Professional Pattern Grading for Women's, Men's and Children's Apparel

The media could not be loaded. Explain how to do grading without the use of computers or technology. Not all of us have the luxury if being able to afford the expensive software to do the grading on computer or to pay a company to do it for us. So I like the book because it shows you the old fashion way of grading by hand. The book is very simple and easy to understand. I did took a course on grading a long time ago, so it was helpful as a reference.

Explains pattern grading in a very clear concise way. Highly recommend this book.Sonja

This book is recommended by most industry professionals as the go-to for grading. It's packed with essential fundamental info and definitely a must have.

So my better half is into sewing, and consequently wants to modify patterns. I picked this as it didn't suggest that it specific to using some kind of computer thingy - you know, we want to use the pattern makers curves and what not.Well shoot. As a birthday present for the resident seamstress, it's a bit of an expensive fizzer - there is apparently a bit in there that's useful but not quite the text we were looking for.

Edit 9/2/13: I wrote and posted this review for Handford's Pattern GRADING book. I have no idea how it was moved over to his drafting book but this was only recent. Follow that link, that is what my review is for. Not that his drafting book is bad, I think it's a great option if you can get a low cost copy. Not fancy, just the basics you'll use year after year.-------------------I can't believe nobody has reviewed this book because it is -hands down- the best book in the business. It's self-published so its release and publicity is limited but I can tell you this is the book that is most often USED in the apparel industry. Not the book most used in schools, but in real life (I've been a pattern maker for 25+ years). I guarantee all the pattern grading services keep it on hand! The way the grading charts and mapping is set up in the book most closely mirrors the way we work in the industry. The charts in competing books (Price/Zamkoff) are so complex but Handford's book nails it.Unlike many book authors, Handford was a pattern maker for years. He'd work in the industry for a spate of years, get disgusted, go back to school, get disgusted with school so he'd go back to pattern making, then in to teaching, then back to school, then back to manufacturing over and over. He did this over the lifetime of his career finally ending up with a Ph.D and 50 years of industrial experience! I mention his background because it means his book is keenly attentuated to the needs of everyone, students, pattern makers and educators. He did it all so he'd know what was most efficacious for all parties concerned. His book blends the needs of everyone simply and succinctly. You could buy another book rather than this one but I don't know why you would.