Oh my goodness, how did I miss this video!? Thank you for the great list, there are a couple here that I have not purchased yet! Awesome!

@lexygirl1786

4 жыл бұрын

Which ones are your favorite?

“But then I realize I love sweatpants.” I couldn’t resonate more with this if I tried.

I’ve gone back to this video several times so I can figure out what titles to add to my Christmas list 😊

Hello from the East side of Canada! Thank you for the list! The books "Reader's Digest New Complete Guide to Sewing" and "Couture Sewing Techniques" will definitely be my next book purchases, that's what I need; more knowledge about basics to support my creativity! I love all of your videos, you just seems to enjoy yourself and sound so natural.

I haven’t even finished watching the video and I already stopped and bought one of the books 😂 Patterns of Fashion 1 is coming my way! SO excited! EDIT: Someone stop me! Please! I just bought another book... Costumes in Detail will be mine soon too....

@lysem4392

Жыл бұрын

I am not the someone who will stop you! On the contrary, enjoy. I know many of these books, including the ones you bought. You will not regret your purchases.

Have you read What Clothes Reveal by Linda Bumgarten? She wrote Costume Close Up. It's full of very interesting information about how and why clothes were worn through the Georgian era using more examples from the Colonial Williamsburg collection. It's not a pattern book, but it had a lot of information that works very well in tandem with Costume Close Up and on its own. I highly recommend it!

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

I have not! But now I have to find it! 😊😉

@Elemiriel

5 жыл бұрын

ANOTHER book added to my list LOL

One year on and I am still watching this video to build my library. 😍📚

Here from Bernadette and thank you for such a wonderful and expansive list of sewing references...definitely on the, ever expanding, wish list! :-)

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

Welcome! I am glad you enjoy my list!

Such a thorough and helpful guide! Thank you so much! Would love to see an update to see what newer/other books have made their way into your collection since this was made.

Oh my, costumes close up was a gift from my cousin and now I’m hooked on wanting more books!

Thank you for all the books' references. And as a French, I can say your french prononciation for "la mode illustrée " is good 😀

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you 💗

@lysem4392

Жыл бұрын

​@@EnchantedRoseCostumesIf I may just add, "mode" is prononced "mud" in French, but you have the "illustrée" down pat.

thank you so much for such a comprehensive list of fashion/sewing books

Thoroughly enjoyed and inspired by your adventures with finding some really awesome books. Thank you for sharing.

This was so helpful, thank you. I have been eyeing some of those books. Now I can’t wait to get my hands on them.

Great list of books! Added many to my wish list! Thank you

I love the cross stitch on your peg board.

I have loads of beautiful books, as well as vintage doll pattern books. I find that art books of portraits are also great. There is one portrait of Empress Elizabeth of Austria, by Winterhalter, (she's wearing the diamond stars in her hair) in a white tulle and chiffon gown, also decorated with starts, that is my favourite. At the time that I made my lady doll, I could not find a photo of the front of the dress. So I had to make do with another outfit for her.

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

I love that gown! I think Christine's dress in the Phantom of the Opera movie was inspired by that portrait.

@suemiller9842

5 жыл бұрын

THE ORIGINAL GOWN IS STUNNING. I found a video of the Austrian museum housing the dress. KZread reference 'Sisi Ausstellung in Bad Ischl www.stv1.at' It's well worth the 5 minutes, 20 seconds required to watch it. Her gowns are an inspirational dream. Thanks so much for sharing your love with us.

I've been looking for a video like this ! Thank you !! 😃

Thank you for your thoughtful recommendations. Happily I have quite a few but of course I followed through and ordered more for now. Some I will put on my wish list. Looking forward to your next project.

This was super helpful. Thanks

This video is amazing! I have a ton of new books on my library list, and several I predict will permanently grace my shelves shortly. Thank you!

