your own measurements to produce the final block as well as correcting any problem areas you may have. You will use this block to create all your other patterns. CLICK
There are colour photos of what you are going to make, so you don’t have to do any guessing work. The book covers tools and equipment, seams, dart manipulations, adaptation of patterns to make outer garment blocks. How to adjust patterns to accommodate problem bodies. Covers fastenings, sewing zips, shirt plackets, pockets, gores in skirts and more. There is a bit of information about drafting facing and linings, more than your average pattern cutting book. I would have given this book a better rating if it had showed you how to draft a block pattern from scratch. You won’t be disappointed with it.
Happy Pattern Cutting!
Shan x
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