The Complete Photo Guide to Perfect Fitting

Sometimes it really is true that a picture is worth a thousand words. This book is the perfect example of how you can read something over and over and not understand it the way you can from seeing a clear full-color photo. I've read fitting tips in pretty much every garment making book and website and pattern out there, but this was, bar none, the one that made me understand it the best. The idea of a horizontal balance line to change where you do your alterations is the kind of simple and elegant idea that is absolutely radical in how you interpret things. There is a whole section on what pull and crumple lines look like in fitting, and how to alter them. It's true that this is the kind of thing that would be easier to see and adjust if you were fitting someone else, but I still think it's very valid information for someone who fits themselves -- I know I take a lot of cell phone pictures to see how things are fitting across the back or arms. It's also really nice to see a breadth of body types and "fit problems" that may be what you're facing, without seeming at all judgemental. Some people have lower or higher breasts, some people have bellies or asses or narrow shoulders or ... it's just a thing you can solve with fitting, not a moral issue. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is doing fitting for themselves. It's a great companion to the Fit for Real People book, which was my introduction into how to alter patterns for size and fit. I'd read both of them -- Fit for Real People had a better description of how to do a Full Bust Adjustment, but this book had pictures about how and why it would work. I recommend you buy the paper copy of this book -- I still buy my craft books in paper -- and then go ahead and upgrade to the digital for another couple bucks. It's worthwhile to have both of them. Read if: You do fitting for yourself. You are interested in understanding why things don't fit. Skip if: You don't do your own sewing. Also read: Fit for Real People.

Sarah Veblen has written an extraordinary book that's light year's beyond any of the other fitting books in your bookcase. I just finished reading The Complete Photo Guide to Perfect Fitting yesterday, and it's excellent in every respect -- clearly written, comprehensive and systematic with hundred of detailed photos that show every step of the way for a variety of basic pattern styles and figures. In my five years of sewing clothes, I've picked up a fair number of fitting techniques. But like many people, I use an improvised, hit and miss approach that kind of, sort of works but doesn't give the best possible fit. In contrast, Perfect Fitting outlines the steps we need to take in an orderly way. The process relies on sewing a series of test muslins which are revised on the body by: establishing the all-important Horizontal Balance Line (a new term for me); releasing tight seams by opening them; clipping tight necklines and armholes; remarking shoulder seams and waistlines; and pinning tucks, darts, and open and close wedges. Then in pattern work, the muslin changes are transferred back to the pattern, the revised pattern is walked and trued, and if necessary a second muslin is sewn for further fitting improvements. Perfect Fitting concentrates on the bodice and includes all four basic styles: shoulder princess, armhole princess, side panel and darted. All the common bodice adjustments are explained and illustrated: full and small bust adjustments, forward shoulders, rounded back, sway back, etc. Armholes, set in and raglan sleeves, and skirts are also covered, again in a high level of detail. The book does include a section on basic pants fitting, though it is relatively brief. It's quite obvious that Sarah Veblen's ability to teach rivals her ability to sew because this book conveys not just how to do something but why it needs to be done, and that leads to a deeper understanding. Sarah also stresses the importance of aesthetics in pattern fitting so the fitting changes will enhance the garment's style and the appearance of the figure. Before Perfect Fitting was published, I read the sample pages that are posted here on amazon, and I urge you to read them, too. I was so impressed with the book, I not only bought it, I also signed up for Sarah's online Bodice/Sleeve Fitting class that starts on the patternreview.com website next week. If you'd like to improve the fit of your garments and have the Tried and True patterns we all strive for -- the ones that skim our bodies and flatter our figures as only custom made garments can do -- I highly recommend The Complete Photo Guide to Perfect Fit.

This is my new favorite book on fit. I have a gazillion books on fit, so that's high praise. Here's why -- clarity. You will learn how to read wrinkles and drag lines and correct them. For me, this was an eye-opening approach to fitting -- it's all about the muslin. Let me get back to the clarity. The title gives you a clue -- the photography is some of the best I've seen in a sewing book. I sincerely hope it becomes the new standard. The book is also well-written. The author covers a number of fitting concerns and explains each very clearly. I hadn't seen the concept of the horizontal balance line before and I love it! It is very helpful. The beauty of this book is the muslin photography. It really helped me understand exactly what I was seeing as I evaluated my own garments. Most of my other books use drawings and it's just not the same. Once you have identified your issues via the photography, the book does teach you how to alter your patterns. When it comes to the pattern work, I switch to more in-depth alterations books like Fit for Real People: Sew Great Clothes Using ANY Pattern (Sewing for Real People series) or Pattern Fitting With Confidence , depending on which alterations method I want to use (slash and spread, pivot and slide or the seam method. If you have a good grasp of pattern alterations, you may not need the supplemental books. I do have to give the author credit for the "Fundamentals of Altering Patterns Chapter. Many seasoned stitchers may already know this info, but for newbies it provides a one-stop shop for the process of altering patterns. They way it's written underscores that when doing alterations, you've kind of become a pattern drafter. Here's some of what the chapter contains: -Blending Seams, Using the Rulers and Adding Seam Allowances -Lengthening and Shortening Patterns and Grainline Arrows -Walking and Truing a Pattern -Placing and Creating Notches -Controlling Patterns with Built-in Ease -Truing Difficult Seams -Moving the Placement of a Seam -Moving a Dart to a New Location -Truing Dart Legs -Scaling Patterns Up and Down -Working in an Efficient Order I think this book is a must-have! You will not regret the purchase.

