Saturday, December 10, 2011

Tailoring book giveaway

The lovely Lynette from Thinking in Shapes emailed me the other day saying that she had a great tailoring book and was wondering if I would be interested in hosting a giveaway.  OH YES, said I.  Books on sewing?  Love them.  Books on Tailoring??  Love them with a cherry on top!

One of the things that I was most impressed with when I met Gertie in September was how much she delved into sewing books and resource materials.  After that meeting, I made a little promise to myself that I would have more of a student's approach to sewing--trying to learn as much as possible.  One of the things I really want to do is consult with more vintage sewing books....of which this is one!

Before we talk about the book in question, I just wanted to mention Lynette's blog called Thinking in Shapes. Lynette opened a tailoring shop when she was twenty-one.  On her blog she says:
I worked all the time for a while, then I sold the business. Now I spend most of my time designing, sewing, and being a real wife, all my favorite things.
Lynette sells her creations in her shop called Lady Danburry--most of it made from vintage fabrics:


So a big thank you to Lynette for generously sharing this book with others who love to sew!

The book is called 'How to tailor: A handbook for home tailoring' by Phyllis W. Schwebke first published in 1960 and again in 1965.



The book has lots of useful information on different tailoring projects.  I just love the picture below:



See the coat in the upper left corner?  It's called the 'clutch' coat.  How great is that?  If you've been wanting to make an early 60's suit--this is the book for you!



It also includes detailed information on altering sewing patterns for various adjustments!

Enter the Giveaway:
Lynette is happy to ship the book anywhere in the world so this is open to everyone.  Simply leave a comment on this post answering the question "With regards to tailoring, what is one thing you would like to learn or what technique would you like to get better at doing?" Leave your comment by midnight (London time) the 17th of December for a chance to win.  Thanks again Lynette for the generous giveaway!
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103 comments

  1. up to this point, i've just sewn simple dresses. i would like to try my hand at a simple tailored jacket to start! thanks for the lovely giveaway!

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  2. My goal would be to make a winter coat. Of course I'm so slow that I might get to wear it NEXT winter ;)

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  3. I am only a beginner and would love to construct my own coat. I find it extremely difficult to find a coat that feels a comfortable fit.

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  4. ME ME ME!!! COUNT ME IN! This is beautiful. I'd really like to get jackets just right. A well fitting jacket is one of the best things you can own! x

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  5. I am just about to cut out my first coat and wish I had some tailoring techniques under my belt, just to make my coat more professional and longer lasting. I really can't decide which should come first. Thanks for the great give away.

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  6. what an amazing book, a real way to challenge, inspire and advise! I think I would really like to know how to taylor trousers, but a full suit would be the ultimate challenge!

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  7. I would love this book. My dream is a beautifully fitted and lined jacket and a winter coat.

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  8. What a gorgeous book and great giveaway. I'd love to understand tailoring and seam allowances better. And pad stitching. And buttonholes. Even though I have done a small amount of tailoring, I know there's much more to learn.

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  9. I love tailoring to learn about tailoring even "home tailoring" and would like to know better about using the prpoer interfacings to amke a tailored jacket or coat.
    Of course count me in and thanks for the giveaway.

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  10. I really want to have a go at pad stitching, having never done it before. Thank you so much for this giveaway!

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  11. I'm getting better at trousers, have tried my hand (semi-successfully) at a bolero jacket--I think the next step for me is a dressmaker's suit. I draft my own patterns, so books like this are especially useful for me!

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  12. I really would like to learn how to tailor clothes perfectly for my body. Big boobs, small back, meaty legs. Not the easiest in the world, that's for sure! I'm struggling a bit with the Colette 'Truffle' dress in the back, so this book would be great right now!

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  13. Hello Debi! When I thrift, I often find lovely suits with jackets that are too large for my shoulders. I would love to learn how to remove shoulder pads and tailor the shoulders to fit, and then reset the sleeves into the armholes. Lynn (from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

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  14. I would love to learn everything about it because I think a well-tailored piece of clothing elevates it to something special.

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  15. ohhh tailoring! i admit, i feel a special ~connection~ with tailoring bc my last name actually is taylor. keepin' it in the family & everything ;)

    with regards to tailoring, there are plenty of techniques i could stand to improve. mostly, i would like to work on my pad stitching. i do enjoy it, but it can get tedious! i would also love to improve my bound button holes - i think i'm almost there, but they could stand a couple more practice rounds :)

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  16. Love it! I want to get better at tailoring clothes to my shape. Patterns just don't fit me. I'd also, like many others, would love to have a perfectly tailored winter coat. Thanks!

