The Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts & Sciences founded by Mary Brooks Picken offered a wide variety of correspondence courses to women beginning in the early 1900's. This beautiful reproduction is a very early edition of the school's coursework guide. It provides a synopsis of the lessons in sewing, dressmaking, tailoring & millinery. It also includes interesting articles explaining the value of the education the women would receive including saving money, creating a profitable business and improving their style & fashion sense.

An invaluable resource, Dressmaking will guide you through all the stages of making, altering, and customizing clothes. Starting with the Tools and Materials, you will learn what you need to buy and how to use it. The Fabrics chapter demonstrates the drape and weave of fabrics and explains the best uses of each. The Patterns chapter covers everything from understanding a pattern to altering one. In General Techniques, close-up photography and guiding annotation to explain key techniques step by step. A section on Basic Patterns and Variations then guides you through creating six garments. Patterns and detailed step-by-step instructions are provided for a skirt, dress, shirt, tee, jacket, and pair of trousers. Instructions are also given for possible variations of each garment. Finally, chapters on Alterations and repairs and Customizing offer practical tips for repairing worn items and inspiration for modernizing tired pieces. Packed with essential advice and inspiration, this is the dressmaking bible that no budding seamstress should be without.

Presents essays, advice, and projects for each month of the year.

Starting with the basic blocks for skirts and bodices (and also a jacket and trouser block), Gillian Holman shows you how to add the refinements, such as necklines, collars, sleeves, yokes, flounces, pleats, peg tops, pockets, and crossovers. Each design element is accompanied by sketches and patterns. It is a step-by-step introduction to the techniques of pattern cutting for fashion students and amateur dressmakers.

This comprehensive guide provides instruction in a wide range of dressmaking techniques, from how to use and adapt patterns, to sewing hems, zippers, and adding embellishments.