Draping: The Complete Course Paperback – October 1, 2013

I was so excited to receive this book in the mail today. This is a tentative review because I have yet to read the whole book. So far, I am impressed! From the quality of the material this book is literally made from (the pages are very thick) to the gorgeous photographs to the depth of information, I was wonderfully surprised. I also own Draping for Apparel design by Helen Joseph-Armstrong. I was hesitant in ordering this book because I owned that one; however, this book is way more up to date. From the colored step-by-step photos to the DVD included, it does not miss a thing. Unlike most sewing books, which are fashionably outdated, this book have pictures of celebrities from this decade rather than the 80s. You have pictures of Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Palthrow. Perhaps I am very ciritical but I have no need in making 80s style jackets with the big shoulder pads. yuck. I love how it references draping in Haute Couture... eg Dolce and Gabanna & Oscar de la Renta..the best part is that all the projects are iconic pieces: from Audrey Hepburns famous black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany's to Jackie O's pink suit. Love love loveWhile The Draping for Apparel Design has a wide range of designs, this one breaks everything down from basic, intermediate and advanced. Most sewing books are like reference dictionaries but this book is structured like an interactive course, where the information build on top of each other from section to section. I am very excited to put this book to practice... and I will get back to update this review soon!Update criticisms 10/4/13 : This book is a lot of fun bc it is filled with historical facts and trivia. I love this aspect of the book. It definitely make you appreciate the process of draping a lot more. After watching all the videos, I've decided they are very detailed and informative; however, I wish there were more on the truing process. One thing I didn't like was how it does not provide one dimensional diagrams showing how the fabric was cut after the draping process. You see this in the Apparel for Designers book, and although this is more of a pattern making rather than a draping process , I still believe it would have been helpful for your typical novice.Another issue with the book is that it does not tell you how to measure an individual's body measurement. It also assumes you know basic terminologies such as the Center Front. The Draping for Apparel Design very clearly breaks down these measurements and defines these terminologies that are commonly used in draping : ex bust arc, hip arc, crotch depth etc. these measurements are crucial to the truing process. So for this reason, I think it would be nice for a beginner to also get the Draping for Design Apparel as a reference book. Finally, I've.also noticed that this book lack instructions on how to adjust for a perfect fitting. It does not show you how to tell if a fitting is too tight or baggy. I wish they had touched on that.Update: 10-17-13The more I read this the more I love it. The author isnt just skilled at draping but very fashion forward, I love the section on the bustier. Whenever I think of making a corset, two images come to mind Madonnas crazy suit and Scarlette O'hara. So guess what you have a pic of the scene of Vivienne Leigh from the movie and Madonna in concert. This section on the bustier talks about cup sizing to type of fabric. Even my book on beginner's corset doesn't talk about the details highlighted in this one section.

If only all textbooks were this precise in the instructions. If you are thinking about fashion school this is a must! It covers how to drape and create a rough draft like all the fashion houses. All the photos are high quality with clear directions, with only a few line drawings. Versace, Hollywood icons and vintage costume styles shown. If you were looking for a book on corsets and crinolines but could not afford the expensive ones, this one is awesome. If you have ever wondered how did a designer take the idea and turn it into a real garment, this book shows you the draping techniques to achieve the pattern.This book however does not cover sewing techniques, but considering you learn how to make the pattern for anything your imagination can dream up, I love this book!Basically with this book you can create anything from a prom gown, wedding gown, Victorian, corsets, basic skirts, blouses, jackets, pants, you name it.Even better, it comes a with dvd with lessons, and if you're like me sometimes it's better to see a video than simple line drawings.It is worth every penny.

This is the first book on draping that I've read that explains how to drape knits and how to improvise with the technique. This alone is a reason for buying it.The book is organized by projects, so you learn draping by doing it, starting with a very simple garment, and ending with a very complex dress. There is no superfluous information, so the book is very easy to read. You can also review it very easily, because there are a lot of step-by-step pictures.In the DVD, the author shows how to do the essential draping techniques. This book is the easiest draping book I've ever read, and also the most interesting one. You won't find all the variations on collars, sleeves and skirts, but you'll learn how to drape a lot of fabrics and types of garments. And after you read this, you can figure the variations out by yourself.I highly recommend this.