Love your hair in this video! So many books. I haven't been fortunate enough to own any sewing books but one day I hope to purchase at least two (ideally an 18th century one and a victorian one)

Thanks so much for your insight into all these wonderful costuming books! Look forward to purchasing several in the very near future. :)

Thank you, much appreciated. I saw this video when it was just released and two days later someone asked me if I had any recommendations on costume making, books and so on.. so I sent them your way! Take care. ☀️

Hurray for books and thanks for the awesome videos too excited to get more books to help me and my gal get further on our sewing journey leaning to sew via books and you tube is tough so help is greatly appreciated

Just bought Corsets and Crinolines for my corset for under my wedding dress. Thank you for the recommendation.

This is a very helpful video, I began sewing not so long ago and I don’t have any pattern or sewing books, I didn’t know which ones I should look at and with this video now I know some options I colud use, thanks!

Thankyou so much for this video! I needed this, especially because Ill be asking for some of these for Christmas :)

:D thank you for the info! I can't wait to see what you do in the future on your channel!

I recently bought the Haute Couture book and I can't recommend it enough. It's so informative and she writes well too!

La mode illustrée was a french fashion journal and these journals contained a bunch of patterns (like today's sewing magazine like Burda Style) and now some of these pattern are available online at low prices, but they are in french. If you're interested, check out this website : www.french-crea-vintage.com/

Many of these are in my own bookshelf. I LOVE Costume in Detail! I can't believe you were going to return it. It was on our college booklist also. (The sadly now defunct Red Deer College, Costume Cutting and Construction Program) Your bookshelf has acquainted me with some volumes I think I need.

This video came at such an appropriate time. I got a gift certificate for my birthday and now I can get a bunch of these books. Thanks for your recommendations.

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

4 жыл бұрын

Have fun!!!

Lovely video! Thank you a lot

Thank you. It's very instructive.

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

Your welcome 😊

Can i just say how much i loooove your background? It's so creative and absolutely fantastic! ❤❤

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I have a video on how I made it that I'll be sharing soon-ish 😉

i never like and sub as a reaction but this video made me do it. i screamed so many times of excitement i just had to. after a few minutes 😍

The La Mode Illustree and Harper's Bazaar books look SO fun! This video is essentially my Christmas List for this coming year lol

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

They are amazing books!

Haha, when I bought "Costume in Detail" I really didn't like it either! But now I love it!

SQUEEEEEEEEE!! I loved this! I was cheering when I saw books I own and started a list of books I dont own... yet lol. Love seeing you, looking absolutely lovely today! Thank you!

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear it was helpful! And thank you for the kind comment!😊

Hello... I am new the Costume making! I dress in both male and female costumes! I am so very glad that you have made this video as i have had no idea on where to find patterns for the times i love so much! Thank you so very much. You have help inspire me to go back to college for costume making! Who knows maybe i will show up at Costume Collage this year. Have a safe and Happy Holiday season. Happy sewing.

would love a pt 2 to this video 5 years on !!

Thanks for sharing!!

I just love snooping around in people's bookshelves ;)

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

I love seeing what other costumers have on their shelves!

This was super helpful, thank you! *runs to Goodreads*

Really great video. I definitely want to purchase a 18/19 century corset pattern book for my birthday this year. I am still debating which one would suit me best and this video was really helpful with it. Of course I also need a pattern book for the outer clothing as well. I hope most of these books are available in The Netherlands where I live. I was really excited when I saw that you had the couture sewing techniques book as well. I also have a smaller but similar book to the new complete guide for sewing. The pictures/drawings looks similar tho. I am more and more leaning towards books for information in stead of the internet. Those books are always there, even with power and internet outage. I have subscribed :)

@lysem4392

Жыл бұрын

I so agree with you about owning physical books. It's not that the internet is no good, but books are... right there where you can reach them _for sure_. Both formats are useful, but books will not go Poof! Gone! if anything goes wrong as when your laptop dies, or the site disappears, or whatever else can go awry in the electronic universe. Also, they can be marked with post-it notes, and annotated (in pencil please!) in the margins.

Always happy to see a new video from you! I now have SEVERAL books to add to my collection! I was wondering which ones you think would be best for a 1740 French/English style (more like location than robe a la francaise vs anglaise) dress for a beginner?

I love your videos there so helpful as I’m starting 18 century dress

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

I would love to see photos when you are done!

