Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Buy this Book! (Building Patterns by Suzy Furrer)


Update on Dec 26, 2020: It was brought to my attention that Suzy's website is no longer functioning. She has started a new website at ApparelArtsProductions.com. She doesn't have printed copies of the book in stock, but you can buy the PDF version, print it out, and have it bound (I'd use spiral binding) at a copy shop. You can order it here: apparelartsproductions.com/shop. I'm happy I could help!


A year or so ago, I was looking for this book, in vain. I wasn't sewing much in 2008, when it came out, so I wasn't paying attention and missed it. Building Patterns by Suzy Furrer is a pattern making book that the experts (such as Linda Maynard and Susan Khalje) respect. A used copy on Amazon goes for $400 to $600, as you can see here and here.

This is just slightly outside of my budget.

Last night, I learned through one of my friends in the CaƱada College Fashion department that Suzy has reprinted it! This is not a second edition, it is a 2012 printing, with some corrections from the 2008 printing. I leafed through my friend's copy for about 10 seconds and knew it was going to be mine.

You can't order it through Amazon, but you can buy it through Apparel Arts. It runs $55 plus shipping but, unfortunately, she will not ship internationally.

I ordered my copy this morning.

If you are still unsure, just read the reviews by highly respected sewists on Amazon.

I've not met Suzy Furrer yet but, as we are both in San Francisco, it's just a matter of time!

Thanks SO much for all of the feedback on my weight loss post. It has been intense, both on the post itself and via email and Facebook.

On the sewing front, I have started working on a jacket. It's taking me awhile, and I have to order a custom zipper, so I may take a quick detour and make something fast. Work is intense, but my daughters are in Europe (and I am missing the rascals), so I have some distractions, but not as much as usual!

26 comments:

  1. I did read the reviews on Amazon, and although the first few were extremely complimentary, the later ones were more critical. What do you think this book will give you that for instance Armstrong or Knowles do not?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great question. I am wondering the same as I have the Armstrong book.

      Delete
    2. I don't have the book in my possession quite yet, and I don't have the Knowles book, but I do have the Armstrong book. It is a good book and was used when I took Pattern Drafting many years ago (in the early 80s).

      However, I have been told that the Furrer book goes deeper into each subject - more measurements are taken and more detail and instructions are provided within each exercise.

      Delete
  2. Shams. I am very grateful to you for baring your soul and sharing your health journey with us. I have become progressively sicker and the best medicine can do for me is more and more meds. You didn't reference this symptom, but I have had very pungent breath for years, and it is not coming from my teeth. I've had it since my 20s and no one has been able to pinpoint the cause; of course, no one has really tried very hard either. I have about made up my mind to change my lifestyle and go with
    Eat to Live. I will keep you posted on my progress if you're interested. At any rate, thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry to hear about your health issues, Gail. Yes, please do keep me posted!

      Delete
  3. Thanks Shams -- just ordered the book. I only saw one bad review out of the 12 on Amazon. I have a couple of pattern drafting books, including one that came with my class at SFD and I find that sometimes one will give you an AHA moment. Something may just be explained in a way that you better understand or may speak to you differently. This one had enough good said about it that I thought it worth adding to my library.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I also saw only one bad review and it seemed like some of that criticism was because the reviewer was a beginner. I know that Linda Maynard has used this as a textbook and I have several friends that I respect who speak very highly of it.

      Delete
  4. Thanks for letting us know about this book. It looks like one I would like to add to the sewing library. I'm anxious to hear how you like it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Shams, put me on the list of those awaiting your review. I too have been trying to make up my mind about this book.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I ordered it after I looked at the sample pages. I don't have any pattern drafting books and my sewing library consists of three books about Cristobal Balenciaga! I figure no matter what it will be an interesting read! Thanks Shams for posting about it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, Claire! It sounds like you do need a good book (or two) on the subject!

      Delete
  7. I recently downloaded a 1948 (I think) book - can't remember who posted a link?? about drafting and flat pattern making. I am still printing it out.....Its at work on my computer their and I am far, far away on holiday. I wonder this book compares? Anyway being in Australia looks like I can't get my hands on it anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually, that might have been a link that I posted. ;) If it's the book that Perfect Nose made available, that is.

      Delete
  8. Shams -- haha --I would love to buy the book if I could actually sew. I'd have to tear it up to make collages or mail art and that wouldn't be good.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I bought this on your recommendation and just received it. After flipping through it just now, I'm super excited to start reading through it. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you SO VERY MUCH for the reference on how to find Suzy Ferrer's book. I just ordered my copy. Thank you. Thank you. I have been haunting Amazon and eBay, but like you said, who can afford $600 for a book??!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you for sharing your tip about where to order Suzy Furrer's book! I live in Europe and I was also glad to find that the book is now shipped internationally (24$, not very cheap...). Should I have had a relative or good friend in the US, I'd probably have it shipped there and then sent on to Europe. But the price is still much lower than the ones on Amazon. And about 57 Euro (including shipping) seems acceptable for this book for which so many reviews speak so highly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Caroline, can you post the web-link, where you can buy Suzy's book. I live in Europe too and vey much interested in purchasing the book. Thanks.
      Joybelle, Denmark

      Delete
    2. Hi Joybelle!

      Suzy now ships internationally. Buy her book from her site:
      http://www.apparel-arts.com/store/

      Cheers!

      Delete
  12. I wrote to Suzy regarding the prices on Amazon. She has no control over the prices people are asking for used, but I was very happy to find her book at $55 from her web site. She is an excellent teacher of pattern drafting. I am working my way through her courses on Craftsy, and she is very quick to answer any query and is very encouraging. The book follows how she teaches on the Craftsy courses, but it is very handy to refer to the book for even more specific details, especially when adding different design elements. I have great respect for her. Now, I can stop haunting our library and renewing the older pattern books that have been helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Shams, refound this post via Robin (A little sewing), and just letting you know that Suzi does ship internationally now. Yay! Its on it way to me. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I ordered Suzy book building patterns on the 30/6/2016. I received my book today 6/7/2016. I live in Npaier New Zealand
    I look forward to doing the craftsy courses along with having the book as a reference tool.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Sham, sadly I came across your helpful post too late and the site is no longer available. Do you know if Suzy has an alternative site to purchase the book? I’ve googled for hours but no luck and used copies of the book are still at an insane price on Amazon. Thanks in advance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Silvia! Suzy has started a new website at www.ApparelArtsProductions.com. She doesn't have paper copies of the book in stock, but you can buy the PDF version, print it out, and have it spiral (or regularly) bound at a copy shop. You can order it here: https://www.apparelartsproductions.com/shop. I'm happy I could help!

      Delete