Replies

1. 
   Ckbklady | Mar 02, 2008 07:50pm | #1

   Hiya!

   I sure can! I absolutely love FITTING AND PATTERN ALTERATION by Liechty, Rasband and Pottberg. I have the older 1986 edition, but I've looked at the more recent edition and not enough has changed in it to justify the cost of getting it. (Liechty and Rasband also wrote a book called FABULOUS FIT, but almost all of the content is already in F & PA, so I didn't get FF either). You can find F & PA new at Amazon.com or used from many sources at Bookfinder.com.

   What I love about F & PA:

   -  that it's a school textbook and doesn't waste space on pretty pictures or puffery

   - that it explains in great detail THREE fitting methods and when you might use each one (pivot & slide, seam allowance method & the slash & spread method)

   - that it then shows detailed line drawings of over 80 figure alterations and explains how to deal with them.

   I was just at the Sew Expo in Puyallup, WA and attended a terrific class with instructor Lorraine Henry (of LH Enterprises in San Diego), who taught us the seam allowance method in an afternoon. She is a big advocate of Fitting and Pattern Alteration, so I found a kindred spirit. We didn't have time to learn all three, so she chose the one that gives the best results and is full of "lightbulb moments". We cut up half-scale pattern pieces and manipulated the seam allowances to adjust for whatever alteration she was teaching us. It was a delight to do and worked like a charm. Up to this point, I had been a pivot and slide girl, and a slasher from time to time! :) Now my repertoire is complete!

   That said, Fitting and Pattern Alteration is a costly book, so you may want to start at your library and see if they can get it for you to "test-drive". It sure comes with my wholehearted endorsement.

   :) Mary

1. 
   desigknityog | Mar 03, 2008 05:41am | #2

   Thanks for your very complete (and convincing) recommendation! I will look for it on our library website and keep my eyes out for a good used copy!!

1. 
   Ckbklady | Mar 03, 2008 08:26pm | #3

   Good, yeah, give it a whirl and see if you like it too.

   Also, I just got the latest edition of Threads in the mail and it had an insert offering a set of 4 new fitting DVDs, which you can buy as a set or separately (Torso, Arms, Bust, Waist & Hips). I don't know much about them (lurking editors, can you add anything here?) but I'm excited to see what they're all about.

   :) Mary