Stretch Patterns

09 Mar

Posted at 15:16h in Pattern Making Instructions, Pattern Puzzles, Stretch Patterns, Womens Knit Block by
0 Likes
You may be forgiven for thinking that we often torture the stuffing out of our fabulous #PatternPuzzle fans.  Well, last Saturday was no exception.  I did a slightly tricky thing with a 'grown-on hood' and it was enough to make the pattern shapes very hard to read.  I have seen similar styles in both historic and current fashion and have waited some time to try this out on the blog.  The idea I have is to cut this dress from my knit block using a merino jersey.  That could be either a one-way or two-way stretch knit.  The Double Drape in this Maxi refers to the #CowlDrape on the back of this dress and the #GatheredDrape on the centre front (CF) seam.  The hood styling may also be considered a #CowlDrape with the large tuck and the centre back (CB) line on the fold.

05 Jan

Posted at 17:27h in Pattern Making Instructions, Pattern Puzzles, Stretch Patterns, Womens Knit Block by
0 Likes
This is the first of a new series of pattern making posts called #PatternInsights, that's me sharing the lightbulb moments of my pattern making career. Not quite as 101 as my #PatternFundamentals and nowhere near as complex as some of#PatternPuzzles, it's another opportunity to share. :)  Now available as a PDF download, detailed worksheet for making Jersey Twist Patterns using My Knit Block. For just a few dollars you'll get the same training you'd get if you came to the workshop in my studio.

22 Dec

Posted at 17:42h in Fashion Design, Pattern Making Instructions, Pattern Puzzles, Stretch Patterns, Vintage Patterns by
0 Likes
This weeks #PatternPuzzle was about targeting another of my favourite Erté designs and bringing this inspiration up-to-date.  As it turns out this is a truly challenging style.  I know I made at least two mistakes in putting these pattern making instructions together.  So please forgive any other errors you may find.  And because of its complexity, I imagine I would have to produce at least 2-3 toiles/muslins to really get the design and fit to work well before attempting in final cloth.

28 Jul

Posted at 15:05h in Pattern Making Instructions, Pattern Puzzles, Stretch Patterns, Womens Knit Block by
1 Like
It is the simplest of shapes and elegant to boot, the Triangle Drape Dress #PatternPuzzle was solved in an instant by our resident pattern champ Mioara.  You may remember her recent contribution to our weekly fun - a very clever #PatternPuzzle.  Our choice this week was inspired by Meegan Williams sending us a link to her favourite dress.  And she was right, it is not a complicated style.  Made in a lightweight silk/rayon jersey knit, the kimono style drapes beautifully through the side seam area as it collapses over the hip and hugs the thighs.

09 Jun

Posted at 16:35h in Pattern Making Instructions, Pattern Puzzles, Stretch Patterns, Vintage Patterns, Womens Knit Block by
0 Likes
So it's a weird one this week.  Over sixty years old and born of a time that valued efficiency in manufacture over effective use of resources.  Patent #2,454,208, invented by Ruth E Richman in 1946, was filed as:
'An object of the invention is to simplify the manufacture of blouses, coats and similar garments by constructing them from a blank consisting of a single piece of material.'

02 Jun

Posted at 17:02h in Pattern Making Instructions, Pattern Puzzles, Stretch Patterns, Womens Knit Block by
0 Likes
This weeks #PatternPuzzle is a thing of genius from our regular contributor, Mioara Cretu, gifting us the most baffling #PatternPuzzle of all time last Saturday.  You may remember her first contribution from  last year, featured here.  Mioara teaches pattern making at a Romanian university and has a weakness for jersey one-piece patterns!
And for all my fans, you've done a wonderful job this weekend finding the answers to such a challenging puzzle.  Congratulations  :)

14 Apr

Posted at 14:42h in Pattern Making Instructions, Pattern Puzzles, Stretch Patterns, Womens Knit Block by
0 Likes
Once again the much favoured Jersey Twist is featured on the Saturday morning #PatternPuzzle.  A big thank you to all our fans that come along to play and watch.  :)
This week there is an addition to our #PatternPuzzle post with the inclusion of imperial measurements for our US fans.  Huge thanks to Lisa at Poldapop Designs for pointing out how much easier this would make the teaching of our worksheets in the states.  Lisa is one of the first teachers to take on our Basic Skirt Draft Worksheet as a teaching tool in her classes.  The results have been positive so we will work hard to provide imperial equivalents in all our pattern making instructions.  :)
error: This content is protected !!