A photograph of David Pye's seminal book The Nature and Art of Workmanship photographed at the Tchad Workroom library in Chicago that hosts sewing classes in Chicago

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As part of Tchad’s new role of President of the Haute Couture Club of Chicago, Tchad is offering all members of the club as well as current and past students an invitation to the first lecture salon in a series about workmanship and design. We will be talking about David Pye’s The Nature and Art of Workmanship.  David Pye was a professor at the Royal College of Art, London for years and wrote …The Nature… to give the artist a way to talk about their work and begin thinking about the different approaches one can take when considering how to execute design through workmanship. WeRead More →

Sewing classes in Chicago: Tchad: Workroom: Studio: Library: Designing Overcoat Patterns for Men and Young Men: David

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David recently sent us a link wanting to come to classes and work out some of the finer points in the drafting instructions for   an early 20th century men’s overcoat from Designing Overcoat Patterns for Men and Young Men by Harry Simons published by The Clothing Designer and Manufacturer, NY, NY, 1916.Read More →

Sewing classes in chicago: tchad: Workroom: books: Zarapkar: System of Cutting

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Zarapkar: System of Cutting by Shiri K.R. Zarapkar  is a good solid standard around here when we need to talk about Indian or Pakistani clothing in the abstract or concrete. Amazon says of it: Provides detailed and complete information with instructions about measurements, cutting and sewing of dresses for adults and children, men’s pants, capes, saris, aprons, nightgowns, blouses, as well as many Indian fashion designs. Includes many many excellent illustrations. And that is true, but let’s go a little deeper here. First of all, just FYI, this isn’t a sewing manual. It is a tailor’s design and cutting manual that was published by NanveetRead More →

Знциклопедия Кройки и Шитья (Encyclopedia of Cutting and Sewing) at the tchad workroom sewing class in chicago

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Знциклопедия Кройки и Шитья (Encyclopedia of Cutting and Sewing): A great sewing manual for the native Russian Speaker!Read More →

Patternmaking for Menswear

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We’ve had a few students use Patternmaking for Menswear by Myoungok Kim and Injoo Kim a few times, most recently by Jae to make a Fall hoodie.   Amazon says of it: This comprehensive men’s patternmaking text covers many different garment types and design elements, including patternmaking techniques for both woven and knit fabrics. The step-by-step format with accompanying detailed illustrations is appropriate for beginning to advanced students, as well as the industry professionals looking to sharpen their patternmaking skill. Photographs provide examples of completed garments on the dress form and clear illustrations are highlighted with color to show precisely what to do at each stepRead More →

Girls Style Book by Yoshiko Tsukiori

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We recently had a student use Girls Style Book by: Yoshiko Tsukiori in class and thought we’d offer up a review. Amazon says of it: Sew cute and original clothes for your little girl with this stylish sewing book. Popular Japanese author and designer Yoshiko Tsukiori brings unique new designs and style to the do-it-yourself sewist that make it easy to create the kind of clothes little girls adore. Japanese Sewing book Girls Style Book (in English) offers 24 full-sized patterns in five sizes for some of the cutest dresses, tops, outfits and accessories for girls from ages 4-10. Already loved by aficionados of JapaneseRead More →

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We’ve been using The Secrets of Sewing Lingerie: Make Your Own Divine Knickers, Bras & Camisoles by Katherine Sheers for lingerie work in class since it came out a couple of years ago.  It is a really great little book and the patterns are trued up well and well marked.  The instructions would be a little rough for the early beginner, but anyone who has a couple of patterns under their belts should be fine. The language and vocabulary isn’t in standard American English, so there are words here and there that aren’t what you would expect if you are from the US, but  the world isRead More →

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We bought a copy of Early Victorian Men by R. L. Shep to help round out our menswear books at the workroom a while back. Amazon describes it as: “The end of Men as Dandies & peacocks! Fashions did not change much since they were set by George IV and Beau Brummell except they were less extreme. This book is a good look at what they were between the 1820s up to 1850 and how to make them. After that they got more drab and less interesting. George Walker’s rare “The Tailor’s Masterpiece” of 1838 is paired with the full text of “Hints on Etiquette” 1836Read More →

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We purchased Handsewn: The Essential Techniques for Tailoring and Embellishment by Margaret Rowan to help give some direction to students who were learning hand sewing and tailoring. We needed something that was comprehensive but wasn’t an embroidery book specifically. Amazon says of it:  “Take handsewing to the next level! Sewists are developing increasing interest in heritage handsewing techniques that add beautiful or couturelike finishing touches to the final project. Small handfinished details can quickly become a testament to the style, creativity, and skill of the sewist. Handsewn offers step-by-step instructions for a comprehensive collection of hand-finishing and embellishing techniques, including hems, edges, buttonholes, cuffs, tacking layersRead More →

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Verena wanted to work up some clothes for her baby so that it has some cute modern non-gender specific stuff to wear when it gets here, and started looking for a copy of “Esprit Kimono pour les Petits” by Peggy Goyer-Roussel and Zazo Bouzi. It is a French children’s pattern book that can be hard to find, but she found it and worked up some of the cutest little kimono-inspired tops. The instructions are all in French, but the sequence and layout will make this easy enough for the non-French speaking intermediate sewer. The shapes are simple and if you do read French, the directionsRead More →