@allyburdenlee444

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah I’ve done the chemise I’m working on the corset

@rebekah-chriss-k4872

5 жыл бұрын

@@allyburdenlee444 what style dress you working on?

@allyburdenlee444

5 жыл бұрын

A Scottish skirt and jacket and dress and a robe a la franchise

@rebekah-chriss-k4872

5 жыл бұрын

@@allyburdenlee444 Nice i'm helping out making a stays a short gown petticoat and a mens jacket and drop fly knee breeches now

For spanish people, I would recommand "Moda, Historia y estilos" de la editorial DK(40€)

Loved the overview of your book suggestions. There is Authentic Victorian Dressmaking Techniques by Kristina Harris which I am guessing is the companion book to your Authentic Victorian Fashion Pattern book!

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

4 жыл бұрын

I recently picked up that book, and I really like it! It is a reprint from 1905 butterick sewing manual, so it is really Edwardian. That being said, there are many techniques that can be used for the late Victorian era.

I really love your channel. I have some of the books you recommend and recently purchased VOICE OF FASHION because you make the apportionment method look so easy. And, because of that, I want to make a bustle dress. Can you recommend a relatively easy pattern to get me started? I like to start simple. Again, I love your channel and appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

I have most of Kristina Harris's books and four of Francis Grimble's as well. I am very happy to hear I can use the scales from Francis's book (which i have made items from) which i have been intimidated by sadly as there are many items i wanted to recreate but was unsure how to go about it. Im assuming I use the scales in the book(s) and draft the items from Kristina's that are in the same timeline/era

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

That is what I have been doing for mine :) Festive Attyre has a great video on using the rulers! www.festiveattyre.com/2012/01/pattern-drafting-with-apportioning.html.

Good book listing! Here are another two to add: Frances Grimble's Fashions of the Gilded Age vols 1 and 2. They cover the Natural Form Era. The second volume includes a large section on dressmaking taken from an original source, with clear copperplate illustrations of each step. I love that section to pieces :) If you compare its advice to that from Harper's Bazaar in Grimble's Reconstruction Era Fashions, you can track how dressmaking evolved.

Wow, I need to take a nap after watching this video. You put so much work into this presentation. Surely you're a math genius. What a wonderful review on the books. Did you get a degree in costume design? You are most definitely worth sponsoring:))

Sizing a patterning is called grading. Timbits-tidbits, Canadian And hungry 😊.

Wow, I only have two of those books! I got my costume degree back in 1980, so my books are ancient! You don't have the Vogue Sewing Book? That was my sewing text book through college, back when it still had menswear and tailoring. I guess I should put up a list of my book collection. Who dies with the most sewing books wins?

@jayneterry8701

2 жыл бұрын

Same here. I still reference it. What if we had Amazon back then? Selection was poor then and student spending 50- 100$ for a book seemed out of my range.

I really like the peg board behind you and how it looks like you cross stitched it. I have been thinking of doing something like that for my studio. What did you use? Yarn, paint, or markers? I also like that the flower is off to the side so that you can still use the peg board.

Hi there. I am in Australia , the way you would pronounce Norah Waugh's surname is WOR/WAR. We have cricket players with the same surname. Her book is still available on Amazon but its anywhere fro $88 up to almost $200 and most of them are used copies.

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

Good to know! Thank you!

Thank you so much for your wonderful videos - and it is good to know that I have the correct books (lol). I am working on a 18th century costume but am still working on the stays (the first was too small).

*Takes notes*

Thanks.

21:55 Omg I might have to get this book (even tho I don't do Edwardian) JUST for that scale ruler at the back, cause I've got the "59 Turn-Of-The-Century Fashion Patterns" book (and now wanna get the other book with same drafting method) that's a pain to size up omg it's way more expensive than the other two ;-; I'm sad that the other two don't have the scale rulers

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

3 жыл бұрын

You can buy the apportioning rulers here! shop.theamericanseamstress.com/

@chaotic-goodartistry3903

3 жыл бұрын

@@EnchantedRoseCostumes omg thank you! :)

Hello Marika, I really appreciate this video! I really want to make clothes of common people/working class as project (showing history of ancesters). I already bought few as yours. But I’m still wondering if I can find informations in the others as the cut of womens clothes. Do you an have any ideas to help me. I study History few years ago but I learn nothing about this topic and I know that mostly rich and middle class things as clothes survived to us. If you can help, I would really appreciate. And your french is terrific 😊

crying over all the books I want and can't afford >

Thank you for the information. Do you have some suggestions for children's costuming?

