Comments on: Review: Chic & Simple Sewing

By: Sister-Diane

Sister-Diane — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:51:32 +0000

I’ve been able to do these kinds of small size increases with quite a few book patterns, Amber, and I think it would be doable here. I usually do this by a wholly unscientific process of eyeballing, but I love this grading how-to:

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/4368/making-sense-of-pattern-grading/page/all

This one’s very detailed, too: http://sensibility.com/tips/how-to-resize-a-pattern/

Hope that helps!

By: Amber

Amber — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:01:35 +0000

I really want this!!
But I’m bigger than the largest sizing :/
Would it be hard for a beginner to make it a few inches bigger?

By: Pinktulipza

Pinktulipza — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:55:24 +0000

Thank you for a fantastic book review! I have already ordered this book and should receive it in the next day or so, before I saw your review, but I would have appreciated seeing your review anyway. I also do some craft book reviews on my blog and I tend to post lots of pictures as well. I know how frustrating it is to preview a book online and just see the front and back covers, the index and first few pages. This does not give you any idea what to expect! I am sure we have all ended up with a book and you are not satisfied becuase it was not what you expected. This kind of review ensures you know what you are buying. This makes me glad I did order the book. Thanks again!

By: Pinktulipza

Pinktulipza — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:55:00 +0000

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:36:49 +0000

I agree with Emily, although I’m larger than she is. This book doesn’t even cover my size. Since when has a 37″ bust been a large? The clothes look lovely but the publisher/author have lost a whole swathe of sewers by not including at least up to a 40″ bust in the patterns…

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:36:00 +0000

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:00:24 +0000

I was all ready to buy this book, but then I saw the size info – is it just me, or is this aimed primarily at skinny minnies? I’m a British size 12 (which I think is an American size 8?) and have a 29 or 30″ waist (depending on how much chocolate I’ve eaten :). By the size chart in the book I would be a ‘large’! I’d be worried some of the clothes wouldn’t fit.

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:00:00 +0000

By: YooJin

YooJin — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:07:03 +0000

I bought this book and love all the designs but as a beginning sewer, I didn’t find anything ‘simple’ about the instructions that accompanied the patterns. You definitely need to have some experience in making clothes if you buy this book as the instructions are sparse.

By: YooJin

YooJin — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:07:00 +0000

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:24:22 +0000

Ah, thanks for the explanation. I should have known that you had a reason, because you know your stuff – it’s why I read your blog!

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:24:00 +0000

Ah, thanks for the explanation. I should have known that you had a reason, because you know your stuff – it’s why I read your blog!

By: iHanna

iHanna — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:25:05 +0000

Great review, this book is SO going on my wish list right now! I think I need it, maybe I’ll pass the wish list and add to my shopping basket? I need to order books badly! :-)

Thanks for a great review Diane!

By: iHanna

iHanna — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:25:00 +0000

Great review, this book is SO going on my wish list right now! I think I need it, maybe I’ll pass the wish list and add to my shopping basket? I need to order books badly! :-)

Thanks for a great review Diane!

By: Sister-Diane

Sister-Diane — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:04:15 +0000

Ingrid, I am using the designer’s name for the coat as it appears in the book. Your definition of a trench coat is indeed a classic one, but I wouldn’t consider it proper to give Christine’s creation a different name than the one she gave it.