I know some very, very good source I've once briefly mentioned on this list
before. It's all in German, however, but once you know the principe you don't
really need to read the instructions, you just look at the pictures.
It is a monthly magazine issued by a clothing academy in Münich (Deutsche
Bekleidungsakademie München) called "Rundschau", which is probably the only
magazine which concentrates on patternmaking. There are two magazines: one for
women, one for men. In each issue, there are about 15 pages on patternmaking
and the rest tells you about contemporary fashion, designers, modern techniques
and general news for professional tailors. The pattern section itself teaches
you how to make all sorts of clothes reaching from basic patterns for dress,
trousers and skirts to very special items like ballet dress or even historical
costume. Unfortunately, the costume part was more fashionable in the past than
today, I think the latest costume part came out about ten years ago. But they
don't sell only magazines, they also sell books - f.ex. book on making evening
dresses. These books are actually collections from the magazines in which there
was a section on the corresponding topic. The good
new is that they have books on costumes, too! One for women's costume and one
for men's. The periods they cover are all from renaissance to the beginning of
the 20th century. The patterns out there are surprisingly good and the final
shape looks quite period, the seams are all on the good places and the shape of
the pattern pieces looks very accurate. There are, of course, little mistakes,
but not very significant.
I purchased the women's costume book and I'm now waiting for it to get to the
CZ, so I could then maybe scan one page or so for you to get an idea about what
it is, if you were interested.
The only problem is that they do not explain in each issue what do all the
measurements mean and how to take them, and they tell you the instructions
about how to make the slopes only once in about three years. And you have to
learn their system, which may seem quite complicated on the first sight, but is
actually quite nice when you get into it:-)) Well, if you were VERY interested,
I think I could help you there a bit...
Unfortunately, they don't have any real website, but here you can find some
general info (in DE):
http://www.ebnerpublishing.de/index.php?start=0&m1=2&m2=14&select=&search=rundschau&detail=67
I've once found an ordering/subscription card and all the books and things
you may purchase from them on the internet, but I think it isn't there any more
or at least I can't find it. Again, if very interested, I could scan it for
you, or send it to you by post.
After an extensive search, I think I can afford to say that this source is
probably the best patternmaking source (of modern fashion) that exists. As for
historical costume making, I don't really know, but I think it's a real help.
At least I haven't found anything similar.
Don't hesitate to ask for more details:-))
Zuzana
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