Creating new patterns for kilt jackets

[AtagahiKC]

I'm taking a break on this through the holidays. We'll resume where we left off after New Year's Day.

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and Happy New Year!

[AtagahiKC]

In case someone wants to request it for Christmas, the book I settled on for patternmaking in general is "How to Make Sewing Patterns" by Donald H. McCunn, $24.95.

How to Make Sewing Patterns on Amazon

After reviewing all the books suggested and figuring out what will be the most helpful, yet something we can all understand and replicate, this book stood out from the rest.

This is not a tailoring book. This book teaches how to take measurements and then how to make master patterns (in women's clothing, it would be called a sloper), from which you can adapt to make just about any pattern or adapt commercial patterns.

While the book is intended for women, it includes good instructions on how to make the master pattern for men, as well as how to alter it for various types of men's clothing. Most of the other patternmaking books ignored men.

Aside from its simplicity, it is also the most versatile of the approaches. I think that once we have our master patterns, making the various jackets will be easier and make the tailoring process less complex.

You can also use it to alter the commercial patterns for kilt jackets, should you wish to do that.

In contrast, the tailor patterns rely on alterations and padding to fit the pattern to the man. We'll still do some of that, but it won't be as large a task.

You can use the master pattern to make shirts or coats, so it has value beyond this project. While we won't do the slacks here, it does include instructions for making a master pattern for that, as well.

I can't copy the pages or quote it wholesale, so you will need to get the book.