Patterns for Theatrical Costumes: Garments, Trims, and Accessories from Ancient Egypt to 1915

Rating:
Summary: An invaluable resource.
Review: This book is the most comprehensive, single-volume collection of historical patterns (from Ancient Egypt through 1915) available today for men's and women's costumes. While the pattern designs are very simplistic, present little detail on closures or embellishments and present only general instructions on construction, they are functional and very easy to make, represent nearly-authentic cuts and effectively achieve the intended essential look for their specific period.
Each pattern in the book is presented in three sizes and, for the individual pieces of a complete garment, a label is often attached, giving its historical name and a brief description of its appearance or use. As a bonus, patterns for specialty costumes (fantasy, religious, Chinese, Japanese, and animals), undergarments, hats, wigs and masks are included, and its Introduction explains, in a step-by-step format, costuming techniques such as enlarging patterns, fitting designs, and draping.
This book can also serve, with just a little imagination, as an infinite source of ideas to help you create your own patterns, although you will have to refer to other books on period specific costumes to give your work finishing details like ornaments, trims, and other accessories.
The only weak point of the book is its glued soft-cover binding, which is completely inadequate for the spine-creasing use you will surely subject it to.
If you either work for the theater or just enjoy making your own costumes, you will find this book to be an indispensable part of your library.

Rating:
Summary: Review
Review: This book is wonderful, although basic knowledge of garment construction is required. The detailed drawings, the accessories and period patterns for trim are fantastic. Highly recommended for Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism. A must for the SCA home library.

Rating:
Summary: Great costume book!
Review: This book was very detailed and contained helpful information. While a begining sewer probably would not be able to scale the patterns up correctly, a seasoned sewer shouldn't have any trouble. If nothing else, you can use this as a refferance comparing modern patterns to their originals. This even contains a section on making corsets, wigs (the fake-looking kind, tinsel for example) and masks! Great buy, I love it!

Rating:
Summary: Great costume book!
Review: This book was very detailed and contained helpful information. While a begining sewer probably would not be able to scale the patterns up correctly, a seasoned sewer shouldn't have any trouble. If nothing else, you can use this as a refferance comparing modern patterns to their originals. This even contains a section on making corsets, wigs (the fake-looking kind, tinsel for example) and masks! Great buy, I love it!

Rating:
Summary: great!
Review: this is an extreamly usefull refrence book for historical costuming, espically for mediveal/renasance reanactors!