DIY Couture: Create Your Own Fashion Collection

I haven't yet made anything yet, but this book is full of practical tips to aid the young sewist just starting to expand their skill set. Steps are thorough and plentiful. Anything that may need clarification can be googled. The only thing that may trip up a novice is altering the "patterns" to make items from other collections as I believe the full tutorial is only for items in the "acid pop" collection. The other items are described in depth before the tutorial, but it may be worth purchasing a companion book (Chinelo Bally's Freehand Fashion is one along the same lines as this book and may offer you some insights). Regardless, I'm sure once you have worked through some of the garments it will become easier to visualize how to do things. Nothing wrong with buying sheets and curtains from the second hand store and experimenting away!!! Be sure to visit the blogs she lists in the back of the book for inspiration!

This is somewhat the book I've been looking for. Not quite. So the search will continue. I guess part of the problem is that I've been a sewer for years and then took a break -- a very long break. However, that didn't stop me from buying fabric. Now I have all these piles of unused fabric and decided to do something about it. Yet I didn't want to just rely on store bought patterns. I wanted to make clothes that are as unique and individual as I am and actually fit without having to alter it. The pros about this books are: I like the premise behind the book -- how to use 10 simple pieces in a variety of ways to build a wardrobe. There are some great suggestions on how to make a simple patterns using your existing clothing. Then there were some great suggestions on how to modify your pattern to suit your needs. So those will help me get a jump start on my sewing. The cons are: The reason that I only gave the book a 4 star review is because the presentation of the book is geared for a 20-something generation so at first glance it feels limited on its potential. If I had seen the book in a store I wouldn't have bought it just by flipping through it because of the presentation. To make this book more appealing to ALL sewers they should have diversified it -- all ages, all body types. Not all women are built the same. The only suggestion I can make is to look beyond the cutesy categories and at the actual structure of the item and release the sewing muse. Plus, it bothered me a bit that they expect you to cut your pattern out on the floor. If you already don't have a good size work table -- get one. Trying to cut out your pattern on the floor can be problematic. When I set up my sewing room I didn't have room for a permanent work table; however, with the aid of a piano hinge I built one that folds up and is out of the way. The other suggestion if you are new to sewing would be to make a test garment using muslin. Just to make sure. Plus, it is easier to make alterations. Then if you really like that particular pattern you can take the test piece apart and trace it out on medical grade pattern paper for future use. Both the medical grade paper and muslin are available via Amazon.

Based on some of the reviews that I've read, people don't get this book. This is a book for any sewer who wants to learn how to design simple women's clothing pieces without a pattern. No, this book is not only for people under 25. The collections she photographed in the book are her collections. The only one I would wear is the black and white collection with modifications. But that's not the point, nor is that the magic in this book. The magic is that you pick your own fabric choices, accessories, and modifications that you like best. This is how you create a wardrobe that you would actually wear. For instance, I plan to make the straight skirt in a maxi length, the trousers with a wider leg, various versions of the cloak and hoodie, the jumper with wide straps, the skater skirt in a longer version and both as a circle and a square, and the goddess dress in a maxi length. And I'm in my 40's and wear modest clothing. I'm especially looking forward to adding my own embellishments, like piping, linings, color blocking, etc. just to see what I can come up with! My only complaint is that the clothing would have looked a lot better in the photos if the pieces had been ironed, and better models were used.

I like a few of the ideas in this book but I would highly recommend Rosie Martin's newer book instead - No Patterns Needed. While it's cool learning how to create your own clothes with the techniques described here, from taking simple body measurements to tracing off clothing you already own, all of the styles and silhouettes feel pretty dated to me. The newer book covers all the same techniques, with much more current feeling styling and more up to date variations on the techniques.

This book is an extension of the DIYcouture website. It's creator, Rosie Martin, has take the idea of modifiying simple silhouettes, like a straight skirt and basic trousers, and expanded on it. If you are a fan of the DIYcouture website and philosophy, you'll love this book! The book has a nice layout. There is a section at the beginning illustrating sewing techniques used for the garments. Then, there's an overview of the 10 different garments, with a section of photos showing eight variations of the garments. The following 10 sections are by garment, with instructions on how to make them in the different variations. The book has no patterns to trace, but rather step-by-step illustrations on how to lay out your fabric, adjust for sizing (most based on tracing or measueing garments that already fit you well), cutting and sewing. Most garments use basic sewing techniques, such as binding, hemming and zipper placement. I think this book would be great for seamstresses of all skill levels. Beginners, especially, could learn handling fabrics, practicing stitches and just getting a feel for garment sewing in general. Overall, a great addition to my sewing library. I can't wait to try the hoodie and Grecian dress! The Grecian dress, especially, could easily become a wardrobe staple for the summer.

Despite having gone to fashion school and drafting my patterns in the professional way for years, summer rolls around and all I want is a super simple, slouchy, easy to wear thing and I go right back to this book. Granted, I don't follow every method as presented (mine work better for my purposes) but if you have only ever sewn a straight line they work plenty ok. If you haven't sewn much but want to start right away with fun creative stuff, this is a great way to develop an appetite for sewing and designing.

The faashions are very well presented in the book with every piece having many adaptations to the basic design. I can't wait to make a few things, as I have just purchased it.

A good book for a beginners sewer (like myself). The styles are easy to make and the directions easy to follow. A lot of fun. Looking back I wished I had bought the digital copy on the kindle. There are directions with pictures for many styles of a type of skirt or dress to show how a design can be made unique by changing the cloth or pattern style slightly.

testo in inglese , molto ben illustrato e dal metodo fai da te, puoi seguire anche le immagine per realizzare i tuoi vestiti. Molto divertente e utile . Anche se so già cucire questo libro e bello da avere e da consultare . lo tengo vicino alla macchina da cucire . sempre i stessi modelli , ma suddivisi in otto collezioni a tema e sorprendente vedere come puo essere diverso un vestito se cambi il tessuto o il colore .

The instructions are perfect for kinesthetic learners like me. You'll be imagining all kinds of new projects in no time.

This book encourages using your own clothes and things that fit you well already to work from in order to make garments yourself. Although I have always been taught to make my own patterns, I think that this is a very good alternative for when I don't have much time or want to make something quickly. The instructions are clear and do not miss anything out. I especially like the 10 different styles to choose from as they are all totally different so you can stick to just one or mix it up with bits from each of them. Overall a good book for the money :)

Ce livre propose 10 modèles personnalisables, dans un anglais simple et illustré de photos et dessins clairs et grand format. L'auteur donne des modèles sans patron, ce qui est vraiment un plus pour couper vite et bien. Par ailleurs, elle donne de bon réflexes en termes de finitions de base (ourlets propres, surfilage). J'ai déjà réalisé un modèle de robe légèrement modifié, ça se fait très bien et avec plaisir. Très bonne référence pour les modèles de base en tout cas, adaptables à toutes les morphologies. Seul bémol : il n'y a pas de vêtements avec des manches à monter (elles sont coupées dans la pièce du buste et du dos), il faut chercher une autre référence.

Ce livre est parfaitement accessible à une débutante anglophone. Les explications sont claires, détaillées en pas à pas, et les vêtements de base permettent de nombreux styles et variantes avec un peu d'imagination, même s'il y a déjà des propositions en photos. Pas de problème de taille, la coupe des vêtements se fait soit à partir d'une forme géométrique, soit à partir d'un vêtement qui vous va bien. C'est vraiment excellent ; j'aimerais trouver le même pour une garde-robe masculine! Un must have.