J. Francois-CampbellSimple Tailoring & Alterations: Hems - Waistbands - Seams - Sleeves - Pockets - Cuffs - Darts - Tucks - Fastenings - Necklines - Linings

I never start off new sewists with alterations because it doesn't make as much sense. Having written that: When anyone asks me about alterations regardless of their skillset, I direct them to this book.It covers as many bases as it can with such a wide and deep topic (the construction you are working on can literally be *any* garment already made that has found its way into your possession - it isn't an infinite number but dang.)In any case, it covers the bases for the beginning - to - intermediate sewist with clear watercolor renderings and a good sense of direction. It is probably the most straightforward alteration book that I have on my shelf. It has come in so handy here that I've stopped loaning it out because it is needed by someone at least once a week.Go for it if you are a beginning to intermediate sewist who would like to fill in some gaps - alterations are this weird purgatory of sewing between drafting, basic sewing, mending, and improvisational sewing and this helps bring the dimensions into the same plane to make them more understandable. There are SO MANY variations you will come up on in alterations (e.g. not all pockets are constructed the same even though they are all pockets...) that you will still have to have an eye for seeing through the problem and what needs to be done, but this will help you do just that.

First let me say, despite the stars I returned it. This is a beautiful book with very lovely, detailed and clear pictures and clear instructions. The alterations depicted, however, for the most part, are extremely basic. How to shorten a hem, how to make a sleeve shorter (and re-attach a cuff), the most complicated is widening a neckline. Almost all are to make clothing smaller (which is obviously easier) and the few that mention widening presume that there is extra fabric in the seams, something that in today's fast fashion world is almost never the case. For a real beginner this would be a great book, but it made me realize that although I think of myself as a beginner, I guess I'm not. I'm also really tall, so I rarely need to shorten anything, which makes at least half the alterations included useless to me. I was looking for something that would tell me how to re-set and change sleeve styles (like turn a puffy sleeve into a cap sleeve) or turn pleated pants into flat front ones, that would have information on fitting (ie if the blouse does this at the shoulders, do this to fix it.....). I am tall and fall awkwardly between sizes, so I was hoping for something that would help me tailor off the rack clothing to fit me better. This book is not that. Its a beautifully produced book with clear pictures and instructions that would be great for a real beginner who needs to make things smaller. Experienced sewers will probably want to look elsewhere.

Trained as a seamstress 30 yrs ago & after a mini stroke, there were things that I just couldn't remember how to do! So frusterating! But this book brought back memories and retaught me how to shorten a busiess jacket sleeve! Thank you for this book.

The Simple Tailoring and Alterations is good starter book for those wanting to know how to alter their own garments.The book starts with the basics – describing the meaning of the terms used in alterations. J. Francois-Campbell, the author, also describes the most common equipment needed to carry out most alterations.The types of alterations are grouped by garment and further divided between men’s and women’s garments. There are detailed instructions along with illustrations of the important steps in the process.This book will be most helpful for those with limited knowledge of sewing/alterations.

Love it thank you

Good for beginners. It has all of the basic alteration techniques as well as some good tips on equipment, ironing techniques and working with various fabric types. I bought it because I wear a lot of suits and I don't like taking them to a tailor and waiting 2+ weeks. I was able to use this book to hem the pant legs and take in the waistline.

This is the most useful sewing book I have in my library. Mostly it lays on my work table so I can consult it often.I have been sewing since I was a child & have strong skills but this book has suggested better techniques ormethods that are quicker than what I had been using. It is written clearly. I recommend it to those wishingto learn to alter/ tailor as a business and for those who want to improve their home sewing skills. I willprobably gift it to several people.

While it does have a lot of information, it is lacking. For instance, I cannot find any information on altering a man’s shirt if it has plackets. I was really hoping for more detail on shortening men’s dress shirt sleeves.

Good

i have used this book several times already very helpful and a good price

I returned the book as it was too basic for me. If you want to alter clothes you buy, and don’t know much, this would be great. If you are a tailor or a designer, and want to understand how to change up your patterns or alter complex garments, this is not going to teach you anything.

Very handy beginners book for sewing on buttons explaining how to take in trousers, let them out, adjust coats, jackets shirts and skirt/trouser lengths. Diagrams are very clear. A great starter. Explains why different stitches are useful and doesn’t assume prior knowledge. Would recommend.

This is one of the best books on dressmaking I’ve ever bought. Yes, it is essentially about making alterations to existing garments, but you also learn so much about the structure and composition of clothes. Although I’m not a novice dressmaker, I have gained so much from this book. The diagrams and text are very plain, clear, and explained so well that I’m convinced that absolute beginners could undertake most of the alterations in this book.I wanted to expand the waistband on a pair of my husband’s trousers, but I wasn’t very sure – or totally confident – on the best way to go about it. If I hadn’t had this book, I would have made heavy weather of the job; instead, I learned which seams to unpick, which seams to leave, and how to remake the band. It took less than an hour, the trousers looked perfect, and I was very pleased with the result.If you have ever wished that you could alter a particular garment – hems, sleeves, turn-ups, necklines etc, etc – this book will show you how to do it. If you’ve ever thought that it wasn’t worth the cost of paying a professional to alter a garment you like, well, don’t! Give this book a try – it’s probably cheaper than the cost of a seamstress – and you may just unleash the sewing bug inside you. It will certainly show you that many alterations are not as complicated as you may have thought; and it’s all down to the excellent way in which the author explains things.I can’t recommend this book enough.