Book Review: Pattern Magic 1 & 2 by Tomoko Nakamichi

Pattern Magic

Pattern Magic 2

I discovered these books on a recent search for some other title, I've since forgotten what it was because these books captures my attention for weeks.  I requested these via inter-library loan (yay libraries!) and fell in love with both as soon as I opened the cover. 

Neither of these books is written for the beginning or amateur sewer.  That's not to say that the content isn't easy to understand.  These books are for people who are serious about dramatic, artistic pattern alteration.  Many of the items shown in the book are very wearable (and beautiful), but others are well, different.  That's ok, however.  The point is to show you, the reader, the sewer, the artist, that if you can dream something up, you can alter a basic pattern to get exactly what you want.  Each book is divided into sections devoted to a particular type of pattern alteration.  The techniques are clearly shown, and if you wanted to, you could follow the directions to redraft each pattern; this would take some skill - be advised!

One aspect of the books that particularly intrigued me is that the patterns are all based on half scale dress forms and that the author uses her own dolls to model the finished clothing.  The garments are all made from muslin or plainweave cottons, and have a simple, organic elegance I find appealing.  Edges are left unfinished, which for wearable garments, is an issue. If you are interested in costumes that will not experience much movement (as I am for my cloth figures), lack of hems or facings isn't troubling. 

I will be purchasing these books.  I think these two titles, along with The Art of Manipulating Fabric (see my Reference Books page on the sidebar) comprise a complete set of techniques for artistic garment design.