Pattern Magic 2

by Tomoko Nakamichi

Pattern Magic 2 is the follow up to the best-selling Pattern Magic. This series takes the cult pattern-cutting text from Japan and gives the reader an easy-to-follow guide to creating stunning, sculptural garments with a couture feel. Inspiring and exciting, this volume takes a creative approach to pattern cutting with more step-by-step projects for fashion designers and dressmakers to enjoy.

This book looks at creating interesting surfaces, optical illusions and curved shapes through pattern cutting. All the basic information you need to start pattern cutting is included, from the basic block to measurements and scaling. Each project is beautifully illustrated with clear diagrams and photographs showing the stages of construction, the muslins (toiles) and the finished garments. The 200 illustrations and detailed instructions make it easy to create stunning, sculptural clothes.

Review for Pattern Magic 2:

'A super useful thing I found in these books is that EACH of the projects shown has its own tutorial with text, measurements and step by step images that show you how to create the paper pattern. This allow you to learn new sewing techniques.' Imaginativebloom.com



Using this book
Fundamentals

Part 1: Playing with Geometrics
Wearing a balloon; wearing a circle; wearing a triangle; wearing a square; sprouting at the back; sprouting at the front; just like a stole; a ball-shaped accordion; circular accordion; circular sleeve; square accordion

Part 2: Decorative structures
Knots; like a jungle; stars; flip turn; different facings, different looks; cowl neck; application of the cowl-neck design

Part 3: It vanished...
A vanishing scarf; a vanishing tie; a vanishing lapel; a vanishing pocket

Bunka-style sloper for an adult woman
Bunka-style sloper for an adult woman (size M) (half-scale)

*The dress form used as the basis for the designs in this book is the Bunka-style sloper (block) for an adult Japanese woman. All patterns are for a size M Japanese woman (bust 83cm, waist 64cm, and centre back length 38cm). The position of the cutting and opening out lines, the allowances, and other measurements may vary according to garment size. If you are using the half-scale dress form, reduce the full-sized measurements on the drawings by half when you develop the patterns.

For more Pattern Magic inspiration try the companion
Pattern Magic
Pattern Magic 3
Pattern Stretch Fabrics

Genres: Fashion, Sewing, Crafts, Nonfiction, Art, Fashion Design, Design

Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 2011

About the author

After serving many years as a professor at Bunka Fashion College, Ms. Nakamichi currently delivers lectures and holds courses on design making, both in Japan and overseas.

Reviews

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what it is—I'm finding pattern books pretty much unreadable, like they're not really books at all (perhaps they aren't). I'm also reading a book on pattern drafting for menswear, and it's all about making slopers, and measuring, and drawing lines hither and thither and dividing by x and changing the angle etc. ... it's all like the section of the Bible where they're given instructions on building the temple, which was where I bailed there.

Instructions just aren't good reading.

I'm not sure what I want—I supposed if it exists, I'll know it when I see it—something that just, in a conversational narrative way, imparts the idea of how to do this sort of thing in general, rather than the mind-numbingly dull details of each specific shape.

Or, it could be that I'm not the audience—that for someone more conversant with patterns and such, this is fun light reading with a bit of a fantasy edge, the pattern book equivalent of magic realism. I'm not that person, so I don't know.

As for me, I looked at each picture, read one or two patterns (and thought no, I'll never do that and don't quite follow) and the book was done in 7 minutes.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful.)

[Greem Jellyfish]

Pattern cutting, and dress making process make me feel in touch with my grounded self and my grand mother. It also reminds me of my mentor, 4pm, and Aram because we would make clothes together at Haja in Seoul. I love the logical, step by step instruction. It's a journey to get to the precious creation. All these clothes are pretty weird and artistic which I used to adore so much.

[Eva Zeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I don’t think I might follow any of the patterns, I think the book is great in illustrating that pattern making is just a great application of 3D geometry. I love it.

[Ander Bertolín · Rating 4 out of 5]

+ referencias

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful resource for the more avant garde silhouettes and shapes that Japanese fashion and Bunka Fashion College are known for, but definitely not for beginners (i.e. me). Will be interesting to come back to later when I have more experience, especially the geometric shapes.

[Maer · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this - so many ideas came from this!!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly the other most magnificent sewing book ever.

[Flitterkit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful fun even if you don't sew and just like neat visual ideas.

[Ligaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book for those of us interested in the intricacies of pattern drafting and fashion design. Very inspirational!

[Mirja Mikkonen · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love this