My tailor's bookshelf

I’m often asked where I get my patterns from and for tips on how to make garments.
Since tailoring is now my full time profession I’m not at liberty to hand out the patterns I have created and refined.

But what I can show you is my bookshelf of reference material I use when I’m in need of some direction or inspiration.

I use a mixture of modern and antique books.

Many of the vintage books I have contain contemporary instruction on how to draw up frock coats, lounge jacket and waistcoats, all with that distinctive Edwardian twist.

The more modern books give me construction ideas using up to date fabrics and interfaces.

It is a mix of these two that helps me do what I do.

Here’s the full current content of my library.

The Victorian Tailor
Jason MacLochlainn - Batsford 2011

Men’s Garments 1830 - 1900
R I Davis - Players Press 1994

The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing Singer -
Creative Publishing International 2005

Grading for the Fashion Industry
Martin M Shoben & Patrick J Taylor - Sheben Fashion Media 2004

Classic Tailoring Techniques in Men’s Wear
Roberto Cabrera & Patrick Flaherty Meyers - Fairchild 1983

Tailoring: A step-by-step Guide to Creating beautiful Customised Garments - Apple 2005

Metric Pattern Cutting for Menswear Winifred Aldrich -
Blackwell Publishing 1980

Illustrated Guide to Sewing: Tailoring - Fox Chapel 2011

Shirtmaking David Page Coffin - Taunton 1998

Singer Sewing Book
Mary Brooks Picken -
McGraw-Hill Publishing 1954

Cutting and Designing for Men’s Tailoring J Cutler -
New Era Publishing

The Science of Pattern Construction for Garment Makers
B W Poole - New Era Publishing

The Modern Tailor Outfitter and Clothier Vols I to III
A A Whife - Caxton 1949

The Encyclopaedia of Sewing Techniques Wendy Gardiner - Search Press 2003

Design and Cutting Modern Leisure & Cotton Garments for Men A G Chaudhry -
The Tailor and Cutter

The Cut of men’s Clothes 1600 - 1900 Norah Waugh -
Faber and Faber 1964

Complete Guide to Sewing - Reader’s Digest 1978

The Haslam Practical Guide to Dressmaking & Tailoring
G A & F A Haslam

The Art of Garment Making
Philip Dellafera -
The Tailor and Cutter

Textile of Tailors
E Ostick - The Tailor and Cutter

The Elements of Modern Dressmaking
J E Davis -
Cassell & Co Ltd 1894

Cutting and Fitting
Principles of Tailoring Women’s Institute 1928
Tailored Garments

The Modern Tailor Outfitter and Clothier Vols I to III
A S Bridgland - Caxton 1928