Dressmaking: The Easy Guide: Mix and match skirts, sleeves and necklines for over 80 stylish variations
£14.70£19.00 (-23%)
Create bespoke garments that fit and flatter!
In this comprehensive, informative book, Helen explains how to create beautiful, customized dresses for every shape and size. Choose the exact size that fits and flatters you from a bespoke sizing chart that takes into account differences in body size across bust, waist and hips.
Trace off your pattern pieces, then create a sample (toile) in calico which you can then adapt to create the dress of your dreams, in your own choice of fabulous fabric.
There are four style options each for sleeves and necklines, including a flared sleeve, a capped sleeve, a sweetheart neckline or a boatneck; and five skirt options, including a fitted pencil-style skirt, a zhuzhy circle skirt, and an A-line, with or without pleats.
You can also choose to add a sweet, classic Peter Pan collar, or inseam pockets, to your garment. Alternatively, you can even create a skirt as a separate garment, simply by adding a waistband or facing.
The language of sewing and dressmaking is demystified at the beginning of the book, as well as the equipment you need to get started.
Nothing is left unexplained; and stunning images of the finished dresses, on a mannequin and on a model, are interspersed throughout the book to inspire your own finished pieces.
Extra copies of the full-size pattern sheets/pattern templates exclusive to Dressmaking: The Easy Guide by Helen Rhiannon are available here.
Read more
Additional information
| Publisher | Search Press (23 Jun. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 160 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1782218912 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1782218913 |
| Dimensions | 22.23 x 20.32 x 28.91 cm |
by S J Hendry
I love this book!
I am a beginner and it has guided me through how to first make a well fitting toile and then adjust the pattern pieces. I can now use the pattern, guidance and pictures from the book to make different styles of dresses and separates. There are different necklines , skirts and sleeves to try. The author is an amazing support to those following on a dedicated Facebook page. I can highly recommend to a beginner and from what I’ve read the book is also suitable for seasoned dressmakers, who say that they are ‘fed up’ of making I’ll fitting clothes and that this book has been a game changer. Well worth it !!
by Mrs Anne Thompson
Brilliant book, easy to follow, good ideas and even if you have been sewing for a while there are interesting things to learn from this book.
by Inspiration
I like this book very useful also it’s similar to the training course I was taught in
by Amazon Customer
I am an experienced sewer and have made lots of different types of projects over the years. I bought this book to take me back to basics as, like many other people, am not happy with the fit of the dresses I made.
The book is very detailed and easy to follow. It is a must for the beginner to understand how to use a pattern an make it fit. For the more advanced sewer, it gives lots of detailed ways to alter patterns to change the style of the dress and make it fit. Making the toile adds a couple of hours to the sewing project but makes a huge difference to getting it to fit your shape. I would highly recommend the book to inexperienced and experienced sewers, who like me wasn’t happy with made clothes that didn’t always fit well. Thank you to the Helen Rhiannon for sharing her craft.
by Gill
Suitable for beginners & experienced sewers
by Dai Lloyd
I preordered this book as I thought it would be good and I haven’t been disppointed. I am an experienced dressmaker but fitting the dresses to my very particular shape has often been difficult. I am pear shapped,have narrow shoulders a rounded upper back low bust line and usually need a full bust adjustment. I took my time working through the various steps to make my toiles and it now fits! I have tried other simular books with limited sucess. Helen’s method works for me. The facebook group associated with it is good too where you can get advice and watch videos of Helen showing you how to do it. Cath Lloyd
by Mrs. J. Healey
Buy this book!. It’s perfect for whatever stage you are at in your dressmaking journey. The instructions are well explained and the steps clearly set out. If you follow them you will have a well fitting block that you can adapt for many dresses, skirts and tops. The associated Facebook group is full of helpful people and Helen herself often comments on posts. I can’t recommend this book highly enough – I’d like to give it 10+ stars!
by Nana
This book is perfect for a beginner or any sewer who for whatever reason isn’t happy with the fit of their self made clothes… fantastic support from a social media group and lots of free access videos from the author to support the instructions in the book. The book comes with traceable basic patterns to make a toile .