The Zapp Method of Couture Sewing: Tailor Garments Easily, Using Any Pattern

Rating:
Summary: The best book ever
Review: I have a collection of sewing books. I got this one for Christmas. I wish I would of got this book earlier. I sew a lot of clothing, this book made the shirt I was makeing look pretty close to what you would buy in a store.

I would recomend this book to anyone who has any kind of sewing experence.

Rating:
Summary: Useful and Unique
Review: This is a little hard to classify. It certainly is not for a novice, but once someone has mastered the basics, and is desiring to make an expensive-looking wardrobe, this would be a very good basic resource. The book seems to be quite a labor of love by the author, who clearly wants to pass on her wealth of experience. It is dense with practical material and has an incredible number of detailed photographs that go with the instructions. How to do all the scary stuff.

This is not the "Home Ec Way" of sewing, but techniques worked out by a lady who earned her living making quality clothing. It is not as general as the title suggested to me; it's an exact manual on creating pants, shirts, vests, and jackets in a precise and practical way. Starting with a much better fit.

For sewing pants, you start with a favorite pair that you own, and she has a detailed technique for copying their fit safely and accurately, and working from there.

I also applaud her on the many measurements she devises. As with another hero, Cynthia Guffey, she advocates taking the bust, waist and hip circumference measurements in front and back segments, not just circumferences. This change alone can make your sewn clothes fit much better. If you want the clothes to fit you well, you need to learn the contours of your shape. This book is the most practical I've seen on doing this with measurements.

I really could have used this years ago! If you want to sew nice clothes that you will wear, this would be on a short list, with Nancy Erickson's "Do you love what you sew" and Gale Grigg Hazen's "Fantastic Fit for Everybody" and Cynthia Guffey's seminar materials.