Oooh, you guys– I have a super fun book to show you today! It’s Patternmaking for Menswear by Gareth Kershaw, sent to me by my friends at Laurence King Publishing.
I was really excited to see this in my mailbox for two reasons– firstly, because I’m suddenly feeling comfortable enough with my sewing skills to want to sew for my fella, and secondly, because I’m about three-quarters of the way through my first patternmaking course at FIT and ready to delve more deeply into that world. Folks, this puppy does NOT disappoint!
The book draws inspiration from the world of fashion, but the pieces are classic and wearable.
To make the projects in the book, you create basic pattern blocks, then use them as a jumping-off point to create patterns for different looks. (I have to say, after spending a semester drafting for women, the lovely straight lines and dart-free lines of menswear really appeal to me!).
At the beginning of each project, the author lists the changes you need to make to the block and the techniques you need to learn. It’s all laid out in a simple and straightforward fashion, which I appreciate. The drawings and instructions are much clearer than the textbook my patternmaking teacher references (an older, out-of-print book with small, hard-to-see illustrations).
There are enough patterns and variations in the book to dress a dude really well. Also, not to be TOO much of a superbrat, but lots of the details and skills included in the book translate to women’s sewing, too. I would TOTALLY wear this shirt (I KNOW, I KNOW, I’LL MAKE SOMETHING FOR MY DUDE FIRST). In the project shows above, you need to create cuffs, yokes, plackets, a curved hem– all kinds of things that would come in handy for guys and gals alike! Did I mention that I would TOTALLY wear this shirt?
There are twenty patterns included in the book, and they’re a great mix of basics and hipper garments. For example, there’s a basic buttondown and basic pants, but there are also cargo pants, a hooded sweatshirt, a henley, and a lovely trench coat. This is about as much bang for your buck as you could possibly get sewing for guys– I don’t think you could buy 20 patterns on sale for the amount this book retails for on Amazon ($38!!!)! I should also mention that I think this book would come in handy even if you’re not interested in drafting patterns from scratch. If you want to change up favorite commercial patterns, there’s lots in here to help you update basic patterns and turn them into new looks. Also, in case you were wondering, the book uses the imperial system– no metric measurements.
If I sound really excited about this book, it’s because I am! And, the good news is that I have a copy to give away! Sadly, I can only send it to U.S. residents, but I will plan a giveaway soon for international readers. I’ll choose a winner at random one week from today, at 10P EST on Thurs., Nov. 21st. If you’re interested, leave a comment below! I’d love to know what you’d be most excited about making from this book!
Ginger Makes... 
Dude, I have been TOTALLY bitten by the menswear bug & now you’ve just gone and given it another hit!
LikeLike
This looks amazing! I’ve just started dipping my toes into the world of menswear sewing, and I’m really liking it so far. I think my boyfriend would really like that lumberjack shirt. 🙂
LikeLike
This book looks excellent, and I like your thinking on”straight lines and no darts” menswear sewing… I would probably start with the basic shirt or pants, but tackling a coat would not be far behind 🙂
LikeLike
I am in the thick of sewing some dude pants as we speak!! Would love a copy of this, and I’m pretty sure my dude wouldn’t be to sad about it either!! This looks great!
LikeLike
I have a husband and two sons that I sew for. They’re all hard to fit. Love to have a better idea of how to make patterns for them.
LikeLike
Oh wow, thanks for the awesome review!
I could see myself making my father and grandfather some nice shirts, and maybe a pair of trousers.
LikeLike
Chinos and a bomber, for sure! These Laurence King books are killin’ it! If only my budget allowed!
LikeLike
I can’t enter, but I just wanted to say how much I love this book! I spent many happy hours gazing at it in our local bookshop & it’s definitely on my Christmas list! Excited to see what you make!
LikeLike
I am really excited by this book too! Before I even reached the end of your post, it was in my Amazon cart. The Lumberjack shirt is very much like Collette patterns men’s shirt. As you mentioned, I too want it for myself! How adorable would it be in a child’s cowboy flannel for a PJ top?
LikeLike
Wow, I hadn’t heard of this book. It looks like such a great resource! I would be really interested in learning more about fitting for men – my guy likes everything to be really slim. Out of the styles in your post, I would definitely try the lumberjack shirt first!
LikeLike
Love it! I think it’d be great to make some shirts my other half would actually like to wear!
LikeLike
What an awesome giveaway! Thank you! I’d love to win because my husband is a big (tall) guy and doesn’t have a lot of choices when he shops. And finding patterns to fit him- yeah right! Thanks so much for sharing this book it is going on my wishlist!
