What Is Fashion Pattern Making and What Are Its Types? | Blog | Domestika (2024)

Immerse yourself in the world of pattern making, where creativity and technique merge to create fashion.

What Is Pattern Making?

Pattern making is a technique used in the fashion and apparel industry to design and create garments. It consists of creating patterns, which are the shapes and measurements that are used as a guide to cut and sew the fabric to achieve the desired shape of the garment.

Pattern making is an essential part of the garment design and production process, as it can be used to develop different styles and sizes of clothing. To carry out pattern making, specific tools and techniques are used, such as taking body measurements, drawing and cutting paper or fabric, and making fittings and adjustments in the process.

Good pattern making ensures a correct fit of the garment and a faithful reproduction of the original design. It is a fundamental skill for fashion and apparel professionals and requires technical knowledge and creativity to transform an idea or design into a garment with the right measurements and proportions.

Meaning of pattern making in dressmaking and sewing

In cutting and sewing, it refers to the process of making garments. The template and the pattern of the model are key elements in this process. The template is made on manila paper and is used to mark and cut the pieces of fabric needed to make the garment. The flat pattern is the graphic representation of the garment on the template and determines the shape and dimensions of each piece. Both are essential to achieve a perfect fit and finish in the finished garments.

Meaning of pattern making in fashion

Patterns in fashion have undergone a significant evolution over time. Early patterns provided general instructions on how to cut and assemble garments, but did not include specific measurements. This meant that clothes made from these patterns might not fit the body correctly.

In the 19th century, two main forms of pattern making emerged: moulage and grading. Moulage was a method in which a mannequin was used to create a pattern for a garment. Meanwhile, grading consisted of making proportional adjustments to a base pattern to adapt it to different sizes.

As for the critical measurements used as a reference, initially standard measurements were used for all garments, which could result in an inaccurate fit. Over time, more specific measurements began to be used for each type of garment, taking into account body shape and individual proportions.

The introduction of proportional measurements also contributed to significant changes in pattern making. Instead of relying on fixed measurements, proportional measurements allow patterns to be tailored more precisely to the wearer's individual proportions, achieving an optimal fit.

What Does a Pattern Maker Do?

In the following, we will see what are the functions of a pattern maker.

- Main responsibility: creating patterns for the production of fashion garments, interpreting designs, taking accurate measurements and ensuring an optimal fit for the production of fashion garments.

- Design interpretation: translate designs into accurate measurements and shapes to ensure a perfect fit.

- Technical skills and knowledge: understanding different types of garments and how they fit the human body.

- Additional considerations: consider proportions, elasticity of fabrics and wearer comfort.

- Importance of pattern: create a good pattern, as it is the guide for cutters and sewers and ensures that all pieces fit and assemble correctly.

Types of Pattern Making

There are different types of pattern making that are used depending on the design and structure of the garment. Here are some of them.

Custom Pattern Making

Custom pattern making is a process in which a unique and personalized pattern is created for each customer. Unlike industrial pattern making, which uses standard patterns for mass production, custom pattern making aims to adapt each garment to the customer's specific measurements and needs.
The work process of custom pattern making begins with taking the measurements of the person placing the order, where detailed information about their body and preferences is obtained. This information is used to create a base pattern that fits the customer's needs.

From the base pattern, fit tests are performed. During these fittings, the fit of the garment to the body is evaluated, and possible modifications can be made to ensure a perfect fit.

In some cases, additional adjustments may be necessary after the fit tests. This ensures that the garment fits correctly and meets the customer's expectations.

Digital Pattern Making

Digital pattern making is a technique used in the fashion industry that employs software and digital tools to create accurate and efficient patterns. This methodology has revolutionized the way garments are designed and produced.

The use of specialized software allows designers and pattern makers to create patterns quickly and accurately. This not only saves time, but also reduces errors and minimizes the need for manual adjustments. Digital pattern-making programs offer tools that make it easy to draw lines, create shapes, adjust measurements and generate sizes, which streamlines the design process and allows garments to be tailored to different bodies and silhouettes.

In addition to accuracy, digital pattern making also improves the speed of the garment design process. With just a few clicks, designers can modify and experiment with different designs, saving hours of work that would be required with traditional methods.

Pattern Making Upcycling

Pattern making upcycling is a design technique in sustainable fashion that uses existing materials and garments to create new designs and pieces. Instead of using new fabrics, recycled textiles are used to minimize waste and reduce environmental impact. This practice seeks to give garments a second life, transforming them into new creations and promoting reuse in the fashion industry.

Industrial Pattern Making

Industrial pattern making is an essential process in the manufacture of garments, since it is responsible for transferring the design of a garment to a pattern on paper or cardboard. This allows the reproduction of the garment in different sizes and mass production.

There are two main processes in industrial pattern making: flat pattern making and draping.

Flat pattern making consists of drawing and constructing patterns on paper or cardboard using measurements and proportions, as well as tracing and cutting techniques. A series of drawing and cutting tools are used in this process, such as rulers, pencils, scissors, and cutters.

Draping uses a technique called moulage, which consists of constructing the pattern using a fabric base and modeling directly on a mannequin or a customer. This technique allows for the creation of tighter and more customized patterns.

The combination of these two industrial pattern making processes is essential for efficient and accurate production in the apparel industry. The methods used in industrial pattern making provide the necessary basis for the production of quality garments, allowing the reproduction of designs in different sizes and sizes.

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