I like this book, its got some great features and all the photo's really help. However, I think it falls short in the area of sway back adjustments, there is no specific section on this very common fitting issue (and why I purchased a fitting book in the first place). The section on fitting problems for the back area does cover a number of back fitting issues but there is no heading called sway back, you really have to look hard to find that adjustment and then there is not specific section on how to transfer that adjustment onto the paper pattern. The pant fitting section also does not cover the "gaping at the back" fitting problem, it covers rounded stomach, flat or very full buttocks and tilted waist, as well as some other general pants fitting issues. I think this book is best for a sewer who has a sewing buddy who can make all the adjustments to the muslin. There is a big section in the front of the book "Fundamentals of Altering Patterns" so make sure you read that in conjunction with the section on "Fitting Solutions for Body Types" to get the complete picture on what to do (transferring muslin adjustments onto the paper pattern). There are decent instructions for making a small bust and large bust adjustment, lots of info about fitting princess seams, which I am sure I will find very useful if I ever sew that type of garment. In the section on neckline adjustments the adjustments are for a high round neck and there is no info (that I found...if anyone knows that it is there please tell me!!) on adjusting for a gaping lower cut neckline for us smaller busted ladies. I'm still glad I have it in my library. It does a good job of showing what the wrinkles on the muslin mean, and how to pin adjustments correctly. The examples shown would be helpful for fitting a more mature body and also for those who are fuller figured, so this book will be helpful if I ever sew for my mother for example or a more curvy friend. In fact, as I read the book I was often going "oh my goodness, that is exactly my mum, thats why her skirts don't sit properly" etc etc and I rather excitedly took it over to her house to show her the pictures going "see!!!! seee!!!" so I think this book would be perfect for some. For me personally it was slightly disappointing that it missed out sway back and gaping neckline. I realise that the whole area of pattern fitting is so huge as there are so many body types and one book can't cover everything. Its all good though, I do intend to purchase another of the top rated fitting books and I am sure between the two books (or three) I'll be satisfied. **Please note after a couple of comments I have edited this review to reflect a more accurate view of the book as I felt I commented unfairly about its lack of information about transferring muslin adjustments to the paper pattern and I realised I had just skimmed over that section of the book**

No fitting guide is ever going to be totally complete, especially if it has pictures, without being the size of a set of encyclopedias, but this one is really good for most things. I prefer to correct as many fit issues as possible on the pattern before I even do a muslin, and that is not how this book is intended to be used, but I think that a moderately experienced seamstress could still translate a lot of what the pictures show into pattern alterations. I love that this has photographs instead of drawings because it's much easier to see what indicators of fit problems look like in real life instead of in cartoons, which I think can give a false impression of how easy drag lines, etc., can be to see. Also, it includes pants. So many books skim over pants. Also, this is really meant to be used by someone fitting a muslin to someone else, but I don't really find that problematic, either, since it still shows me what fitting problems look like and what I need to do to correct them. Since I can see them on myself in the mirror almost as well as I can see them on somebody else, the information is still good. I checked this out from the library initially but then bought my own copy, and I think I will end up using it a lot.

Good comprehensive guide to pattern fitting. Lots of educational photos of how to actually do the alteration of patterns. I wish I knew more about "fitting". Need to really study this book!

I originally read this book with my Kindle Unlimited subscription, but I was referring to it so often that I decided I needed to buy it for my own. Is it a "Complete" guide? Probably not, but i don't think any book could be. It is a very valuable resource for someone like me who is just making the jump from basic sewing and fitting to making clothing that REALLY FITS. As some people have said, it would be very useful to have a friend to help make the fitting adjustments, but they are explained well enough that you can do them on yourself - with plenty of patience. All in all, I would strongly recommend this book for an intermediate sewist (or better).

I have 4 fitting books and this one is my favorite. I love the big pictures and it explains things well. I’m a visual learner. It goes into detail how to do “flat pattern fitting.” I think if I do it right, I’m hoping I’ll only have to fine tune the muslin or garment. It goes into bodices, skirts, sleeves, and pants. I think I learned a lot from it.

仮縫いをして、補正していきましょう的な感じの本です。仮縫いをして、試着をしたときに出てくる、問題点が、写真でいろいろ出てきます。そのあと、解決方法の写真がのっています。 かなり、細かく詳しく、載っているので、ジャストフィットを狙っている人には、好いですが 初心者には、ちょっと難しい気がします。

It's help me very much for my stitching .

Well explained and illustrated photos. Very comprehensive details. Great reference book for any sewer to have.

Super vale a pena!

Muy buen libro y las fotografías ayudan mucho. Libro para profesionales del Patronaje.