Tailoring

by Barbara Weiland O'Connell

How to sew women's coats and jackets. Making selections -- The standards of tailoring -- Selecting a pattern -- Tailoring fabric -- Interfacings for tailoring -- Selecting linings -- Special notions for tailoring -- Tips & tools -- Cutting & marking tools -- Pressing equipment -- Tools & stitches for handwork -- Before you sew -- Getting a good fit -- Making a test garments -- Preparing the pattern -- Preparing the fabric -- Tailoring techniques -- Constructing the jacket -- Shaping the undercollar -- Shaping the jacket front -- Shaping the jacket back -- Tailoring a notched collar -- Tailoring a shawl collar -- Tailoring pockets -- Tailoring sleeves -- Tailored hems -- Finishing techniques -- Linings -- Interlining a jacket or coat -- Partially lined jackets -- Topstitching -- Buttons & buttonholes.

Genres: Sewing, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference

127 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[madwhimsy (Madelyn) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you work in the sweaty back room at a dry cleaners? Do you make men’s suits for a living? Neither do I, and yet I’ll probably get more use out of this book than any of the others in the series. Part of the Singer Sewing Reference Library, Tailoring is a smaller book (127 pages) brimming with useful sewing tips, applicable to most of your garment sewing – not just suits. Each section covers basics that you probably figured out how to do on your own, only here they are, in photographic form and easy-to-understand descriptions, the right way to do things. Doing it right will not only look better, but will reduce some of your sewing frustrations and help your garments last longer. You really don’t want to spend a week on something only to have it fall apart, do you? I thought so.

Tailoring covers making parts of garments that can be transferred to blouses, dresses, coats, and other garments that you want to fit your unique body specifically. Pin fitting, pocket insertion, sleeve and collar types are covered, as well as super-basic things, such as how to press a garment so it will look its best, as well as pattern alteration, how to choose fabrics and linings, and tricks and tools professional tailors use to give your clothes a custom-made look.

You can even learn to alter store-bought garments you already own or have been eyeing in a catalog but aren’t sure of its fit.

Following are the chapters from this book.

Part 1: Tips & Tools
• Cutting & Marking Tools
• Pressing Equipment
• Tools & Stitches for Handwork

Part 2: Before You Sew
• Getting a Good Fit
• Making a Test Garment
• Preparing the Pattern
• Preparing the Fabric

Part 3: Making Selections
• The Standards of Tailoring
• Selecting a Pattern
• Selecting a Tailoring Fabric
• Interfacings for Tailoring
• Selecting Linings
• Special Notions for Tailoring

Part 4: Tailoring Techniques
• Constructing the Jacket
o Shaping the Undercollar
o Shaping the Jacket Front
o Shaping the Jacket Back
• Tailoring a Notched Collar
• Tailoring a Shawl Collar
• Tailoring Pockets
• Tailoring Sleeves
• Tailoring Hems

Part 5: Finishing Techniques
• Linings
• Interlining a Jacket or Coat
• Partially Lined Jackets
• Top stitching
• Buttons & Buttonholes


True, this book was printed in 1988, but tailoring really hasn’t changed that much in years and years, and likely, other than the advent of new tools, will remain the same for the rest of your life. Buy it, read it, use it. I found a used hardback copy in like-new condition for around $5. But it’s worth 4 times that to me. Now I can finally make that Victorian-era men’s waistcoat I’ve been promising someone for a couple of years.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical, helpful. Very helpful on multiple methods of construction. Will be using this for reference in the future.

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a step by step course in how to tailor a jacket or coat. If you ever wanted to advance your sewing skills to this level, this is probably the book you need.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most comprehensive coverage of tailoring for the home sewist. It reviews several methods: from hand tailoring, modified using a machine, and fusible tailoring.

The photos are excellent, providing a step-by-step procedures from start to finish, including supplies, tools and materials.

It looks at many variations in collars, pockets and other details, so most types of garments can be made using this book.

There are several editions, under various publishers, look for it if you want to find out how to tailor a jacket or coat.

suggestion: due to the softbound nature of most editions, we found that removing all pages and inserting them into plastic page covers, and keeping these in a 3 ring binder created a great working text.

[BookMouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always wanted to make a garmet like a blazer that required tailoring, but never did. This book is excellent and really explains all that's involved in great detail.

[Nikkishell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fabulous! I borrowed a copy from the library but now need to hunt down a copy i can buy.

[Cws]

646.4 Sin

[Alessandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have gotten more use out of this book than the whole rest of the Singer sewing series. It presents essential tailoring techniques, well-illustrated with photographs.