The Maker's Atelier: The Essential Collection: Sewing with Style

With patterns and instructions for eight garments that should be in every woman's wardrobe, including a stretch pencil skirt, a tie-neck blouse and a book bag.

A career in fashion, a love of fabrics, a lifetime making clothes, a keen sense of styles that work for women of all ages and shapes: this is the perfect cocktail of skills and passion that make Frances Tobin s patterns for The Maker's Atelier so successful.

For this book, Frances has designed eight essential patterns, with variations to create a collection of 31 versatile pieces. The collection is mix-and-match, offering lifestyle outfits for office days to weekend dog walks to elegantly glamorous evening wear, including a stretch pencil skirt, a pair of cigarette pants, a drape-front top and an over-sized t-shirt.

Key fashion trends are refined to create stylishly simple shapes, now staples in the wardrobes of thousands of women, and then translated into dressmaking patterns that make up easily into garments.

Patterns are in a range of sizes, from UK sizes 8 to 20, with information on measuring and fitting, and advice on fabrics. Only simple sewing skills are needed, and clear illustrations guide you through making each piece, so you can confidently concentrate on creating your own essential collection.