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 Cañada 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!