Rating: 
Summary: Patterns for Theatrical Costume
Review: A good book to use as a starting point in the building of costumes. It gives great detail on how create masks, millinary, drafting a pattern, radiating a pattern and so on. Gives a good basic idea of the styles for specific periods and the names of the different pieces. The historical accuracy is also very good too. Nice variations on how to give a different shape to sleeves, and hems and decorative borders that are accurate for the period. I have created sucessfully the early 16th and 17th century costumes as well as early mantles. Sizing is not always true to modern sizes and some adjusting may be neccessary. I really enjoy this book and it is often the first place I look in getting ideas for a new costume.Stephanie Carrig
Rating: 
Summary: Well, it's about as good as it gets
Review: Although the illustrations are mediocre at best, and you do need an overhead projector for the patterns, and they only go from S-M-L, this is the best accumulation of historical patterns i have seen in one book. You may have to do a bit of improvising, and it may be a bit time consuming enlarging the patterns, it's best for quick costume construction. Major alterations may be needed to create incredibly historical costumes.
Rating:
Summary: Deceptively simple, infinitely functional
Review: At first glance, a costume historian would not be impressed by this book's oversimplified patterns and lack of detail. Its renderings of the human figure are cartoonish, and no instructions for esoteric closures and construction are provided.However, the Holkeboer directed her opus toward the theatrical costumer: an individual who must cobble together a volunteer staff, construct garments for modern bodies, and adapt to quick-changes between scenes. The patterns are necessarily basic; the cuts are nearly authentic; and the suggestions of embellishment design save the costumer much time. This book is not some tome to be displayed on a shelf; it belongs in the studio, its spine creased, its cover dog-eared, and its pages scribbled with measurements and notes. This book is a workhorse. An added bonus is its illustrative use of labels for describing many weird terms, among them: simar, barbette, picadils. I have found in no other book of scaled patterns but this one, the instructions for THREE methods of enlargement: optical projection, grid method, and radial projection. This book also includes headgear, specialty costumes like kimono, ecclesiastical garb, and a LION! This book also prevides a wonderful equity of both men's and women's clothing which is unfortunately not represented in the body of dramatic literature. (Why are there so few women's roles? But I digress.) The introduction and final chapter contain essential information on fitting and draping (remember: you must add your own seam allowances) and millinery and corsetry. I'd have given this book another star if I felt that it did justice to constructing corsets -- these items are too complex to build from Holkeboer's 1/8" = 1" scale. But she is absolutely correct in providing undergarment patterns if only to emphasize that they are necessary for achieving a true period look. Also, this book needs either a durable sewn or spiral binding to lie flat for usage. The glued softcover is impractical. This book cannot function as the only book in a costumer's library; supplement your collection with costume books on period styles to achieve variety in design. As far as PfTC being indispensible to a costume shop, I don't recommend buying a copy of this book; buy TWO!
Rating:
Summary: A valuable addition to your resource library.
Review: Basic tailoring, garment construction, and pattern drafting skills are recommended when using this book, as stated in its Forward. That said, it's a useful tool that simplifies the designs of a given period and suggests possible variations and embellishments on that theme, persuant to creating basic and/or theatrical costumes. I found the 1/8th & 1/16th scale patterns very easy to use.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding patterns that really work.
Review: I have made many costumes from this book (for Camelot, Hello Dolly, Oklahoma, as well as "Ren Fair" costumes) and am amazed how reliable they are. This book is especially easy to use if you have a scanner and a plotter. Just scan in the patterns and plot them at 800%. While the construction method and cut may not be historically accurate, the lines of the resulting costumes are always evocative of their intended era. The book also has an excellent section on hats and masks.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Reference
Review: I have not found that the patterns in this book are especially easy to use due to the fact that they must be enlarged... or that I am just too impatient. I have found that there are a large number (which is increasing, much to my pleasure) of commercially available patterns that do well for theatrical costuming. However, I have found this book to be a wonderful reference and handy companion to creating realistic costumes! I would never start a costuming project without first looking through it for guidance.
Rating:
Summary: Invaluable resource
Review: I recently discovered that I had lost this pattern book (probably loaned to someone who also loved the book) and just couldn't do without it. I direct an early music group that frequently needs to quickly create authentic-looking costumes. This book is an invaluable resource.
Rating:
Summary: Most Entirely Useful Costume Pattern Book!
Review: I used patterns from this book as the basis for a commission I had to make a LARP costume. Not only was my customer pleased (thank goodness!) but using this book was easy on me, and pleasant to use. It is fun to look through, good to learn from, and I highly recommend having it around.
Rating:
Summary: Most Entirely Useful Costume Pattern Book!
Review: I used patterns from this book as the basis for a commission I had to make a LARP costume. Not only was my customer pleased (thank goodness!) but using this book was easy on me, and pleasant to use. It is fun to look through, good to learn from, and I highly recommend having it around.
Rating:
Summary: Patterns for Theatrical Costumes:Garments, Trims, and Acces
Review: I've been a costume designer for over 25 years. 18 years ago I picked up a copy of this book. Little did I know what a Godsend it would be to me over the years. This book is great for the costume designer, who has a small budget, a big cast, a flaky volunteer crew, and a month to put together a peroid show. This book is to be used and doggear with a broken spine. I costume six to ten shows a year, and this book is always at my side. The simple drawings give directors a quick idea of the period, the patterns are amazing and easy to draft. I will often times give my costume interns a copy of this book for a going away present. It is an invaluable resource. One warning, it is not for the picky historical reinactors. This book is for the "down and dirty" theatrical costumer.
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