Frances GrimbleThe Voice of Fashion: 79 Turn-of-the-Century Patterns with Instructions and Fashion Plates

This book is an amazing resource for anyone looking to learn more about Edwardian pattern making in a modern form. It has high quality printing and is large so you see the text and the images. Highly recommend.

So far I've made the February 1901 corset cover from this book. Pattern drafting with the rulers feels like magic to me.Unlike the Dover books, this book includes the apportioning rulers and explains how to use them. There is glossary in the back that with period sewing and fabric terms which is very helpful. The only other things you might need is a period sewing book (one is included in another of Ms. Grimble's books, "The Edwardian Modiste") and a set of French curves (though you could use an all in one styling design ruler like the one Dritz makes).Take the time to do the practice drafts, so you can get comfortable with the system, especially if you have never done any modern pattern drafting. I did them on lightweight interfacing (sold for pattern making) so I could fit the tissues rather than make up a muslin.

Using this system I was able to recreate a pattern in this book to the plus sizes of a 26 and a 30. Even though the "rulers" in the back of the book, do not go up that far, it gives you the skills to make your own ruler for what ever size you need. And with a little practice it gets even easier. Now I haven't sewn one of the patterns yet, and I do know that there will need to be adjustments, but any pattern you buy will need to be adjusted to fit properly. But it sure helps making good patterns for the plus sizes.

This book has everything, including the rulers that were used to draft all the patterns for various sizes (measurement based). The patterns are clearly shown and with a bit of work they are easily drafted to fit your body. I have yet to make any of these patterns but I am looking forward to spending time on them in the future.

If you like this period of fashion you will love this book. I'm still a newbie at pattern drafting but I love to look at the pictures, over and over and wonder at the shapes of some of the pattern pieces. I've been sewing for more than 50 years and it amazes me how they did things compared to modern methods.

I received this book yesterday and it looks amazing so far! Grimble's introduction clears up a good many issues I was fuzzy or wrong on, as concerns these old patterns . The inclusion of the Diamond Cutting System rulers in the back was the main reason I wanted the book, but the variety and number of patterns and information included (in the introduction alone) has made me very pleased indeed.For the record, the rulers Grimble includes can be used to draft not only the patterns in this book, but the ones on Kristina Harris's compilations of period patterns, which are also from the Voice of Fashion publications and use the same system. Dover, who publishes those books, however, make no reference to the drafting system or the proprietary rulers that make it quite simple to scale them up to your size.

This is perfect for reenactors and history founders! An entire wardrobe can be made from this book. You will be delighted and will not know where to start.

Wonderful ideas and complete patterns and suggestions for authentic late-Victorian and Edwardian clothes. These patterns are for real clothes, not costumes. The drafting method used for enlarging the patterns to fit modern sizes is included as are the necessary gages.