I just did a review on Amazon for this - I can't get the Kindle version tonight but I will be curious to see if it is just volume 1 or if it has both volumes in it. The second volume has the necktie pattern (my poor father suffered through me trying to make that, I never finished one to his vast relief I'm sure) I did almost collect enough thrift store neck ties for the skirt, but never bothered to put it together. As a teenager I was always starting projects that were never finished, I still have something of a UFO problem but not nearly to the same degree as I did back then.
I think my favorite basic pattern from the the above book is the basic tunic/dress pattern that I've used over and over. It fits me better since I had to have reduction surgery (about a decade ago now) for medical reasons, one of the problems with the book is the dislike of bras by the probably rather small creators of the book. While the then popular "darts" they refuse to use are not really needed, things do need slightly alternative shapes (or larger arm holes) if you are bountiful in the chest department; but these things can be figured out or today found easily on line.
I've had mixed outcomes with some of the skirt patterns, but again I know now it is partly from being 4'8" and always rather plump (usually not really fat but somewhat overweight and top heavy). It was the style of the skirts, especially the simple ones with gathered waste bands that are just never going to look good on me, unless I use a modern "sewn in" gathered elastic waste band (that doesn't bunch up) and have lots of extra gores or fabric in the skirt (to cover my hips).
There is crochet book that came out about the same time -The Adventurous Crocheter
- that I think was written by friends of the authors of the Hassle Free books. Both books work together very well especially for making purses, baby hats and other small things and both books were some of the first I saw to include the need for lots of easy to wear and wash children's clothing.
This was the first book I ever bought on impulse with my allowance money because I opened it up and it said "this is what a crochet hook looks like" having been a dunce at learning from books I thought "this is the book for me" and it was.
The styles of both books are similar, though I think the hippie-language is a bit more toned down in the crochet book (which sadly is not on kindle and not in reprint yet).
expatriate Californian living in rural Ireland with husband, dogs, horses. garden and many, many cats