Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing

I've only had this book for a couple of months, but I've already learned a lot. What I love is that the author explains WHY certain techniques work better than others. This makes it much easier for me to remember, and to use that technique under different circumstances.

I purchased this book roughly 10 years ago. I had never sewn, knew nothing about sewing, I just really love shirts and was passionate to learn how to make them. This is the definitive bible on the topic and almost anywhere you go for information on shirt making, you'll find references to this book. After receiving this book I quickly realized this is not for sewing beginners. You will not learn how to sew or how to use your sewing machine, so you really need to start with the basics before jumping into this book. It's a reasonable expectation given the level of detail that the author goes into with advanced sewing techniques. I spent a few years learning how to sew the basics before jumping into this book - time well spent. I didn't calculate the total cost of recommended materials to make a shirt that are found in this book, but that's perhaps the biggest barrier to getting started. I'd estimate that i've spent somewhere around $600-$700 (including a mid-priced sewing machine) to acquire all of the materials recommended to make a shirt. If your not already a sewer, there's a lot of tools required to get up and running. I've made 3 shirts so far practicing all of the techniques outlined in this book before jumping into my first project. The results are far better then I could ever have imagined. I used the book to create a pattern copy of my favorite best fitting custom shirt and now can replicate the shirt with near perfection. It's not an easy process, i have spent lots of time combing through this book and each time I read it I find something new. In the end if you stick with it, you'll be able to produce high quality shirts with fine fabrics that would otherwise be unaffordable if purchased from a tailor. I highly recommend buying the DVD also. The drawings in the book are great, but they are very difficult to follow until you've seen them done live.

Really terrific book! I've got the DVD from Mr. Coffin and I've taken one of his classes on Craftsy. But the book encompasses more topics and takes things more in-depth. I'm a relative newbie to sewing, starting off just making my own gear for camping, etc. [You know, guys don't sew; they make gear!] I never seriously considered making clothes for myself. However, I picked up the bug somehow and, after watching one of David's videos, I began to believe that I could actually do it if I wanted to. This book has helped me turn out several shirts, of all "types", with various customized elements. Although they're not perfect, I'm proud of them and I get lots of compliments. For me, the book is a combination of a "dreambook"/idea-starter and an instruction book on how to pull those ideas off. There are loads of examples and drawings (the drawings done by David himself, I understand) and discussions about all of the various pieces and parts of a shirt. With the instructions and examples given, designing a shirt becomes a buffet of possibilities; lots of combinations to choose from/incorporate and instructions on the design and construction of them. It even offers information about how each element is generally regarded as to its "dressiness/formality" and even its utility. Great fun, very interesting and so far, a little intimidating. By that I mean that each time I refer back to it I see a new level of skill or knowledge that I've yet to achieve. That's good for me! For me, it's not a book I go through and then shelve. Rather, it stays on or near my sewing table for regular, frequent access. And many a time, I've just taken it to an armchair and flipped through it for ideas or inspiration. Thank you, Mr. Coffin.

About this book: As a self-taught sewer I find this book quite useful. The illustrations are mostly clear - when read in conjunction with the explanations. Though the techniques may not be new, they are certainly presented in a readable and usable manner. Essentially you can ditch your ordinary pattern instructions, and use this book instead - with much more satisfactory results. Oh, and although this book is written mostly with men in mind, the information is equally useful for females! Kindle specific: Though not inhibiting to the reading experience, more attention to the formatting of this ebook would have been nice. The only feature which I have so far found is the ability to move from the table of contents to individual chapters. What I would have liked is: 1)That chapters be marked in the book, so that it is possible to skip back and forth between chapters without having to return to the table of contents. 2)An in-text hyperlink which, when the book refers to, say, pg. 94, would be useful to bring me to the relevant section. 3)A more minor issue is the fact that illustrations do not always appear in a logical place, as well as the included "full size patterns" be labelled with measurements in order that one can trace them one-self. But, as I say, these are minor issues. I recommend purchasing this book if you're bored with normal pattern explanations and want to move your sewing to the "next level".

Este libro lo compré porque lo recomiendan en el foro de cutter and tailor y estoy muy contento con él. Lo veo completamente imprescindible para los aficionados a la costura de camisas.

Aun no hago una camisa pero el libro esta muy bien escrito y te lleva paso a paso para hacerlo.

Brilliant book.

O livro é ótimo, e o envio foi muito rápido

Bien que la couverture fasse viellote le contenu est très complet et intemporel, je recommande fortement cette ouvrage à quiconque voudrait faire ces propres chemises.