When cutting, you often have to draw complex lines. Although experienced craftsmen can often draw them by hand, it is much more convenient to do this using sewing patterns. With their help, you can make this work easier, drawing faster and more efficiently.
What is a sewing pattern
It is important for a tailor not only to sew clothes, but also to cut them out. It is important to make the drawing correctly. Accuracy is necessary so that the pattern allows you to sew clothes for an adult or a child exactly according to the specified dimensions. For this, it is customary to use not only a ruler, but also templates of various more complex lines, which are called patterns. They can not only be purchased in specialized stores, but also made independently.
Sewing patterns are necessary not only for drawing lines, but also for making necessary changes. For example, in cases when you need to sew clothes of a different size.
Important! We can consider that patterns are the main, basic templates that can be used as a basis when creating a pattern. With their help, you can sew products accurately and neatly, without worrying about various complexities that have already been taken into account in the design process.
They can be made from various materials: not only transparent plastic is suitable for this, but also wood, metal, thick cardboard, polyethylene film or flexible parafilm.
There is no reason to confuse these tools with patterns. The following differences exist between them:
- The pattern is made of paper, not of solid elements. Thin paper or graph paper is used for this purpose.
- They also differ in the time of use: templates are used repeatedly, while a pattern is usually used once - after which it is no longer used.
- Here we are talking about different levels of quality. Patterns are characterized by high precision, while cutting may be of lower quality.
The latter circumstance is connected with the possibility of making clarifications after trying on.
What patterns are needed for beginning seamstresses
The set usually includes the following types of figures:
- Necessary for drawing details of the upper part of the clothing.
- For soft lining.
- For insulation.
- Marking template for working with additional structural elements.
Although there is a standard kit that includes all the necessary templates, nonetheless, you will not need all of them at first.
Here are the patterns that are needed for beginning seamstresses:
- oval pattern called “droplet”;
- extended "sabre".
The "droplet" of them is used to shape the armhole. The "sabre" resembles the object that gave it its name. It is used to cut the side seams of waist or shoulder items. The former include trousers or skirts, and the latter are dresses, coats, jackets, blouses and other similar items.
You can use a "French pattern". It has another name - "feather". It is more universal. It is usually made of transparent plastic. A characteristic feature is that the degree of bending in different areas is different. The "French pattern" is used when cutting the armhole, armhole line, neckline, waistline. With the help of this "feather" you can work on patterns of trousers, skirts and dresses. It is also used when it is necessary to round off a corner.
The "French pattern" also has a straight side.
Although you can buy professional tailor's patterns for 2-3 thousand rubles, you need to understand that they are usually designed for average sizes. If you need to take into account individual characteristics, then in this case, self-made patterns will be more useful.
Important! As the seamstress gains skill, she will develop her own professional style of work. Having made figures that suit her individual style, she will be able to preserve and apply her individual techniques in her work.
How to make a sewing pattern with your own hands
If a tailor works intensively, creating clothes, he cannot do without these tools when cutting. Of course, they can be bought in a store. The price of one copy starts from a thousand rubles. However, professional high-quality patterns will cost much more.
It should be noted that in this matter you can use an alternative option: create tailor's tools with your own hands.
We make patterns in this way. The pattern is made once. Then it is transferred to thick paper and cut out. In the future, such a template can be used for new purposes.
Work on creation takes place in several stages:
- First, the person for whom the clothes are being created is measured.
- After this, a maximally accurate pattern is made on ordinary paper.
- Then the patterns are cut out.
Before starting work, you need to collect the necessary materials and tools. You will need the main material for the patterns - it can be different. You will need paper for marking: graph paper, carbon paper and tracing paper. You need to stock up on a pencil, pen, scissors, compass. Items with rounded edges, as well as a ruler and a square can help.
Now you need to take precise and accurate measurements, then transfer the drawings to the template material using carbon paper. After that, you need to cut out the resulting figures. This will complete the production of the tools.
A pattern for sewing with your own hands can be printed on a printer, preserving its dimensions.
Examples of patterns for printing
One way to make your own tools is to print out the chosen template design in full size. It is important to set the print parameters correctly.
It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the drawing can be placed on one page. Printing should be done in natural size.
Drawings can be presented as a picture or a pdf file. In the first case, you need to print from the drawing viewer, and in the second case, you can do it from Adobe Reader.
After this, you will need to transfer the template to a solid base.
How to use a sewing pattern
The use of templates is not only intended for the process of cutting clothes. After the fitting is done, there may be a need to refine the previously made pattern. In this case, patterns can also be of significant help.
An important area of application is the use of standard patterns provided on the Internet or in fashion magazines. Usually in such a situation average shapes and sizes are used. With the help of the patterns available to him, the tailor will be able to precisely adjust the pattern to the required children's or adult size.
It is also important to consider that such templates have other possible uses besides sewing clothes. Here, as an example, we can cite the production of soft toys or leather goods.
Making patterns helps to create higher quality sewing products. Having templates allows you not to be distracted by taking into account various details and subtleties during the work process because they have already been taken into account when creating these tools.
