Thursday 20 March 2014

My tailor's bookshelf

I’m often asked where I get my patterns from and for tips on how to make garments.
Since tailoring is now my full time profession I’m not at liberty to hand out the patterns I have created and refined.

But what I can show you is my bookshelf of reference material I use when I’m in need of some direction or inspiration.

I use a mixture of modern and antique books.

Many of the vintage books I have contain contemporary instruction on how to draw up frock coats, lounge jacket and waistcoats, all with that distinctive Edwardian twist.

The more modern books give me construction ideas using up to date fabrics and interfaces.

It is a mix of these two that helps me do what I do.
Here’s the full current content of my library.





The Victorian Tailor
Jason MacLochlainn - Batsford 2011







Men’s Garments 1830 - 1900
R I Davis - Players Press 1994




The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing Singer -
Creative Publishing International 2005





Grading for the Fashion Industry
Martin M Shoben & Patrick J Taylor - Sheben Fashion Media 2004




Classic Tailoring Techniques in Men’s Wear
Roberto Cabrera & Patrick Flaherty Meyers - Fairchild 1983




Tailoring: A step-by-step Guide to Creating beautiful Customised Garments - Apple 2005





Metric Pattern Cutting for Menswear Winifred Aldrich -
Blackwell Publishing 1980




Illustrated Guide to Sewing: Tailoring - Fox Chapel 2011






Shirtmaking David Page Coffin - Taunton 1998




Singer Sewing Book
Mary Brooks Picken -
McGraw-Hill Publishing 1954





Cutting and Designing for Men’s Tailoring J Cutler -
New Era Publishing




The Science of Pattern Construction for Garment Makers
B W Poole - New Era Publishing





The Modern Tailor Outfitter and Clothier Vols I to III
A A Whife - Caxton 1949





The Encyclopaedia of Sewing Techniques Wendy Gardiner - Search Press 2003





Design and Cutting Modern Leisure & Cotton Garments for Men A G Chaudhry -
The Tailor and Cutter



The Cut of men’s Clothes 1600 - 1900 Norah Waugh -
Faber and Faber 1964






Complete Guide to Sewing - Reader’s Digest 1978



The Haslam Practical Guide to Dressmaking & Tailoring
G A & F A Haslam






The Art of Garment Making
Philip Dellafera -
The Tailor and Cutter




Textile of Tailors
E Ostick - The Tailor and Cutter






The Elements of Modern Dressmaking
J E Davis -
Cassell & Co Ltd 1894


Cutting and Fitting
Principles of Tailoring Women’s Institute 1928
Tailored Garments

The Modern Tailor Outfitter and Clothier Vols I to III
A S Bridgland - Caxton 1928

1 comment:

  1. It's sort of amazing how far you've come. I remember the earlier entries when you were still finding books and going to classes to learn more about tailoring.

    And now you're like a tailoring super-whiz!

    I've often thought about suggesting you open a second site along the vein of what Magnoli did with his site.

    Sort of a store where people can commission your works.

    At one point I was even going to attempt building something for you and sending it, but it felt intimidating and I felt it best not to so as not to step in too deep.

    Anywho, if "Steve's Professional Super Tailoring & Co." are ever hiring in the future, when you've become a billionaire, do let me know, Ha!

    ReplyDelete

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