It is "...a book that deals very thoroughly with the craft of dress-making and its branches - simple tailoring, millinery and lingerie-making" (introduction, Catherine Franks). The book is intended to guide the novice through the many aspects of dress making and is illustrated throughout with black and white photographs. Processes are described in detail. "Basic patterns for practically every garment are given in drafts and if all these are copied full size and to measure the worker will have a most useful collection of patterns into which she can dip at a moment's notice". (introduction, Catherine Franks). It is important to remember that this book is of its' time, although publication date is not apparent, it would seem to be pre-Second World War, perhaps sometime in the 1930s.