Thank you!! I love this video. It is so helpful for see you thumb through the books. Thank you for your recommendations. Do you shop for fabric and notions online? Do you have any good resources you could share?

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I haven't bought a lot of fabric online, but I have been looking at SYFabrics, Renaissance Fabrics, CheepTrims, Burnley & Trowbridge, and MoodFabrics. There are others but I can't remember the names right now. I will say I didn't have a good experience with Denver Fabrics, they took over 6 months to send my fabric and so by the time it arrived in Canada my school project(i ordered 4 month before the start of that assignment)I bought the fabric for was already done.

@rachaelburchfield6396

5 жыл бұрын

@@EnchantedRoseCostumes Thanks so much for your feedback!!

Saw your Outlander book collection in an earlier video. What is your opinion on Terry Dresbach's costuming for the show?

The Voice of Fashion sounds like the New Zealand "Dot Patterns" from 1969.

staaaahp 🤤

As you live in Canada where do you buy fabrics? I saw you live in BC - so it's maybe better there - but here in Alberta it's so bad selection unless you want to make a quilt. I wonder if you have any favourite online resources or stores I shall check out when in BC?

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comment. I buy most of my fabric from Fabricland, Oversea Fabrics(Abbotsford), and Dressew(Vancouver). The silk I used for my francaise I bought several years ago on eBay, but the seller I bought it from doesn't appear to be on eBay anymore. And I bought my corsets materials from Farthingales(based in Ontario). I haven't bought a lot of fabric online, but I have been looking at SYFabrics, Renaissance Fabrics, CheepTrims, Burnley & Trowbridge, and MoodFabrics. There are a few others but I can't remember the names at the moment.

@missmatti

5 жыл бұрын

@@EnchantedRoseCostumes Thank you for taking your time to answer! I have only checked out and bought things from mood fabrics & fabric land so there is plenty of places to explore. I will especially check out Farthingales as I need some new boning for a corset I started to make years ago (the ones I had got all bent). I will after I finished the corset (Victorian fit but with modern details) start my process of making my own 18th century costume!

I know this question might seem really silly, but, how do you utilize patterns that are on a single page like that? Do you do your best to copy them to scale on tracing paper?

I want them all, but I'm just a beginner... And I don't think they are available in Spain or France...

Question: Can anyone help me figure out The Voice of Fashion drafting method (Diamond Cutting System)? I understand to use the scale rulers to measure width, but do I use one them or a regular inches ruler for the length? I seem to get it wrong either way and I'm running out of grid paper😭. "Use the scale corresponding to the bust measure to draft the entire jacket. Use the scale corresponding to the waist measure to draft the skirt. Regulate all lengths by the tape measure."

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

3 жыл бұрын

I have another video on using the Voice of Fashion drafting method! I put it out this past October! It is Called "3 Methods to Scale up Historical Pattern Books"

I'm so devastated that the older Patterns of Fashion are out of print!! Now they're $500 on Amazon! Very helpful video, thank you! I'm just so disappointed

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

3 жыл бұрын

The School of Historical Dress is re-releasing the POF books in colour with more patterns this year! Go to their website to find out more!!!

@nix_cosplay

3 жыл бұрын

@@EnchantedRoseCostumes that’s incredible news thank you!!!

Any recommended books for beginner hand sewers as a reference to hand stitches.

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

4 жыл бұрын

The Readers Digest has a section on hand stitches, otherwise I think couture sewing books would be very helpful as there is a LOT of hand sewing in couture work :)

Hey! Do you know any (other) books that have patterns for men? :)

@CraftySheryl

4 жыл бұрын

Nora Waugh has a companion book to The Cut of Women’s clothes called The Cut of Men’s Clothes that you might like.

