Pattern Making

Prior to the Industrial Revolution the art of patternmaking was highly revered. Tailors meticulously worked with their client's personal measurements to customize patterns. Clothing made by tailors was elaborate and relegated only to the very rich. With the onset of the Industrial Revolution, standardized patterns were essential to the success of ready-to-wear clothing. Initial attempts to create standardized patterns resulted in poorly fitting garments with little detail. Men's suits were boxy, plain, ill-fitting sacks. After lengthy experimentation and standardized sizing, patternmaking made a triumphant transformation from customization to standardization.

Patterns can be formed by either a 2D or 3D process. Often a combination of methods is used to create the pattern. The most common 2D patternmaking methods are flat, drafting and reverse engineering. In the flat method, a pattern is generated from an existing foundation pattern called a sloper or block. A sloper is a pattern that has no seam allowances or style lines. From a sloper a myriad of garment styles can be generated. The patternmaker creates a new style by adding design details such as a collar, pocket and pleats. The flat patternmaking method is widely used in the ready-to-wear market because it is fast and accurate.

In the drafting method, patterns are made directly from measurements taken from a preexisting garment, an individual or a body form. Using the collected measurements, the pattern is drawn directly onto paper.

Reverse engineering is sometimes referred to as garment deconstruction or a knock-off. In the reverse engineering process, patterns are made from an existing garment. The garment is taken apart, analyzed and the patterns pieces are made.

In the 3D patternmaking process, the pattern pieces are generated from a 3D form. Draping is one of the oldest methods used to generate a pattern. In the traditional draping process, a garment is produced by molding, cutting and pinning fabric to a mannequin or individual. Style lines and constructions details of the drape are carefully marked and removed. Fabric pieces with the construction and style details are generated. The fabric pieces are then laid flat over pattern paper and traced. The pattern is finalized by adding directional markings such as grainlines, notches, buttonholes, correct seam and hem allowances and facings. Draping is especially helpful when developing intricate garment styles or using unusual fabric.< p/>

Computers have been used by apparel companies since the early 1980's. Pattern Design Systems (PDS) have become invaluable tools to the patternmaker, assisting in much of the repetitive tasks associated with patternmaking. PDS systems are capable of storing an incredible amount of data that can be quickly retrieved, tweaked and re-filed. Using a mouse or stylus, patternmakers are able to swiftly add style details and make changes. There are many benefits to PDS - speed, accuracy and ease of data transmission being some of the most obvious. In today's competitive environment, software companies are zeroing in on the growing demands of the apparel manufacturer.

The ability to mass produce customized patterns according to an individual's unique body shape could offer tremendous benefits to the consumer, retailer and apparel manufacturer.The textile industry continues to research this exciting field with a long term goal of bringing superior fit and performance to the customer.

The apparel industry is notoriously fast-paced and competitive. Innovative software companies continue to make improvements to their PDS to enable apparel companies to better serve their customers. Current research focuses on generating patterns that produce better fitting garments and 3D visualization tools to help fine tune style. With ongoing technological advances and diligent research, patternmaking software companies continue to successfully address the needs of their customers.

Pattern grading is the scaling of a pattern to a different size by incrementing important points of a pattern to smaller or bigger sizes.

Once a designer has completed a drawing of a garment, it is transformed into a sample pattern. "Patternmaking" is the process of creating all the correctly sized pieces needed to make a complete garment. For many smaller manufacturers, pattern making is still done on paper because the cost of computerized systems remains prohibitive.

The patternmaker may use one of the following techniques to develop a sample pattern. S/he may "manipulate" a new pattern by using geometric rules to modify or alter existing pattern pieces. S/he may translate a design that has been "draped" and pinned on a dress form by converting the shapes of the draped garment sections into paper pattern pieces. Alternatively, s/he may pin pieces of muslin to a garment being copied and rub tailor's chalk over the seams and darts, making a "muslin rub." The chalk markings are then used to create a flat paper pattern.

From this initial pattern, a sample garment is developed. The sample process allows a designer to correct any problems inherent in translating a one-dimensional sketch into a two-dimensional garment; it ensures that the designer's fabric yardage specifications are accurate; and it provides an opportunity to spot potential production problems inherent in a design. Once the sample is made, the manufacturer makes a small batch of duplicates for its sales force to test market. If they sell well, the garment goes into larger volume production.

Although many firms still make patterns by hand, larger manufacturers make production patterns on a computer using CAD software. Other systems have been developed that allow patternmakers to create patterns manually by using a life-sized, sensitized table and a stylus attached to a computer. As the patternmaker indicates points with the stylus, the pattern pieces are automatically entered into the CAD system where they can immediately be accessed for grading and marking. Although pattern making is becoming increasingly computerized, patternmakers still must learn the manual method because making patterns manually develops an advanced understanding of garment construction, knowledge that cannot yet be replaced by a computer.