How to Use, Adapt, and Design Sewing Patterns: From store-bought patterns to drafting your own - a complete guide to fashion sewing with confidence

An accomplished fashion designer shows women who make their own garments how to improve on store-bought sewing patterns by adjusting the clothing items length and other details to reflect personal taste and create a custom fit. The books opening chapters present an illustrated guide to the tools, equipment, and fabrics needed for making garments, while also serving as a miniature textbook to teach basic sewing techniques. Chapters that follow offer detailed instruction in adapting and altering a store-bought pattern to suit individual tastes. Alterations include adding flare, and modifying the shapes of bodices, arm holes, neck lines, sleeves, and skirts. The books concluding chapters instruct on designing ones own patterns from scratch. Author Lee Hollahan demonstrates to her readers that once they understand how to adapt a store-bought pattern, they are well on their way to custom designing their own wardrobe. More than 500 instructive illustrations.