The Costume Technician's Handbook: Third Edition

by Rosemary Ingham and Liz Covey

The classic book on costuming is back and better than ever

In the third edition of The Costume Technician's Handbook, Rosemary Ingham and Liz Covey once again draw upon their many years of hands-on experience in costume design and technology. Now they add information gleaned across the country from shop managers and staff about their methods and supplement it with images of some of the very best theatrical costume work to be seen...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0325004773
• ISBN13: 9780325004778
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Heinemann Drama
• Length: 544 Pages
• Weight: 2.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Great Resource for ANY Seamstress

I do more sewing and tailoring of regular clothes than costumes (which is a hobby). And I use this reference all the time. For example, when taking measurements or doing fittings for family and friends, I pull this out. It actually helped me to understand patterns better, and my tailoring skills have increased dramatically. I also found it useful when finishing our basement and creating my dream sewing space. I'm also using it for my research for a class on fabrics and fibers. I recommend this book as a great resource for anyone making clothes.

Great reference

I am a free-lance costumer that travels around the country a lot for my work. This is the one book that travels with me as a basic reference for whatever the directors might throw at me. Most of the information is presented on a basic level (ie pattern blocks are for slopers, not finished garments), but a book would have to be the size of an encyclopedia to include detailed information on how to construct everything and would still miss something. This book gives you enough information to get you started and you can figure out the rest.

A must for all costumers!

I am a former student of Rosemary Ingham's, now graduated and working as the Costume Shop Supervisor for Signature Theatre in Arlington, Va. I use her book almost everyday. Her instructions for sewing, altering, and patterning are easy to understand, clear, and concise. Plus there are great visuals to go along with the words by her writing partner Liz Covey. I can't wait until the next edition is complete. This best thing about it is that you don't have to be a professional costumer to use this book. A must for all sewers.

The best technical costume handbook ever!

I am a student costumer and I hav had nothing but good experiences with teh Costume Technician's Handbook. I finally learned to draft my own patterns from this book - a skill no teacher has ever been able to drive into my skull. This is an absolute necessity

The best How-To-Build Costumes for the Stage book

This is an excellent resource for anyone who makes costumes for theatre at any level. It assumes a basic knowledge of sewing but never gets too technical. This book gives realistic techniques for creating costumes from any period, using basic tools. They do introduce some more specialized techniques, but only as an introduction. When I am in the middle of a production this book is always handy in my workshop!