Now I don't profess to be a particularly talented dressmaker. Sure I can follow a simple pattern and take up a hem but that's about it.
Part of the reason I have never really made more than a handful of dresses has been the difficulty in finding patterns which work with my quite considerable curves.
So I was delighted to receive Dressmaking To Flatter Your Shape by Lorna Knight. Promising to show me how to take a standard pattern and by a few smart adjustments end up with clothes which are flattering, this book is every plus sized dressmakers dream.
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| Turn standard patterns in to curvacious creations. |
When I initially saw the book I was worried it would be too advanced for my rather basic skills but it actually takes you by the hand and guides you through the core principles of dressmaking so is totally idiot proof (which is handy in my case)
Its written in such a beautifully straight forward way that even to the uninitiated the art of making simple changes to normal patterns becomes something quite achievable.How smart is that!
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| Easy tips on how to adjust patterns |
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| The chapter on measuring is so helpful |
What I particularly loved about this book was that before it even got to the nitty gritty of pattern cutting it featured a chapter on measuring and different body shapes (hourglass,Bottom heavy, round oval) all of which makes it so much simpler to work out the kind of adjustments you need to make for your own clothes.
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| Bottom Heavy |
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| Round Oval |
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| Hour glass
Although Ive only has this book for a few weeks I think it will become a bit of a dressmaking bible to go back to again and again. It includes chapters on adjusting necklines, shoulders, trousers as well as showing you how to make a toile (a test garment or prototype) which is such a smart thing to do if you plan to make something out of expensive fabric.
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| Plus sized dressmaking-made easy
If you struggle to find something to suit your shape on the high street, want to learn how to make basic adjustments to clothes you already own or fancy turning your hand to plus sized fashion design this book should definitely form part of your reference library.Its got nice clear photographs, easy to understand diagrams and some lovely illustrations. I'm already planning a Christmas frock!
Dressmaking to flatter your shape is available on Amazon for £14.78
For more book reviews check out my Booky Wook page
Win Your Own Copy
Bloomsbury the publishers of this fab book have one copy to giveaway.
To enter the prize draw you will need to:
This months featured sponsor is the wonderful Lotty Blue-the cutest on line boutique crammed to bursting point with the very best in vintage furniture and homewares, make up and aprons.
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