LikeLike
Hi Ginger. Now if I win this book, please don’t tell my husband until I can fit his sewing queue into mine :))
LikeLike
I would love to win this book! I’m a woman who wears mostly men’s ready-to-wear so this would be super useful to me. This book looks awesome!
LikeLike
You had me at no darts! I would sew the jacket!
LikeLike
I can’t enter because I’m overseas but it does look like an interesting book. I just bought Thread Theory’s Henley pattern so I’ll start off with that, see if it is received well…
LikeLike
That seems like a lovely pattern– I’m interested to know what you think of it! My fella is horribly picky and none of the Thread Theory patterns appeal to him, so hopefully something in this book will pique his interest!
LikeLike
I would love to win this and make a few henleys for my significant other.
LikeLike
I have just started sewing for the boy so this would be a great help!
LikeLike
I’ve never sewn menswear, I’d love to give it a shot ! Probably go for a classic button up first, potentially move into jacket territory after that
LikeLike
Hubby requested a trench coat. So I am excited to learn to draft one from this book!
LikeLike
Ooh, exciting! You’re right, the straight lines of the menswear patterns are so strikingly different… and refreshing! I need to give it a try one day. 🙂
LikeLike
My excitement for this can only be matched by your excitement. I think starting with menswear pattern making would be the best way to start – and then use those skills to make other aspects of sewing better. Since I’ve been obsessed with button downs lately though, I’d have to say I’d start there!
LikeLike
I too am just finishing up a pattern drafting class and would love to give menswear a try. I would probably start with a shirt for my husband.
LikeLike
I would love to have this book! My hubby and son-in-law are both hard to fit guys so this would really be a helpful book to have.
LikeLike
Well I’m UK so can’t enter your comp BUT in definitely putting this book on my wish list so thank you so much for sharing! My poor hubby NEVER gets anything from me as I’m so busy all te time making for the kids and me BUT I have promised to start so this would be a great book!
LikeLike
Am more than excited to hear of something (pattern making book for men)like this,I am already in drafting men pattern,but need to update and Smoothen my skill,every good book will of course do the training.
Thanks again for sharing your experience with piece.
LikeLike
This looks like a great book, thanks for the review! I’d probably go for the pants considering that’s where my boyfriend differs the most from RTW.
LikeLike
It seems like a great book! There are not enough sewing books for mens wear out there, and this seems perfect. The price is really reasonable too, considering it comes with 20 patterns!!
LikeLike
I’ve made one shirt for my dude and am ready to sew more. I would love a copy of this book. It sounds great.
LikeLike
I’m thrilled to hear about an easy to use patternmaking book for menswear! I would love to make that double-breasted jacket, and perhaps explore redrafting some of my other patterns based on the methods used in this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
LikeLike
One of my near-term goals is to make a custom-fit button up shirt for my very tall, broad shouldered husband. He’s just between sizes and all his store-bought shirts seem to fit funny… so this book would be perfect! I was just wondering if something like this existed the yesterday.
LikeLike
I make yearly birthday lists of things I’d like to accomplish and the nagging one for this year is to sew something for my husband. I feel like such a selfish seamstress, but I’ll wear imperfect things. To learn how to make something he would actually like wearing, now that would be awesome! I’d love to make the chinos and learn to master pants since perfect fitting pants are so hard to come by.
LikeLike
First off, I would just like to say, how awesome that you are taking a pattern making class!! I can’t wait to see what you make. What a great book for making clothes for men. I would love to make my man a shirt or a hoodie, I may have to add this one to my Christmas list!
LikeLike
This book looks amazing; I love style-conscious pattern books. I have made some shirts for my guy but would really love to try making him some pants and don’t feel confident enough with my pattern making skills to try that quite yet.
LikeLike
Yeah! Love it. Some chinos with quilted lining are next on my man making list. Would love this book in my reference collection!
LikeLike
I would totally love a copy of this book! It’s already on my wish list. I especially like the drafting diagrams…. technical diagrams are my jam.
LikeLike
It’s great to see a book on menswear that guys would actually wear! I’m studying fashion design & like you I feel the allure of easy to fit straight silhouettes. I’d probably start with a shirt and really focus on sewing techniques instead of fussing over fit.
LikeLike
Ooo! I’m always on the lookout for menswear patternmaking books. Thanks for the giveaway!
LikeLike
Awesome! Looks like one I’ll have to add to my shelves, even if I don’t win the giveaway. It looks really fun!
LikeLike
Well this is definitely going on my ever increasing list to Santa!
I have never found anything that made me excited at the idea of drafting or sewing clothes for men but this looks like a fab book!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
LikeLike