The Zapp Method of Couture Sewing: Tailor Garments Easily Using Any Pattern

The feature that makes this book stand out is her chapter on designing western shirts. I have never seen this information anywhere else. She only spends a few pages on western shirts, but the focus is on the features that are unique to western wear: how to add piping to the yoke and cuffs and how to make it. Her chapters on shirts and jackets also include information and steps to follow for making riding and western wear. She does not cover riding pants or chaps, though. In the chapter on pants construction, the information about changing crotch depth is clear and easy to understand, and she shows in pictures how to fit crotch depth while seated. The section on correctly fusing a tailored jacket is fantastic! She covers fitted vests and lined camisoles. Her section on welt pockets, in the jacket chapter, has really, really good pictures. While the sections on fitting are good, she does not cover fitting alterations for atypical figures (such as a sway back.)

This book really helped me with fit issues. I haven't sewn for years and the main reason I wanted to sew again was the horrible fit of "off the rack" clothing. Pants especially are difficult to fit from standard sewing patterns. This book contained a little more information than I may need, but the basics of altering the patterns were clear and easy to understand. Now that I know the principles, it's easy to make adjustments on things that aren't even mentioned in the book.

This is a great book for the serious sewer. It has the best explanation of how to make a lined vest or lined sleeveless camisole that I have ever seen. And if you are interested in tailoring, you will really want to have this book. I always check books out of the library first. Then you know if it's a book you need to own. This one was a book I had to have in my library, and I've found it very useful.

I have a collection of sewing books. I got this one for Christmas. I wish I would of got this book earlier. I sew a lot of clothing, this book made the shirt I was makeing look pretty close to what you would buy in a store. I would recomend this book to anyone who has any kind of sewing experence.

This is a little hard to classify. It certainly is not for a novice, but once someone has mastered the basics, and is desiring to make an expensive-looking wardrobe, this would be a very good basic resource. The book seems to be quite a labor of love by the author, who clearly wants to pass on her wealth of experience. It is dense with practical material and has an incredible number of detailed photographs that go with the instructions. How to do all the scary stuff. This is not the "Home Ec Way" of sewing, but techniques worked out by a lady who earned her living making quality clothing. It is not as general as the title suggested to me; it's an exact manual on creating pants, shirts, vests, and jackets in a precise and practical way. Starting with a much better fit. For sewing pants, you start with a favorite pair that you own, and she has a detailed technique for copying their fit safely and accurately, and working from there. I also applaud her on the many measurements she devises. As with another hero, Cynthia Guffey, she advocates taking the bust, waist and hip circumference measurements in front and back segments, not just circumferences. This change alone can make your sewn clothes fit much better. If you want the clothes to fit you well, you need to learn the contours of your shape. This book is the most practical I've seen on doing this with measurements. I really could have used this years ago! If you want to sew nice clothes that you will wear, this would be on a short list, with Nancy Erickson's "Do you love what you sew" and Gale Grigg Hazen's "Fantastic Fit for Everybody" and Cynthia Guffey's seminar materials.