Pattern Making

21 Jun

Posted at 13:56h in Garment Construction, Pattern Puzzles, Self-draft by
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Trawling through the samples on my rail I see so many garments that I haven't posted to follow on from the original pattern puzzle.  So to re-cap I cut this first sample based on a folk costume pattern for a Mantle Dress, Inner Garment referred to as a Eura Costume.  Like many folk costume designs it uses all the fabric and qualifies as zero-waste.  It's from a time when all textiles were considered of great value and no amount of cloth was ever wasted.

07 May

Posted at 12:13h in Pattern Making Instructions, Pattern Puzzles, Stretch Patterns, Womens Knit Block by
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Here we have another re-issue of my very early Pattern Puzzle posts. I've up-dated the images and improved the instructions.  I'm really enjoyed the regular Saturday morning Pattern Puzzles on my facebook page and hope to return to them sometime soon.  Here is the sketch, pattern plan and pattern pieces for the front of the Triple Twist Jersey dress.  Please note this style only works with my knit block and two-way stretch jersey fabric.

30 Apr

Posted at 12:27h in Fitted Dress Block, Pattern Making Instructions, Pattern Puzzles by
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Congrats to Mioara and Gemma solving the Pattern Puzzle in just one comment!  I think I am going to have to up my game to give you all a bit more of a challenge.  This creative design is just the kind of pattern we make in my Draped Dresses workshop at Studio Faro. Below is recent design development I have decided to use for the Pattern Puzzle this week.  The inspiration comes from Comme de Garcon frock I saw in the late nineties.  The image has always stayed with me.  I so love their work.  This post was originally published 17 June 2013 and is one of my earliest Pattern Puzzle posts.  In this post, I have updated the graphics and improved the pattern making instructions for this release.

06 Feb

Posted at 12:38h in Fashion Industry, Pattern Making by
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The origins of my passion for creative pattern making start way back in 1980 when I first went to fashion college.  It was at this time that I was introduced to an amazing pattern making book that just lit up my brain.  Natalie Bray's technical diagrams leapt off the page and made immediate sense to me.  I could hardly contain my excitement at the potential of pattern making.  To this end I believe I was quite the pesky student in our pattern making classes.  The student with 20 questions every session, that drove the pattern making teacher crazy.  You'll find Natalie's books on all the usual book selling sites and the prices vary dramatically, so do your research.

21 Nov

Posted at 14:07h in Fashion Illustration, Garment Blocks, Pattern Making, Pattern Making Instructions, Pattern Puzzles, Self-draft, Vintage Patterns by
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In this post I hope to link up some of the illustration and patternmaking resources I have on the website so you can plan your pattern making creativity over the summer break.  These suggestions are a combination of free access blog posts, PDF worksheets with pattern making instructions and Digital Garment Blocks to begin all your pattern making projects.

12 Jul

Posted at 15:41h in Fitting Patterns, Garment Blocks, Pattern Fitting Tutorials, Womens Trouser Block by
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So often I'm asked how I make my fitting toile's for Trouser Blocks, so I'd thought I'd put together a short post with some detail.  Many of the points are small but essential for a good #FirstFitting. You can access a download of my Trouser Block here.  I've also uploaded a worksheet that covers the detail for the first stage of fitting the trouser block.  The PDF worksheet includes detail instructions and technical diagrams to take you through every step of the process.

13 Jun

Posted at 15:57h in Fitted Dress Block, Pattern Making, Pattern Making Instructions, Pattern Puzzles, Vintage Patterns by
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This is a short but dedicated post for all those lovers of Vintage Style.  The focus is on using my fitted dress block to design and cut your own vintage dress sewing patterns.  To work your way through the fitting process you can go to SHOP on the menu bar and checkout My Blocks PDF (downloads).  The Fitted Dress block has to be one of my favourites and the best place to start for fabulous dress designs.

04 Apr

Posted at 16:41h in Garment Blocks, Pattern Making, Pattern Making Instructions, Pattern Puzzles, Self-draft, Stretch Patterns, Womens Skirt Block by
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Following on from the Skirt Block and Design Options post I've separated skirt designs that use a stretch skirt block to start your pattern development.  You can use my skirt block to make a stretch skirt block to use with all these pattern puzzle posts.  Some of them have been sampled and those sample posts are also included here.
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