1 Why Flat Pattern?

Pattern Making Methods

There are two main methods for creating clothing patterns.

Draping involves arranging fabric on a dress form or a person.  The fabric is pinned into the desired shape and seam lines are drawn onto the fabric with pencil or marker.  When the fabric is moved from the form and laid flat, it is traced onto paper to create the pattern.

Draping Advantages:  You can see exactly what the garment will look like.  With practice, a pattern can be created fairly quickly.

Draping Disadvantages:  You must have a dress form that is the size and shape of the subject.  It is necessary to pad the form to mimic the shape of the subject as closely as possible.  The technique takes some practice.

Drafting uses the subject’s measurements.  They are plotted on a piece of paper to create the body shape.  Then the pattern can be manipulated by cutting the paper apart and taping it back together to add design details such as pleats, gathers or darts.

Drafting Advantages:  You do  not need a dress form.  If you can follow pattern drafting directions, you can  create your own custom pattern.  A properly fitted basic body shape or “sloper” can be used to create many designs.

Drafting Disadvantages:  It is difficult to tell what the final garment will look like.  Drafting requires quite a few accurate measurements. It also requires concentration, and sometimes math!