Lilla B N WestonVestments and How to Make Them

On the plus side this is a copy of a book from 1914, so if you are looking for information on making traditional (pre-Vatican 2) vestments this may be a good resource. Although there are a number of items that I don't think are used anymore, even by traditional priests.On the minus side, if you are interested in modern liturgical garments, or vestments for women this book will not be of much interest to you. Also you would need to have a good deal of knowledge in pattern making to really use this book for making vestments. There is no info, that I could find, on how to size the garments to individual people and if you need a different size than the arbitrary one that is used in the instructions then you will have to know how to alter the patterns to fit. Also, there is no cassock pattern even though the cassock is listed in the table of contents. The authors comment is that cassocks need to be tailored to the individual and that is beyond the scope of the book. That doesn't bode well for the rest of the patterns. A minor irritation is that although there is a beautiful example of embroidery on the cover there is really not much usable embroidery information in the book. This is a rather major oversight since traditional vestments, especially chasubles, usually are heavily embroidered. So you would need an addition resource for that.The quality of the book is rather bad, since it appears to be a photocopy of the original book. Some of the photos are very hard to make out.Overall, if you are an experience seamstress that wants basic information on traditional vestments to use as a starting point for making your own patterns this book would be of help. Otherwise it would be of only historical interest.

I am moved to review this book so that others may not make the mistake I almost made - not buying the book. The prior reviewer is correct that the book is a reprint of an early 20th century manual. If you are looking for quick and easy sewing tips using modern materials, this is NOT the book for you. Nor is it a book if you are wanting instruction on more contemporary design.All that being said, this is a TREASURE, and I am grateful to the person/persons who made it available to us. This a primary resource on true craftsmanship. I am amazed that the author was able to pack so much information into such a small space. I have wondered how the truly lovely older linens and vestments at our Cathedral were made, and I now have that information. Much of the information is current, and I am relying on the patterns and guidelines for vestment making.Beyond that, I am enriched with the insight into the lives of women 100 or so years ago. Imagine having the time, skill, and patience to create these works of art all for the glory of God. Clearly the author was an expert at her craft, and I am delighted I got to know her a little.

I make vestments for our local church and I always look for new books and patterns. These are tools used for reference and to help to keep informed on any new projects. I can never have too many books or patterns.

This is a little hard to follow, but it contains lots of good informtion

It is an alright book! However, it gets into making vestments that are a bit more than what a deacon wears.

Tired of high cost for quality vestments. The ladies in the congregation enjoy getting together and making our vestments. They have a feeling of contributing to the parish.

Old pictures of old vestments but more like the new ones than the fiddleback vestment I was hoping to see. Disappointed but will use what I can from the book.

Informative

Interesting and of it's time as social comment but not practical. It is an exact reprint of the original 1915 book, so quality is poor, imperial measurements, no help with sizing or tailoring. There is no sense of the size of the person for whom the garments are being made, and of course it is no good for women's vestments as there is no allowance in design for a female figure. If you want it as a history book it's quaint. If you are wanting a practical guide, not this one.Preaching scarves now have pleats, this book's design doesn't, and the stole splays and has a right angle seam at the base of the neck - most modern stoles have an angular seam that creates a point at the nape of the neck and are parallel edged. The cassock and alb do not reflect modern trends, or provide for lining, or darts for shaping. Chasuble, burse and veil look ok though if you get your metric imperial conversions right! :)

The book covers only a limited style of vestments; no Roman Style or 'fiddle backs' which were used by high Anglicans of the time. The diagrams were clear but many illustrations were very darkunclear photos, which were of no help in seeing what the garments were like (on a Human model) or as in samples of embroidery which were all but lost. The type-face/font was very small, which was rather a hinderance. to elderly eyes.Yet There were margins 4cm, enough to allow enlargement of the text in future editions.I was very ill and recovering from surgery when the book arrived. For more than a month passed before I was able to do begin clearing my correpondence. Otherwise I would have returned it..

This is a book first published in 1913 and although the cover gives the impression of an up to date book it is misleading. The quality of reproduction of the pictures is so bad it is hard to see what some of them are meant to be. It looks like a copy of a poor photocopy.It is not true that fashions in church vestments have never changed. This book was written in the days of hand sewing or old tredle machines.It may be of historical interest but is of limited use to someone wanting to made modern vestments from modern fabrics.

Good book for beginners. Clear descriotions

Wonderful history - some fascinating items.