These are the books Heidi has found most useful over more than two decades of costuming. Some are available at libraries; most can be found on Amazon or through specialty sewing retailers.
Historical Costuming
- Patterns of Fashion 1–4 by Janet Arnold — the definitive reference for museum-quality historical patterns. Volume 1 covers 1560–1620, Volume 2 covers 1860–1940. Essential for serious historical costuming.
- The Basics of Corset Building by Linda Sparks — practical, clear guide to corset construction. Heidi references this regularly for her own corset work. Linda Sparks also maintains the Farthingales website with helpful detailed articles.
- Costume Close-Up by Linda Baumgarten — detailed study of 18th-century garment construction from Colonial Williamsburg's collection.
- How to Make Historic American Costumes by Mary Evans — covers American costume from colonial through late Victorian periods.
Fitting and Pattern Making
- Fitting the Figure by Janet Pray — systematic approach to analyzing fitting problems and correcting them.
- Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing — comprehensive reference for techniques, alterations, and pattern work. A classic that holds up decades after publication.
- The Vogue Sewing Book — detailed fitting and construction guide. Out of print but worth finding used.
Cosplay and Craft
- The Book of Cosplay Sewing — covers fabric selection, sewing techniques, and costume construction for cosplay specifically.
- Making Movie Costumes — how Hollywood constructs screen-accurate costumes, with useful techniques applicable to advanced cosplay.
Online Resources
- PatternReview.com — community reviews of commercial patterns, with user notes on sizing and construction challenges. Heidi's profile can be found there.
- The Cutter's Research Journal — online resource for historical pattern research and documentation.
- Farthingales.com — Linda Sparks's website with detailed corset construction tutorials and materials.