I might have missed it - where there any books specifically on men’s clothing or just the one that had patterns for men women and children? And are their any recommendations for men’s sewing patterns?

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

3 жыл бұрын

There is a book by Norah Waugh called the cut of mens clothes and it covers fashions from 1600-1900, mens 17th and 18th century costume by R.I. Davis, and a book called the Tudor Tailor. Other then that I haven't come across many mens books unfortunately 😕

@mak3960

3 жыл бұрын

@@EnchantedRoseCostumes thanks that’s really helpful! I’ve been having the most difficult time finding men’s patterns

Hello❤️ I was just wondering, would you say the Jean Hunnisett books are very important if you want to start sewing period costumes, or not?

@Chibihugs

4 жыл бұрын

No, they aren't necessary to start at all. They are great but definitely books you can wait to get and they are quite expensive.

@cookiebukie2902

4 жыл бұрын

Chibihugs thank you

Does the Victorian Dressmaker one include any corset patterns?

@bennettcooper5616

3 жыл бұрын

or any undergarment patterns for that matter . . .

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

3 жыл бұрын

Yes to both questions! There are a few corset patterns and many differnt types of undergarments

@bennettcooper5616

3 жыл бұрын

@@EnchantedRoseCostumes tysm!

Do you have menswear drafting books in your library? I'm looking to expand my menswear books and find it hard to get my hands on good men's wear drafting books either vintage or modern. Thanks!

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

The only menswear books that I currently have is Mens 17th and 18th Century Costume, Cut, and Fashion by R.I. Davis. But I haven't really looked through it, I found it very cheap in a secondhand store and it was printed by the same company who put out Period Costume for Stage and Screen. And the Tudor Tailor, another one that I found for a very good price, but I haven't really had a proper look through yet.

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

There is also one that I don't own but has been recommended called the gentleman's wardrobe. It is vintage style for the modern man.

Have the Janet Arnold books Patterns of fashion 2-5 the basic bodice patterns or they only has the number 1?

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

4 жыл бұрын

I don't quite understand your question. Each POF book covers a different time period, and the patterns in the book are taken from extant garments.

@AnaCarolina-dn4es

4 жыл бұрын

@@EnchantedRoseCostumes thank you very much to answer me. I mean that to do a dress is necessary to start from a basic bodice pattern and I was wondering if all the Janet Arnold books have the basic bodice pattern or only has it the number one. Sorry for my english. I hope to make myself understood.

@rubyblue3991

4 жыл бұрын

@@AnaCarolina-dn4es hay, you don't need the first book to be able to use the others. Each book stands on it's own so if you (for instance) just want t 4th then that's absolutely possible and you can use it just fine :)

@AnaCarolina-dn4es

4 жыл бұрын

@@rubyblue3991 OK. Thank you

personally, i think you really dont need to do the "oh no i dont know how to pronounce that word" thing, being from europe maybe we are more exposed to certain languages but i find it so much less bothersome when people just pronounce it slightly of rather than pulling the focus towards it. I guess its a youtube thing since everybody comments on everything? wich *ugh* exactly what im doing now ofcourse, however i thought id mention it anyway since there is nothing wrong with your pronounciation (a name like waugh could be pronounced eitherway for example) and on top of that, everybody speaks differently anyway! oh and ofcourse, thanks for the great video, it deffinitly made me more certain about a couple of the ones i already had on my wishlist but wasnt a hundred percent sold on yet!

Can someone tell me why the "Period Costume" books are soo expensive? I'm seeing them on amazon for hundreds of dollars at the least.

@cecelia996

4 жыл бұрын

Try Alibris, its a site that book stores can put their stock on so you would be buying from independent book places in the US. I got the first Janet Arnold book for $40 Canadian with shipping wheres Amazon and Ebay had it for $80 or higher. My package took a bit due to well COVID and when it was thought to be lost they were supper nice and got back to me and issued a refund. It did show up last week. I plan on looking there for other books that are harder to find or that Amazon or Ebay have for jacked up prices

What school did you attend for costuming?

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

I attended Capilano University in North Vancouver. I took their Costuming for Stage and Screen program.

