I think having both this and Twinkle Sews means I actually HAVE to start making my own clothes right? It's a moral duty. The thing I like about the DIYC one is that it doesn't matter what size you are because the patterns are based on your measurements and you build them up from scratch. So way more time consuming to start with because you have to take your measurements (definitely need someone to help take those btw) and then translate those onto paper with associated curves, then make muslins and adjustments and so-on. But once you've got that sorted, well easy-peasey lemon-squeezy as Hazel says. The book starts off with very simple garments - a basic skirt, tshirt, buttoned shirt and pants, and then you build on from there.
So for example you start with the basic T:
(the models in this book are so gorgeous and totally un-retouched btw, I love it!)
and then you progress to this one:
and then to this one:
altering the basic pattern as you go. Same goes for the buttoned shirt (right) from which you can make the two options on the left:
The only drawback to this is that some of the later patterns are based on the body pattern from one and the sleeves from another - but what if you don't want to make that particular earlier garment? And like the Twinkle Sews book, the assembly instructions are minimal and all text. However they're a lot more comprehensive and understandable than the former! Aside from those little issues, I think it's a great way to introduce the idea of making your own patterns and teaching you techniques for customising them as you go. It doesn't deal with how to adapt the patterns for particular body shapes though, like a big bum or no bum, big boobs, wide shoulders and things like that but there are yet more books to deal with things like that I know - first things first! I'm really looking forward to trying this out as I'm determined to make more of my own clothes this year and really enjoy wearing them - which means they need to be properly fitted! I'm wondering if doing a few items out of here would be a good way to work with the Twinkle Sews patterns, just in terms of getting the right sizes and fit.
I can't wait to see how it goes! Please post as you go.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a really good book, Looking forward to seeing what you are going to come up with.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this review. I've had it in my Amazon list for a little while, wondering if it's a good one or not. I sometimes find the build it yourself pattern books aren't so easy to read {or maybe I'm just a tad too lazy to bother to measure myself properly...}, and I keep wishing there was a proper pattern {but then, I never open the patterns on the books that supply them - so where does that leave me. Ha???!!! lazy. that's where!}.
ReplyDeleteSo - would you recommend this book, do you think you'll get lots out of it?
I just got the Twinkle Sews one, and while I like it (some cute fashion ideas), it is a little sparse in the directions.
I do like the look of the layout of DIYC, clean and crisp - so maybe I'll pop over and order it.....
Ellie, you sound like a woman after my heart with the books! :) You know, I actually do think I'll use ths book because it's well-written and easy to understand. Even just reading through it the instructions made sense which is more than I can say about the Twinkle Sews book :-/ Which is a pity, because as you say, great clothes! The bit that made my eyes cross somewhat in the Cal Patch book was taking your measurements because I'm sure there'll be a certain amount of "is this the right place? Or is it from that point there?" confusion; but once those measurements are out of the way then I think it'll be fairly straightforward generating the patterns because the instructions are step-by-step and she doesn't assume you know a thing about doing this. The only thing that worries me is having to do all the patterns in the book, even if you don't like something you might need it for a subsequent pattern you DO like. That sort of makes it a bigger project and more time-consuming than it might otherwise be. But maybe that's work-aroundable, like you could just draft up the sleeve you needed and not to do the whole garment. Anyways, looking forward to hearing what you think if you do order it!
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