20 step-by-step essential pieces for modern living

Follow Wendy Ward’s tutorials to make a capsule wardrobe of 20 classic garments, suitable for any body regardless of gender, age or body shape.

Wendy’s style is functional but beautiful basics, and you will learn the skills to make clothes out of both woven and knitted fabrics that are a joy to wear. There are five styles of button-down shirts, sweatshirts and t-shirts, and three different styles of trousers, jackets and jumpsuits, all made in versatile fabrics that can be dressed up or down. These are core basics that you'll turn to time and again and all these garments can be worn by any body, regardless of gender, age and body shape. Suitable for both beginners and those more experienced in dressmaking, each project has multiple versions from easy to more technically challenging. Plus, there is a comprehensive techniques section covering everything from sewing a fly zip to making a traditional shirt collar, alongside the fundamentals such as different seam and hem finishes. Patterns for the five basic garments and all the variations to make 20 different designs are included in the book on three pull-out, full-scale, multi-sized pattern sheets. Each pattern covers 10 sizes and there’s no need for downloading or scaling-up patterns, just trace off the pieces that you need and off you go!