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  17. what a great book! I have been wanting to work on some tailored jackets for myself and fix some of my husband's. One area that I am really working on right now for tailoring in a variety of garments is fitting the shoulders properly.

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  18. Oh I would love to win this book on tailoring I can use all the help I can get especially with fit.

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  19. I have made a tailored coat before and I really enjoyed all of the handstitching involved. I think I would like to make a tailored jacket, though, to see any differences and practice the various stitches used.

    ammullins AT hotmail DOT com

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  20. I would like to learn how to sew a coat and I would like to be better at putting in invisible zips as they don't always turn out that invisible... haha!

    Thanks for a lovely giveaway!

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  21. I would like to get better at doing a FBA and tailoring my waist since I have an hourglass shape.

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  22. The real question is what don't I want to improve tailoring wise. My partner and I have significantly different tailoring issues and I'm just not satisfied with most of my fixes!

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  23. I really want to learn how to do decent pad-stitching, how to properly roll a collar and last but not least I would be very interested in learning how to handsew a buttonhole (even with all of the great tutorials out there I still haven't managed to sew one that didn't look like it had been chewed on by a cow).

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  24. I want to be better at everything! I've made one tailored jacket, and while I learned a lot during the process, I know there's so much more out there.

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  25. Since I've already hand-tailored a coat, I would like to learn more about interlinings and linings and the different roles they play and how they aid in the manipulation of fabric :)

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  26. *delurks*

    Tailoring for sloped shoulders.

    I'm not at all adventurous yet. I still stick to the patterns even when I *know* "it would be better if only..."

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  27. Ooo, wow! I love tailoring! (Well, I love making coats... I've done a moderate bit of tailoring, but not enough to feel like I've mastered anything. I definitely need to work on my welts and welt pockets---I'm pretty solid with bound buttonholes (for a given value of solid), but somehow the larger versions frighten me.

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  28. I would like to improve my lining skills

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  29. Yummy! I'd love to make my own coat. I have a pretty good handle on bound button holes but I've not done much else in the way of tailoring.

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  30. That book looks fantastic!

    I want to learn how to alter the crotch depth in pants for shorter people.

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  31. I'd like to make a well-fitting pair of trousers!

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  32. I'd like to learn how to do the interfacing properly for a jacket, with the roll over collar and pad-stitching and all that jazz.

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  33. I've never done trousers or a jacket/coat, but they're both on my list of things I want to sew - this would be a huge help with getting them to look right!

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  34. I'm graduating from law school this week, so I really want to learn how to make a skirt suit properly. :)

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  35. I would love to learn more about darts. I sew them all the time but I always have a hard time getting the placement right when sewing something without a pattern.

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  36. I've recently started following Lynette's blog and really enjoy it - so it's fun to see this give away of hers. It sounds so basic, but I want to learn how a garment should fit - especially with suits. (Where should the shoulder lines fall, how much ease is appropriate, etc). Once I know how to access the "problem areas" I would be able to perfectly tailor a jacket.

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  37. What a lovely blog, with lovely creations! Could it be possible this book could assist in the half made jacket I'm attempting (but keep setting to one side when I get stuck!) If I were lucky enough to win I think I'd have to put it under the tree to keep for pure luxurious entertaintment on Christmas day - surely no one would mind if I slipped off for an hour or two while the turkey was roasting???

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  38. I'm longing to make a Dior inspired tailored jacket with a nipped in waist and feminine details. Fabric and interfacing choice is also something I'm struggling with.

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  39. I would love to learn how to adjust the patterns. When my body does not fall specifically into one size, bottom heavy!!

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  40. Hi!

    Thank you for the lovely giveaway, I need to make winter coats for me, hubby and the dog for the next years winter and I have been doing a lot of research online.

    But I need to make two proper coats for our winters, which are rough and very cold so this book would probably help a lot.

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  41. Lynette got's some lovely stuff in her shop!!! What I would like to make is, a cape/wintercoat. And I would love to alter skirt and dress patterns. I'm pearshaped, and most patterns are drawn for hourglass shapes. I try to alter them myselves anyway, but it would be nice to learn how it is done "by the book".

    Thanks!!

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  42. I need to learn how to tailor pants. I have a terrible time finding pants that fit. I also would like to know how to tailor tops so that they fit my odd shape better.

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  43. I've messed up collars on the last two jackets I've made, so I suppose I need some help in that area!

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  44. What a brave girl to open up a tailoring shop at such a young age! The tailor at my work NEVER STOPS working O: I'd probably have a nervous break down hahaha but its an amazing experience I would imagine (some of the most famous designers worked as tailors for years)

    I spend a a lot of time tailoring pants for friends but I would LOVE to learn how to tailor a suit jacket. There's nothing that makes a man (or woman) look more dapper than a well fitted suit jacket <3

    xoxox
    mini-crini.blogspot.com

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  45. Looks like a great book! I'd love to get better at fitting the tailored jacket, and I have yet to try my hand at bound buttonholes.

