Page:The Cutter's Practical Guide 1898 Edition Part 1.djvu/6



is with some degree of pleasure I look upon this, the first Part of "The Cutters' Practical Guide to the Cutting and Making every kind of garment;" for while I have done my utmost to make the work as complete as possible, so as to be of greatest service to the cutter in daily practice, the publishers have brought it out in a style and finish which not only maintains their reputation, but excels, I think, any previous effort.

It has been my aim to place before my fellow craftsmen illustrations, diagrams and descriptive letterpress of current styles, with the safest and best systems (according to my judgment) of the present day for producing them. In doing so I have had very material help from some of the best specialist cutters in London; so that the special garments introduced in this work must be of great service to the cutter, as these give more trouble than the everyday class of orders.

It will be noticed I have made a few alterations in the Trouser System, chiefly to simplify and, if possible, make it plainer, and thus in my opinion improve it, although the principles are the same as in the "Federation Prize Essay." Thus, it will be seen, my endeavour has been to produce a work of real practical utility - one which would be a genuine help to the cutter amidst the worries of a peculiar and trying profession. In doing so I have left controversial subjects almost, if not entirely, out of the work.

If in this I have succeeded, and so placed the means of self help within the reach of many, who, struggling amidst doubt and anxiety, are all the more eagerly seeking for light in the study of their profession, I shall be simply rewarded.

THE AUTHOR