Patternmaking for Fashion Design (EDN 5) by Helen Joseph-Armstrong

If you want to learn or improve on your pattern cutting, this is the book you NEED.Generally The metric pattern cutting book by Winifred Aldrich is used in Europe and this book (imperial measurements) is used in the US. This book however has so much info. This Armstrong book has detailed info from the necessary tools to detailed drawings of what you need to do to get from a block to a dress, or coat, or sportswear or menswear plus details like sleeves and plackets. Pages and pages of detailed drawings and explanations.It takes you through the three main principles: Dart manipulation, adding fullness and contouring, then the sky is your limit. This is the book I’ve been searching for. I think it will get a lot of use. Yes it is in imperial measurements but there is a section at the start to help with that OR you could draft a metric block from Aldrich and then use this book to help with design. Just get it!

Only got this today but can see this is going to be very useful. I’m not a professional and have never found clothes or patterns that fit my shape properly. While I have learnt by trial and error how to make certain changes I wanted detailed information on how to do more and this book certainly delivers. I suspect after digesting this book the pattern companies will be upset as I’m unlikely to buy from them anymore as I’ll be able to make my own, that fit and are the style I want, rather than having to make do with a near enough pattern. Only minor niggle with the book is that it sometimes refers to things by colour, eg the blue line, but it’s all printed in black. I’ve worked out easily enough what is being referred to but they should either print with colour or change the text on the next reprint. Overall though, if you want to make your own patterns or modify what you have this book will definitely be of help. Almost forgot, it includes directions for men’s and children’s pattern making too which is useful.

Discovered Helen Joseph-Armstrong's book through You Tubers using it as their reference for drafting slopers. I wanted more detail than the videos could provide and this book is packed full of the geometry and principles of pattern drafting along with self-evaluation tests. It has far more detail than I had anticipated. Very much looking forward to using this book to teach myself pattern-making.This is the Indian Subcontinent version adapted from the United States edition.

I will recommend this book for anyone going into fashion business. It's must have for new student and those who wants to upgrade their skills in fashion and design. This book covers the whole anatomy section you need to make for human body fashion and design. Although I've not read the whole book but I learnt a lot from the little I have read. If someone has this book and the other one for draping from this same author as reference books, I don't think there is need to buying more books on fashion and design as these two books cover it all. I regretted I bought some other books I got on fashion and design as it is not necessary if you have the two books I'm writing about. I'm like a glue to the 'pattern making for fashion and design' as I can't stop digesting the information from this book. This book is enough if you don't have time to go to fashion school and if you can be committed to read. Thank you Helen Joseph Armstrong for taking your time to share others your knowledge. My plan is to open a fashion studio but I've been nervous to go ahead. However, with the little I have studied from this book I think I have gain my confident and the sky is my limit. Hopefully, towards late next year if I'm alive I should be confident enough to lunch my fashion studio. Thanks once again Helen. Kike

I've been using this to draft patterns on Seamly2D which takes some practice and concentration. The price was fantastic, but the diagrams are in black and white, where as originally they should have been in colour. I feel like I will be using this for quite some time to come. I've used the Metric Pattern Cutting for years but never actually drafted my own blocks from scratch. The clothes are never the height of fashion in these books, but fashions change, it's the techniques that are important. Techniques do not change. I find it strange that some complain about the fashions, but I assume that they are just young or lack design skills.

arrived beautifully packed and just what I need

Love my fashion book! Soft cover might not be the most durable option but great deal for the price.

I bought this as a Christmas present for someone else, on their request, who is a keen amateur dressmaker. They were absolutely delighted with it and spent the day devouring it. A big hit.