@TheRoseLine

5 жыл бұрын

@@EnchantedRoseCostumes That must have been so much fun!! I would love to go back to school for something fun like costuming.

@Kyriehubbard

5 жыл бұрын

@@EnchantedRoseCostumes Can this be learned by completing a shorter program, not a full degree, or by hands on learning and self-teaching?

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

5 жыл бұрын

@@Kyriehubbard I only took the 2 year program :)

@jayneterry8701

2 жыл бұрын

@@EnchantedRoseCostumes did you have to walk across the bridge each day ...lol just kidding😉

When do you know you’re no longer a beginner when it comes to sewing?

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

4 жыл бұрын

I just grabbed this description from a sewing website. thesewingrevival.com/pages/sewing-levels Our Pattern difficulty rating helps you choose a pattern that is right for your skill level. Beginner and Advanced Beginner are aimed at helping those new to sewing achieve success in their sewing projects whilst learning basic techniques and form good sewing habits. Intermediate and Advanced difficulty patterns have increased detail and feature more complex designs and techniques. Want to know if a pattern is right for your skill level? Use our guide below: BEGINNER: You've had a few introductory sewing lessons either at school or from a more experienced sewer and are keen to sew something that you can actually wear or use! You know how to thread a sewing machine and sew a straight line but not much more. This may be the first time you've used a pattern, but we have videos and instructions that will help you along the way. When you have sewn most of the patterns in our Beginners range you will have mastered most of the basic sewing techniques.and be ready to move to Advanced Beginner projects. You will be ready to move to the next level when you can: follow & understand basic pattern markings & instructions confidently sew curves & straight lines confidently bag out BEGINNER ADVANCED: You understand pattern markings, can confidently follow pattern instructions, sew a straight and curved seam. You are ready to learn about darts and practice adding fastenings (buttons, zips, velcro & domes), and progress to inserting pockets and waistbands into garments. You are also ready to start sewing knits and garments with a little stretch. You will be ready to move to intermediate level when you can: confidently sew buttonholes, zips and bias binding. understand a variety of seam finishesand when to use them confidently add embellishments to garments (decorated pockets, patches and decorative linings).

@felicitygee381

4 жыл бұрын

@@EnchantedRoseCostumes Ooh! Thanks that is great information. As a self taught sew- er I have done a lot of sewing and tried a lot of things but realise there is a lot missing from my repertoire. I can do and have done all the things in the Advanced Beginner but would not say I did it confidently lol, I was just following the pattern. Now I know where the holes in my knowledge are.

Where did you study your degree?

@EnchantedRoseCostumes

11 ай бұрын

Capilano University in North Vancouver Canada 🇨🇦

I really appreciate your feedback, someone I found it on Amazon (and already put theirs on my wish list). But... I must say to you something. 1) why for you the "costumes" start after the 1600/1700?? Before what is for you? Even the ancient Greeks or Roman dress are "costume". 2) for this reason 👆 I found your list really really poor (I want start with the middle-age dress... But nothing here) 3) I appreciate your links in the description box but... Do you what I found? A lot of books are fucking expensive!!! 50/70/150/300€ even 400€!!!!! How we can buy theirs? Some anothers are out of stock. 4) you are American, so of course you talk about English books... But for us isn't easy. Yes, we know the English, but not the TECHNICAL English for sewing or the "ancient words"... Do you know something for help in this way? Some books that have the translate in another languages or a book for translate the specific terms? 5) even without all this... How we can take that little patterns from the book to a normal size? I mean, in the books are in scale. At least are ok for a Barbie. For transform in a human size, how we can do it? I hope that you will answer to my problems...

@roseuyen

3 жыл бұрын

Hello, I thought I'd try to help because this video was from a year ago, she might not get around to answering. I'm going to guess that her costume books are for the periods of time she's more interested in, to find books that are relevant to your time period of interest, try to do a web search and read reviews on the books you find. The reason the books are expensive is they might be out of print. Lastly, to learn how to make clothes for yourself from these books, i think you would be looking into videos of drafting patterns. I have not done this, as I'm just starting out, but I have seen bernadette banner and Morgan donner both have videos that go over how to do this. I hope I was able to help you out a bit.