Comments on: Shirt making tips

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:57:55 +0000

More importantly, do you teach seminars? I would love to sign up for one.

Yes I provide intensive seminars for entrepreneurs and master classes for industry professionals (pattern makers, continuing ed for college professors etc) upon request. Curriculum is customized to the company/individual. More info is here.

By: Mari

Mari — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 06:32:18 +0000

First of all, let me say that since discovering this site, I was surprised the content was free. I have learned and validated more patternmaking/constrction theories that were rolling around in my head, that I should really be thanking you for keeping me from mumbling out my problems on the streets of my smalltown!

I would gladly pay for indepth tutorials and will be buying my copy of your book today!
More importantly, do you teach seminars? I would love to sign up for one.

Thanks for the knowledge infusion!
M

By: Naomi R.

Naomi R. — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:32:37 +0000

Hello, Kathleen. I’m trying to figure out your draft for the button stand, and I don’t understand one of the instructions. When you write “add 2 inches to the edge”, what is “the edge”? The extension doesn’t seem to start at center front – it looks like it starts 1/8″ to the right of CF. I’d appreciate it if you could enlighten me when you have some time.

By: Lola

Lola — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:44:57 +0000

I just wanted to thank you for making this wonderful and very informative website. I fully understand why you would want to change for this kind of information, and I would image that there are a number of people out there who would be willing to pay for it (sadly not myself, not because I don’t think its worth it (because it really is) but because I can’t afford it as a college student). One idea is to split it up and have certain content and tutorials only available if you pay for them (either per item, or as part of a subscription for a year of ’special’ information) and certain information available free. For example, you could keep the zipper tutorials and stuff that is already free, still free, but other more exclusive information (such as the bluff pocket tutorial) could be only accessed to people who payed for it. That way people who are very very interested in this but don’t necessarily absolutely need it or consider it essential to know ,such as some people who only sew for fun or who are still in university studying fashion (like myself) and who don’t need it right this minute (since they are not yet out in the ‘real world’ where they would put it to use) can still access the free information to supplement their knowledge (and hopefully leave a donation). And the people who are actually going out and using this information or planning to use it in their business and there for need it more can pay extra to have certain ’special features’ of the site.
Also, lest you think I am a freeloader, although I have not yet purchased the book since I can’t afford it at the moment I have a little box under my desk where I put spare cash I have at the end of each month to save up to purchase it, since it looks extremely interesting and will probably be most useful years down the road if I decide to become and independent fashion designer (as opposed to designing for another already established company like I hope to do after graduation).

Anyways, thank you very much for the website and I hope you keep it up.

By: naina

naina — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:34:52 +0000

You have given me amazing ideas. Thank you sooooomuch…

By: Clinton

Clinton — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:03:48 +0000

I would like to make my own shirt. I already have a sewing machine. Show me the way

By: wande

wande — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:44:05 +0000

Thank you so much Kathleen for all the effort you put into this wonderful site, I have bought your book and it has been invaluable to me. I’m not able to get on the site everyday as I would like to but I catch up on all the posts before the week runs out. You really don’t owe anyone anything and you obviously really do care or you wouldn’t be doing this so diligently and lovingly. Thank you very much and I would be more than happy to pay for this wonderful service- (I call it service cause it is, there is no other site like FI.) Reading the site and your book has given me such hope and, the determination to become a successful DE. Thanks Kathleen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Lol B

Lol B — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 23:17:38 +0000

I’d like to amend my review of the ‘Essential Shirt Workbook’.

I bought this book because I like making shirts but wanted to up my skill level a few notches. I became even more interestesd in this after reading about traditional tailored shirts and the methods on the English Cut Blog.

The book has fallen short of my expectations because it claims to presesnt ‘production’ or industrial techniques. I was having pattern cutting tuition with my mentor and I mentioned that I was having problems sometimes getting a clean professional finish when attaching collars and cuffs. My teacher showed me some different techniques for attaching collars and cuffs that she has always used in production which not only made the task much simpler but gave a fantastic clean finish. These methods are not shown in the book, they show the usual home sew technique of bagging out collars and cuffs before attaching.

My teacher was not really impressed with the sewing techniques shown and felt they were not genuine production methods ( she has 35 years experience in the industry and has worked with some great sample machinists who’ve developed some inovative methods.

So , I came away from class feeling excited that I’d learned some new techniques but dissapointed that the bok falls short in some areas.

By: Lol B

Lol B — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 02:13:14 +0000

Hey Kathleen,

I agree that the cost of postage plus currency factors often make the purchase of books online prohibitive.

I will say too that although for me this book is a wonderful resource I feel that for someone of your knowledge and understanding it may not be meaty( pardon the expression) enough, it may well leave you exclaiming ’so tell me something I don’t already know’. As I said, no bluff pockets!

It’s a very slim volume only 77 pages in total and a flimsy spiral bound book. Still for those with little knowledge of production procedures and production patern making I think it’s a really great resource. It has 10 chapters

1) history of the shirt
2)Style glossary ( great tech drawings of many many style lines/ pocket details /placquet/cuff/ yoke variations)
3)Shirt Block Construction
4) Pattern cutting
5)Shirt Styles
6)How to measure a shirt
7)Sizing and Grading
8)Shirt Manufacture
9)shirt presentation
10)Useful information

I really want to say ‘hey it’s no problem, I’ll photo copy it, bind it, then send it to you’ but that would be very naughty and illegal wouldn’t it , Damn!

By: Gidget

Gidget — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 20:00:46 +0000

I apologize for my mode of communication. There are other agendas going on in my chicken little brain that prevented me from seeing the bigger picture here.

Anyone out there who hesitates about buying the book, needs to understand, Kathleen is 110% on the up and up and it’s an invaluable, NECESSARY tool to the industry. Having the chance to glimpse Kathleen’s talents and gifts via this website is incredibly inspiring and I don’t want to give anyone the impression that I don’t think it’s worth the money.