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Pattern drafting for the beginner

PATTERN DRAFTING:DRESS PATTERN DRAFTING FOR THE BEGINNER

For the beginners, pattern drafting can be a little complicated. Sometimes it looks outright difficult. This is usually due to so many calculations involved.

In this blog post ,we will be discussing Dress pattern drafting for the beginner.

Pattern making books or industries make pattern drafting seam complicated and difficult. This difficulty comes from the fact that it is not really easy to sew a well fitting garment.

Using readymade patterns ,even though highly convenient does not guarantee a well fitted garment. 

 I have tried a lot of commercial patterns in the market.

Unfortunately it cannot be relied upon for accuracy. This is probably because body structures,even though the same size are different.

The only pattern I have used so far that is relatively near to accuracy and easy to use,is the lutterloh pattern making system.

Feel free to visit my DIY video section to see all the wonderful styles you can make using the lutterloh pattern making system

This system requires just two measurements to create a pattern for any of their styles in their catalogs. 

The complicated traditional way of pattern drafting has led to a lot of questions about dress pattern drafting like:

IS DRESS PATTERN DRAFTING DIFFICULT?

The answer to this is yes and no.

Yes because it is a challenging and technical aspect of sewing. It involves a lot of calculations and certain degrees of skill.

And no,because it can be learned easily.

Most times the diagrams and geometry involved ,can be very intimidating. 

But that should not worry you. With over 15years of sewing and a biochemistry degree,I am well placed to remove the difficulty of pattern drafting out of the equation. 

We will be taking it step by step. And before  you know it, you will be drafting your very own patterns to fit your body structure.

WHAT THEN IS DRESS PATTERN DRAFTING?

In order to fully comprehend what pattern drafting is ,let me first define what a pattern is.

A pattern is a template from which clothing styles can be derived. According to Wikipedia,pattern is the template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric before being cut out and assembled.…….

PATTERN DRAFTING FOR THE BEGINNER

Pattern drafting on the other hand, is the ability to create patterns according to certain body specifications.Pattern drafting is a long learning path to follow.

I have been on it for over 12 years now and I am still learning new and easier ways to draft patterns every day.

One thing I have seen about pattern drafting is that the more you learn about it,the more rewarding and worthwhile it becomes for you.

HERE ARE SOME RELATED E-BOOKS ON PATTERN DRAFTING FOR BEGINNERS

Pattern Making: Techniques for Beginners 

Practical Pattern Making: A Step-by-step Guide

How to Design Your Own Dress Patterns

This blog post contains affiliate links, which when you click and purchase a product will earn me a commission at no cost to you.Please not that I have worked with this products and that is why I recommend them to you.I have found them to be quite useful in my sewing projects

WHAT ARE THE STEPS INVOLVED IN LEARNING PATTERN DRAFTING?

Once you figure out that you love pattern drafting,that is the first step. 

The next step is to find out why you would want to study the intensive skill of pattern drafting.

Is it just as a hobby?Or you want to own a fashion design business or you just want to do freelance pattern drafting and sell patterns. 

The “why” is really important because it will guide you on the right pathway to follow. It will help you know the area of pattern drafting to concentrate on.

You could decide to learn pattern drafting all by yourself, or you could decide to attend a fashion design school. I actually learned it by myself through paid and free courses.

HERE IS A FREE PATTERN DRAFTING E-BOOK FOR YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE TO READ MY BLOG POST

Here are some certified fashion design schools to check out

Domus Academy

Academiccourses

Educations.com

WHAT SKILLS DO I NEED TO LEARN DRESS PATTERN DRAFTING

The very first skill you need is to ensure you are good in Maths. Especially geometry. You need to have an analytical mind.

If you don’t have one,at least you should be willing to develop one.

If math is not one of your good subjects, It is better not to go into pattern drafting from scratch. It will be simpler to start with ready made patterns and learn how to adjust them.

On the other hand, you could also go for simple pattern making systems like the LUTTERLOH PATTERN MAKING SYSTEM.

To be good in pattern drafting, it’s best to start with readymade patterns .

It will help you learn first hand how patterns look like and how they work. With frequent use of these patterns, you will notice some little fitting problems.

When you learn how to fix these problems, you can use that knowledge to fix your own personal body patterns.

WHAT IS THE COST OF LEARNING PATTERN DRAFTING

Learning pattern drafting will cost you time, patience, and ofcourse money. You need a lot of time to learn the basics.

For example,  you will start by learning how to draft basic blocks. These you can achieve by using your very own measurements or standard measurement charts,or a model. 

The basic blocks that you will need time to draft include front bodies block,back bodies block,sleeve, skirt and trouser blocks.

Next,you need PATIENCE to adjust the block patterns for proper fitting. This involves a lot of precision in the use of your pattern making tools.

In this stage ,you need to add and subtract a lot of fractions.This is where your knowledge of Maths comes in.

Finally you need Money to spend on courses. However if the courses are too expensive, you can buy pattern drafting books.Having good pattern books really helped me through the years .Any money you spend on pattern books is cash well spent.

Some recommended books include

CONCLUSION

Thats my take on dress pattern drafting for the beginner.Please feel free to drop your comments and contributions or questions.Dont forget to follow me on pinterest below.

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