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  46. I am currently remaking a vintage cashmere coat to fit me and I would love to have this book as a reference. I especially need help with underlinings and interfacings.

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  47. With regards to tailoring, I would love to learn how to alter cuts on dress patterns to fit someone who may be a size smaller on top than on the bottom. Also, I would like to get better at tailoring so I can alter and refashion my little girl's garments. This book I am sure would help greatly with that. She loves her mommy made clothes, just loathes growing out of them. Fingers crossed for this book. Oh, and hopefully this day will be extra lucky for me and I'll win the book since I'm getting married on December 17!!!

    Victoriaandzoe@gmail.com

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  48. Tailoring a jacket! I haven't dared to try that, but I'd love to do one properly. One day...

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  49. What a seriously useful looking book! I've just tackled a very simple Burda jacket and futzed around with the facing and collar. The amount of futzing with that - I could really have used this book!

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  50. I want to improve my skills with pants. I have a bottom that is hard to fit, so this book would help.
    Thank you so much for the giveaway!

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  51. I want to learn everything! Having been sewing for less than a year I want to do everything, but haven't dared to touch clothing yet.

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  52. There are so many things I need to learn. I think I would like to get more skills in the pants making arena, as I continue to avoid finishing my current pants projects. I've got short legs and short waist, so it'd be nice to feel more confident with tailoring to those.

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  53. I have been sewing for only 8 months. I have a lot of fun sewing children's clothes but I haven't had real success on making clothes that are tailored to my body. I really want to make a pair of lined trouser that are flattering on my figure.

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  54. I would really like to learn more about tailoring jackets. I have been doing a lot of tailoring for friends and I have been getting stuck when it comes to jackets. Thanks!!

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  55. What an amazing book!!! Omg I wish I could have it!! Regarding tailoring, I would really like to master the sleeves. That is, how to construct them, alter them, make them wider, narrower and such :)

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  56. what a great giveaway! Since I am stil a novice seamstress I need to learn how to do many of the techniques, but for the moment I think learn how to do a well fitted trouser would be amazing

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  57. I've been sewing for less than a year, but my primary goal this coming year is to learn to tailor for my bust better this year. I've had way too many non-fitting issues this year since I would just blindly sew with no thought to fit.

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  58. What a glorious book! Hmm, I'm a mad coat enthusiast and have fabric and patterns for them galore - but have never been brave enough to attempt any of them! So coat making tips would be superb!

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  59. I would love to learn about all the hand sewing like pad stitching that goes into a tailored coat.

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  60. I'd like to be able to adjust patterns and clothing to actually fit a human body. Coats just don't fit my family like they should and if I'm going to take the time and effort (not to mention cost) to make them something "special" I want it to FIT RIGHT!!

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  61. OH and Full Bust Adjustment!!!!

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  62. I made a coat following Gertie's Lady Grey sewalong (but using a different pattern) and actually loved how long it took, what with all the handstitching. It feels like a completely different kind of sewing. For me, what I'd like to learn the most isn't a technique per se, but to better understand all the different materials specific to tailoring, for example, the different weights of canvas required for different parts of a suit. I need to spend a week in a Savile Row workshop or something!

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  63. I'd like to learn how to tailor shirts and jackets, none of shop-bought ones fit my bust and waist at the same time. Since I'm a very beginner sewer any book that can help is a boon. Eventually I hope to be able to do proper tailoring, it's fascinating and so rare to have beautifully tailored clothes.

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  64. I have never tailored anything, and I have been needing to learn. It was one of the reasons I learned to sew a year ago. I have the hardest time finding clothing that fits my large bust, short torso, and smaller shoulders. Thanks for the chance to win a book to help me!

    rebekahricker (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  65. Hmm invisible zipper.I need more skill on this area.
    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  66. I would like to learn how to adjust clothes so that they fit my body properly instead of hap-hazzarly guessing and putting in tucks and dart and hoping for the best

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  67. Jackets!! I have made lots of dresses (both structured and easy fitting), some pants, and lots of random little things. But, I have almost a fear of jackets and I would love to be able to learn to tailor them just right so that I can make myself some nice jackets and blazers!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  68. All the nitty gritty bits of finishing a garment--seams especially.

