Book Review: Fitting Finesse

Some Chapter Headings:
Fitting Facts
Shortcuts and Specialized Fitting
Pants Fitting Finesse
Fine-tuning the Fit

I Liked:

  • That she starts with the most important part: “Choosing the Right Pattern Size”
  • This handy little tip: “The measurement I recommend using to determine which pattern size fits your shoulders is the front width measurement. You won’t find the front width measurement printed on the back of the pattern envelope, but it’s quick to take and does not change even if you gain or lose weight. ” (page 8) She goes on to say that a FWM of 14″ = size 14 and 13.5″ = size 12 and 14.5″ = 16, etc…
  • The “Pivot and Slide” method of altering a paper pattern. This was new to me and I haven’t completely wrapped my mind around it, but it makes a lot of sense.
  • Great measurement tables, including those to help you determine how much to adjust a pattern.
  • The Checking for Wrinkles portion. This is the most concise information I’ve found: horizontal fold wrinkles = too long; vertical fold wrinkles = too wide; horizontal pull wrinkles = need more width; vertical pull wrinkles = need more length.
My Dislikes:
  • She has a section on body silhouettes, but I think they are incomplete. For example, she tells you how to dress for a short-waisted body, but she doesn’t actually tell you how to figure out if you are short-waisted.
Conclusion:
Wow! What a book! I only wish I had time to actually work on a project while I had the book. I think the “Pivot and Slide” method would have made a lot more sense if I had actually been able to use it. I picked up 2 really great tips (see above), and those alone made this book worth my time.

Would I buy this book for myself?

I’m thinking about it. Wonder if it’s online…

Would I buy this book for a beginner?

Beginner sewer? Probably not. Beginner to fitting? Absolutely!

2 thoughts on “Book Review: Fitting Finesse”

  1. Sounds like a good text to have on hand. Thanks for all your great reviews!
    Tag, your it! The rules of the game are on my blog… have fun!

  2. Sounds like a good text to have on hand. Thanks for all your great reviews!
    Tag, your it! The rules of the game are on my blog… have fun!

Comments, Questions, Bits of Love

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.