Knowing the basics for stitching and pattern making could be the difference in having an illustration that can be turned into a pattern you can essentially cut, sew and have a garment you can wear.
Many of us who want to be in fashion have to develop the talents of both pattern making and sewing so they can monitor someone they have hired to do the pattern making as well as the sewing of the garment.
I found my sewing talents important in understanding what could be made into a pattern and what was simply a good illustration to turn into a poster or print for sale.
Years ago I had a designer bring sketches to be turned into patterns. The designs were form fitting the body and when asked where the openings were to be inserted into the pattern, the designer informed me that there weren't any openings. Clearly they did not recognise that the non stretch fabrics they'd selected required an opening for the person who wished to wear the garment to be able to put the garment on.
I wasn't able to communicate to the designer that this was not optional to make the attire without openings for the person to open to put the garment on her body. An awareness of sewing would have helped the designer understand the most basic of garment construction steps and what is required to make the pattern of the design and construct the garment.
We have such a lot of different types of fabric that it can have an effect on the way in which the finished garment looks and how long it can be worn. A stretch fabric requires that the pattern be made to make use of the stretch in the fabric and is smaller than a pattern that will be utilized for a non stretch fabric.
Understanding and some skill in the areas of pattern making and garment construction would have stopped a great deal of wasted time and effort.
Many of us who want to be in fashion have to develop the talents of both pattern making and sewing so they can monitor someone they have hired to do the pattern making as well as the sewing of the garment.
I found my sewing talents important in understanding what could be made into a pattern and what was simply a good illustration to turn into a poster or print for sale.
Years ago I had a designer bring sketches to be turned into patterns. The designs were form fitting the body and when asked where the openings were to be inserted into the pattern, the designer informed me that there weren't any openings. Clearly they did not recognise that the non stretch fabrics they'd selected required an opening for the person who wished to wear the garment to be able to put the garment on.
I wasn't able to communicate to the designer that this was not optional to make the attire without openings for the person to open to put the garment on her body. An awareness of sewing would have helped the designer understand the most basic of garment construction steps and what is required to make the pattern of the design and construct the garment.
We have such a lot of different types of fabric that it can have an effect on the way in which the finished garment looks and how long it can be worn. A stretch fabric requires that the pattern be made to make use of the stretch in the fabric and is smaller than a pattern that will be utilized for a non stretch fabric.
Understanding and some skill in the areas of pattern making and garment construction would have stopped a great deal of wasted time and effort.
About the Author:
Marjorie J McDonald is a clothing and knitwear designer as well as a professional patternmaker trained in Haute Couture. The most important part of the process is the patternmaking as it can make or break a line of clothing and impact the successful launch of a fashion line.
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