Dressmaking: The Easy Guide: Mix and match skirts, sleeves and necklines for over 80 stylish variations

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Scissors, for fabric, for trimming thread and for cutting patterns (that's 3 pairs in total - never use your dressmaking scissors to cut paper as it will blunt the blades) From just 5 basic patterns elements, learn to mix and match these elements to create over 80 different bespoke garments that are unique to you. With full-size patterns to cater for dress sizes 2 to 42.In this comprehensive, informative book, Helen explains how to create beautiful, customised dresses for every shape and size. Choose the exact size that fits and flatters you from a bespoke sizing chart that takes into Nothing is left unexplained; and stunning images of the finished dresses, on a mannequin and on a model, are interspersed throughout the book to inspire your own finished pieces.

How to sew a button – if you only learn one skill, then make it this one! It might save the day if you have a fashion emergency.How to insert an invisible zip – give your outfits a professional finish by inserting an invisible zip. Helen has been designing and making dresses for a long time and, in this book, she shares her knowledge to allow you to measure yourself and adapt patterns to cut and sew dresses for the perfect fit, whatever your shape, height and size! All the instructions have been thoroughly tested with Helen’s army of ladies who range from small to curvy, so you can be confident that the patterns will work for you!

There are thousands of patterns available to buy from big pattern houses through to small independent designers. Patterns for every garment type that we can adapt to fit perfectly to create a unique style. You just need to learn the basic skills to start sewing your own clothes and we're here to help get you started and share patterns with you.. Before you cut into any expensive fabric, sew-up a voile (a test garment) in an inexpensive fabric to test that you are cutting the correct pattern size. It will be worth the time and effort as you can then sew with confidence when you get started on your chosen fabric.

The language of sewing and dressmaking is demystified at the beginning of the book, as well as the equipment you need to get started. The key to this book lies in discarding conventional high street sizing and taking measurements of YOUR body. Helen explains how to take comprehensive measurements of your own figure and some extra useful measurements too, with a handy chart you can copy and use. I love that Helen has included measurements of real women so you can see her method in action. Helen Rhiannon is an award-winning designer specializing in bespoke wedding dresses. Helen was fortunate to grow up by the picturesque coastline of Gower in Swansea, Wales, where she still lives. She creates beautiful, timeless, handmade gowns from her studio. There are many sewing machines available second-hand (although you may need to get them serviced). If you're after a bargain there are plenty of affordable entry-level machines in supermarkets and department stores. For example, you can get the Singer Fashion Mate which is a perfect beginner sewing machine for dressmaking from less than 150.

Dressmaking The Easy Guide - Helen Rhiannon. A practical and visual guide to create customized dresses that will be a perfect fir for your body.How to sew gathers – if you're a fan of the Great British Sewing Bee then you'll have seen lots of gathers on the show! Gathers can be used to create skirt waistlines, ruffled sleeves and much more. If you want to make your own clothes, this is a really handy skill to learn. We have collected a range of sewing techniques which were featured on the show too. You won't need all of the supplies listed here, but they might come in handy! Here are a few things to add to your sewing supplies: With very few exceptions, we all wear clothes and have drawers and wardrobes full of them. Very few of us know the person who made our clothes, or even which country they were made in. In this post we look at a few of the basics of dressmaking for beginners. The 5 patterns can be put together to create 80 different dress styles; adapted to make 4 different skirts or 4 tops; or the pattern for the straight skirt can be joined to any of the bodice patterns to make a straight dress.