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  69. Would love to be able to nail down the art of successfully tailoring both the sleeve head and a notched collar. Both the mark of a true seamstress.
    Merry Christmas from Down Under :)

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  70. I've only sewn simple things so far, but I would love to be able to make more fitted garments that fit well! ellen@myerly.net

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  71. would love to learn how to be patient with my projects :)

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  72. I would like to learn how to adjust pattern pieces to fit my size.
    cutekipepeo (at)gmail (dot)com.

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  73. i NEED to learn how to tailor and build clothes that go around my...ummm...girls that dont make the buttons bust out but doesnt look like a sack!! this book looks perfect

    thanks
    rubberduckywon gmail

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  74. I'd love to learn pattern drafting :D
    Thanks for the chance!

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  75. I would like to improve my revers! they don't always lie nice and flat!
    Thank yo for the giveaway - this looks a great book!

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  76. i would like to learn making a dress for myself. thanks for the chance.

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  77. I would like to learn how to tailor pants better

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  78. I'm pretty new to sewing clothes, but I would like to learn how to make shirts fit better. Sometimes I even buy shirts from the store that don't fit quite right and I'd like to know how to tailor them to my body.

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  79. What a great looking book. I'd like to know how to fix the upper back area on my son's shirt muslin.

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  80. I would like to be able to alter patterns so they REALLY fit my body shape! I would REALLY like to make patterns myself ... but I guess that is just too much to ask! *laugh*

    Thanks for the generous giveaway!!!

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  81. I would love to learn how to alter a pattern. Thanks so much for the chance to win such a treasure!

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  82. I would love to learn how to make tailor the perfect pants, and a jacket of course! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  83. I have a narrow waist but relatively wide hips so it's difficult to get the fit right on pants, straight skirts and lower-waisted skirts. I have way too many A-line skirts that sit at my natural waist, so I'd love be able to tailor other items for variety's sake! Thanks for hosting. acbrown28 at gmail dot com

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  84. Great giveaway! I would love to learn hot to sew a coat properly.

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  85. I am a small girl with a big bust & I would LOVE to make or alter clothing to fit me well! I just recently started sewing, so I don't really know anything at all about tailoring, but that's my end goal :)

    Thanks!

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  86. I would love to learn more about shaping the perfect collar. I'm still pretty average at it.

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  87. I'd like to learn how to do traditional tailoring--pad stitching, horsehair, etc.

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  88. Oh I want this book!!!
    My sewing experiences till now are mostly simple sewing garments but I'd love to learn altering and pattern drafting, to make better fitted clothes~

    thanks for the chance to win!

    Happy Holidays!

    Lucy

    lucy.chen848(at)gmail(dot)com

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  89. I am an attorney, so have a huge need for suits. I also just finished a tailoring class and learned a ton. However, I would like to learn more about how to make the details on a jacket perfect. I learned the basics, but it still looks clunky and needs refinement.

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  90. I would like to make a fitted shift dress - I experimented once, and it wasn't bad, but I know it wasn't done properly! Thanks for a chance to win!

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  91. I'm a beginner, and have only sewn "easy" garments ... There's a lot I have to learn! I've never sewn buttonholes or anything, just zippers already, that's something, right? Just to say I have so many techniques to master :-)
    Thanks for the give away!

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  92. I would like more skills in tailored pants. This is a fabulous book! Thank you for a great giveaway!

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  93. I'm fairly new to sewing, so I've done basic fitting (FBAs, shortening and lengthening), but beyond that, I haven't done much. I'd love to learn to tailor a jacket. I see so much on blogs about padstitching, but I really don't understand how it works or exactly what the purpose is. I'd love to learn more about that.

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  94. I would love to learn how to draft my own pattern one day. Thanks for the chance.

    Ann
    oceanian[at]lycos[dot]com

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  95. As of now, I would love to be able to fit sleeves better. They still are a bugbear for me.

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  96. I would say everything, but my fitting issues are usually shoulder and bust related, so anything that would help me with that. :/

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  97. I would like to learn to tailor pants because I am in between petite and regular sizes. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  98. It has always been my dream to learn to tailor properly. I'd love to learn how to adjust patterns to fit me. Thanks so much for this fun giveaway...I love vintage sewing books!

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  99. I would like to learn to tailor jackets.

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  100. Jumping right in here...I've got some beautiful wool I bought to make a jacket, but as always with a challenging project-I get scared. And I procrastinate. Usually to find, when I get the nerve to start, that the project isn't as hard as I imagined!
    But, what I would love to focus on are fit and finish, with a little lining love thrown in there.

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  101. Pretty much any alteration is what I need to learn!!

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

    Katina
    kjkoukla(athotmail...

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  102. I think I'm too late, but a lovely prize! I'd like to get better at altering clothes to fit my figure--standard measurements I'm not! Thanks!

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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