---
product_id: 1844196
title: "Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing"
price: "R949"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 9
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/1844196-shirtmaking-developing-skills-for-fine-sewing
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing

**Price:** R949
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

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- **What is this?** Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing
- **How much does it cost?** R949 with free shipping
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## Description

Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing [Coffin, David Page] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing

Review: Probably the most detailed of all my sewing books - 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.
Review: 10 Years Preparing for my first shirt - 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.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #130,238 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #176 in Fashion Craft #191 in Sewing (Books) #278 in Fashion Design |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (421) |
| Dimensions  | 8 x 0.38 x 10 inches |
| Edition  | 13th |
| ISBN-10  | 1561582646 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-1561582648 |
| Item Weight  | 2.31 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 192 pages |
| Publication date  | October 1, 1998 |
| Publisher  | Taunton |

## Images

![Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71KGfoS3kbL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Probably the most detailed of all my sewing books
*by K***D on May 30, 2025*

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.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 10 Years Preparing for my first shirt
*by S***C on December 29, 2012*

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.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great book! Terrific for a guy just starting to make his own dress shirts.
*by R***E on July 18, 2017*

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.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Shirtmaking: Developing Skills For Fine Sewing
- Making Trousers for Men & Women: A Multimedia Sewing Workshop
- Shirtmaking Workbook: Pattern, Design, and Construction Resources - More than 100 Pattern Downloads for Collars, Cuffs & Plackets

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*Product available on Desertcart South Africa*
*Store origin: ZA*
*Last updated: 2026-02-23*