I want to learn pattern drafting: any suggestions?

What size are you looking for? Have you gotten on fabric store mailing lists to catch their 99c sales? Do you fit a standard pattern size, whichever one it might be, reasonably well?

You have to find somwhere with an apparel design course.

It would certainly be lots easier. But what do you want to be drafting? Basics? Fancy stuff? Only certain types of garments?

There's an online pattern drafting thing at

(follow the instructions on the pop-up window) that will draft you a basic pattern that you could take and alter. That might make it easier. And it's free. The only "cheap" software that is a good product would be stripped down versions of the major programs, and whether that would suit you or not would depend on what you want to make. So come back and elaborate more, and maybe someone can give you a recommendation.

Hi Karen,

take a look at Amazon, Patternmaking. I prefer Joseph-Armstrong, but you have more choice. Until now in six months I take lessons by my own at home, and must say, it works great, already I've made some calico shirts and even two dresses and alterations of them. It is a precisious work, but you have only to read the instructions carefully it's a piece of cake. Of course, there are software programs, but I 'm still old fashioned and love my instruments, because the table is easier ,the big sheet of paper on it and different colours for different points

kind of money right now as I am getting ready to start college in the fall, I agree.

A printer uses too small pieces. Alterations may be difficult. I wish you luck with searching of the best method which suits to you. Suzan pampeliska from NL.

Mostly I am size 7/8 in juniors but I find that most patterns I have to make alterations because they just dont fit the way I would like. I have hit the

99c sales whenever I see the ads for them.

With the classes I have checked for anything to do with fashion, appareal, clothing, sewing, and pretty much anything else I could think of that goes along with all that. I haven't been able to find anything anywhere close by.

I would probably do mainly the basic stuff until I learned the ropes of everything then if I got really comfortable with it I might go onto more fancy stuff in the distant future. Right now I would probably draft mostly tank tops, sleeveless shirts, skirts, and maybe some pants, but not anything too fancy.

Thanks for the web site, I'll take a look at it and see if it will help any.

Karen

I see. You are a prime candidate for needing to draft your own patterns.

Go to the reference librarian at your local public library and ask her if he/she can help you find the nearest apparel design program to your community.

Do you want to to mainly knits, or wovens also?

I'll hunt up another one I found recently that tells how to make a basic top.

If you have the time and money to afford to make mistakes, you can teach yourself from a book while asking lots of questions here. But I found that it was worth the extra $$$ to get the software. You can buy subsets of software -- for what you want at a price you can afford, you might be interested in PatternMaker software. It is probably a reasonable program, although personally I swear by Wild Ginger's Pattern Master Boutique, and you can buy it in smaller chunks than you can Wild Ginger's products.

Otherwise you can check out Click and Sew patterns and see if one or two of them will meet your needs. If they do, buy them from fittingtips.com and when you are ready to trade up to the full Pattern Master Boutique program, Fitting Tips will give you credit for the programs you bought (read the details at their site for full information on this trade-up deal) toward the purchase of the full program. And that should give you enough time that you can put it on your Wish List for Christmas, and maybe your parents will get it for you. LOLOLOLOL

Hi Karen

I taught myself pattern drafting from a book 20 years ago, because I am 5'

1" and commercial patterns have never fitted me well. However, learning alone is not the best way to go about things and I'm sure lessons would've made it a lot easier. I was in the UK, by the way.

If you want to try it, the book was Creating Fashion, by Betty Foster. It's still available second-hand on Amazon. It enables you to create a well-fitting sloper and explains clearly how to alter bodice shapes, collars, yokes and sleeves, including drafting a sleeve for a sleeveless garment. It does assume you can sew, however. I'm sure others can recommend other books.

I still consider patterns an investment, and don't buy them unless I'm planning to make multiple garments from the same pack. For this, I've found the Vogue Options range very useful, as you get 6-7 designs in one pack. I buy online from

and wait for the sales. You might look at Ebay too, if you have access to a credit card! You do have to shop around a bit, usually, to find a pattern manufacturer you're happy with, because they all use different measurements, so hitting those 99c sales might be worthwhile to experiment.

As for software, it rather depends on what you're wanting to make. Melinda and Olwyn Mary recommended the Click and Sew range from Wild Ginger to me, and that was great, though I upgraded straight away to Pattern Master Boutique. It sounds like you would need a couple of packages, but you can trade two in on

should you decide to upgrade.

:) Trish

"Karen" wrote

Some of the pattern companies have "junior" sections. I am assuming you are an adult w/ a junior figure. Maybe those styles are not appropriate for you. Many pattern companies also run sizes down to a 4 or 6 which might be adjustable for you w/ less trouble than drafting from scratch, especially if it is a simple pattern. An intermediate or advanced sewing class at a college might also include instruction for pattern adjustment. If the class schedule is not clear, contact the professor. S/he will tell you if the class will meet your needs.

K. my gorgeous cats:

Although I have several software programs, and they each have their benefits, if you don't have much money, then buying the Patternmaker simplest version and the Ladies volume 1 macro patterns, is sure the way to go. It is about $30 (last time I looked). It has a blouse, skirt, pant , Jacket? about 5 patterns, and you can tell it to make several different styles of these Like necklines, lengths. For the money it is sure a good way to go. I have had real good luck with the patterns too.

You can upgrade later to the version where you can draw your own patterns. and you can get more pattern sets too. Sandy E