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Metric Pattern Cutting for Women's Wear by Aldrich, Winifred (April 6, 2015) Hardcover
Metric Pattern Cutting for Women’s Wear , first published in 1975, provides a straightforward introductory book for students beginning courses in flat pattern cutting.
This fifth edition continues to offer an introduction to the principles of pattern cutting, with a range of good basic blocks and examples of their application to garments.
New for this edition is the inclusion of colour to help students recognize the different sections of the book and to enhance the garment illustrations? Colour illustrations also offer a new dimension to the updated material on computer-aided design and the CAD chapter now provides students with a clear guide to the technology.
The size charts have been revised to reflect the changes in body sizing, the co-ordination with European size charts and to the way that clothes are now marketed to different sectors. The great expansion of casual wear has led to the growth of 'flat cutting' with no darting, and the section devoted to this type of cutting has been further expanded.
This best-selling textbook with its tried-and-tested presentation of authoritative text and clear diagrams remains the essential purchase for students of fashion and design.
This fifth edition continues to offer an introduction to the principles of pattern cutting, with a range of good basic blocks and examples of their application to garments.
New for this edition is the inclusion of colour to help students recognize the different sections of the book and to enhance the garment illustrations? Colour illustrations also offer a new dimension to the updated material on computer-aided design and the CAD chapter now provides students with a clear guide to the technology.
The size charts have been revised to reflect the changes in body sizing, the co-ordination with European size charts and to the way that clothes are now marketed to different sectors. The great expansion of casual wear has led to the growth of 'flat cutting' with no darting, and the section devoted to this type of cutting has been further expanded.
This best-selling textbook with its tried-and-tested presentation of authoritative text and clear diagrams remains the essential purchase for students of fashion and design.
Hardcover
First published February 29, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 19, 2011
Finally a pattern making book in the metric system, my mind just refuses to work with inches. Plus it's impossible to get the same accuracy with inches as you get with millimeters.
The book has great instructions and clear illustrations and basic blocks work fine.
It seems daunting at first look, because everything is so compact and laconic in this book. Best thing to do is to just start drafting and then the pieces come together.
It includes basic pattern alterations and designs but if you want something more complicated you'll have to pair it with another pattern making book, like Helen Joseph-Armstrong's.
Also has a section for drafting blocks for individual figures which is very useful.
The book has great instructions and clear illustrations and basic blocks work fine.
It seems daunting at first look, because everything is so compact and laconic in this book. Best thing to do is to just start drafting and then the pieces come together.
It includes basic pattern alterations and designs but if you want something more complicated you'll have to pair it with another pattern making book, like Helen Joseph-Armstrong's.
Also has a section for drafting blocks for individual figures which is very useful.
May 28, 2025
This won't teach you how to sew, but it may provide a foundation for pattern manipulation and drafting.
Using this book I was able to draft using software (Valentina is a great free option though can be daunting to learn as it's rather technical) to create skirt, pants and bodice blocks. I've used the skirt and bodice blocks to make full garments or correct commercial patterns. Eg correcting the bust dart(s).
Following some of the adaptions, I've altered commercial patterns, such as splitting the front to have a yoke, rotate the dart to the shoulder and add fullness to gather into the yoke instead of a dart.
The book does not include construction methods or instructions, for that I use my stash of commercial patterns, other sewing books or even checking Youtube videos or blogs from other makers for similar designs to see how they do things. This book provides a very specific part of creation a pattern, not how to make the garment.
I've been wanting to understand patterns and garment fitting better after falling into the historical costuming world on YouTube and having dabbled in sewing for most of my adult life but struggling to actually end up with something I will wear beyond a circle skirt.
Pairing this with the amazing tutorials from Closet Historian on YouTube has developed my understanding of clothing construction by leaps and bounds compared to what years of just using commercial patterns ever did.
Using this book I was able to draft using software (Valentina is a great free option though can be daunting to learn as it's rather technical) to create skirt, pants and bodice blocks. I've used the skirt and bodice blocks to make full garments or correct commercial patterns. Eg correcting the bust dart(s).
Following some of the adaptions, I've altered commercial patterns, such as splitting the front to have a yoke, rotate the dart to the shoulder and add fullness to gather into the yoke instead of a dart.
The book does not include construction methods or instructions, for that I use my stash of commercial patterns, other sewing books or even checking Youtube videos or blogs from other makers for similar designs to see how they do things. This book provides a very specific part of creation a pattern, not how to make the garment.
I've been wanting to understand patterns and garment fitting better after falling into the historical costuming world on YouTube and having dabbled in sewing for most of my adult life but struggling to actually end up with something I will wear beyond a circle skirt.
Pairing this with the amazing tutorials from Closet Historian on YouTube has developed my understanding of clothing construction by leaps and bounds compared to what years of just using commercial patterns ever did.
December 29, 2020
Very informative, easy to digest and helpful for those learning with a school/college/university and for people like me teaching themselves. Step by step guides and detailed information makes it easy to understand however, there were parts I struggled to grasp as some parts were a little out of my depth. I searched the internet for the parts I needed extra help with and managed in the end. Would definitely recommend this and newer editions for those wanting to learn how to sew.
March 23, 2022
Very solid reference book, sad that it didn't include (at least my edition) the one major bodice adjustment I needed (the small bust adjustment). Fortunately, someone made a tutorial giving just that information. http://thesewingcorner.blogspot.com/2...
April 13, 2020
will i get it for free to read??
February 17, 2017
This book was initially a bit overwhelming, but one year into my fashion course it is all beginning to make sense. One of the go to books for anyone serious about making their own patterns.
August 28, 2014
I borrowed this book from my local library as I have heard great things about it. It reminds me of a less detailed version of 'Patternmaking for Fashion Design' by Helen Joseph Armstrong (which I currently have on loan from my sister)
I really only did a quick flip through and I think that I would like to add it to my collection.
I really only did a quick flip through and I think that I would like to add it to my collection.
Read
August 19, 2013I havent bought this book actually.. But I took a look at the inside from google books just bcause I dont know how to look the inside of the book from here.. But for me I'm gonna love this book a lot.. Cause it is soooo compleeteee.. All the patterns that I commonly make is heree.. And I love the simple photographs but yet so details..
November 8, 2011
A good introduction to pattern cutting; the instructions tend toward the needlessly awkward though.
Want to read
February 21, 2019Found what I was looking for.
May 9, 2014
Can not survive without this book ;)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews