Dressmaking: The Easy Guide

Publishers Weekly

“Fashion designer Rhiannon (Sew Perfect Pets) serves up a solid introduction to sewing dresses. “Must-have” tools include a sewing machine, pattern paper, and hand-sewing needles for attaching buttons. When selecting fabrics, Rhiannon recommends cotton for its affordability, crepe for its softness, and polyester satin for mimicking the sheen of silk on a budget. The author walks through how to make a sleeveless dress from the full-sized pattern sheets included with the book, offering extensive instruction on customizing the design with a curved or boatneck neckline, flared or butterfly sleeves, a fitted or gathered skirt, a collar, or pockets. Inclusivity is emphasized throughout; pattern sheet sets are provided in 19 different sizes she has devised and Rhiannon offers tips on adjusting a dress bodice for wheelchair users (the front should be shortened and the back lengthened “for a more comfortable fit”). The thorough advice sometimes borders on the obvious (“Close your eyes and put your hands on your waist and this is usually the right spot,” she writes on determining where to take one’s waist measurement), but the prose is encouraging (“We need to accept what we are born with… this is what makes us unique”), and the numerous ways to mix and match design components allow for ample customization. This primer gets the job done.”


Library Journal

“Awarding-winning Welsh fashion designer, sewist, and instructor Rhiannon (Sew Perfect Pets) has presented a wonderful, thorough guide to clothing construction. The book begins with the basics, such as buying a sewing machine and other tools, and advances to designing customized patterns to fit all body sizes and shapes. Although beginners could certainly benefit from this book, perhaps its best audience members are readers who have made enough garments to realize how much more there is to learn. This title gives an excellent discussion of different types of fabrics, their weights, and their appropriateness for various pieces. The book goes into great detail about measuring the body, adjusting a printed pattern, modifying elements of the design, and eventually creating patterns of one’s own. The author has created her own sizing method—sometimes using metric measurements—that mostly do not resemble traditional American or European sizes. For example, her sizing chart bust measurements range from 31 to 75 inches.  VERDICT Essential for libraries supporting a fashion design program. Also useful for programs such as 4-H, Extension Homemakers, and others wanting to go to the next level.”