Lutterloh Pattern System

"Pat in Arkansas" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...

This looks very much like a system I bought some time around the early 70s. I wish I could remember the exact name of it. I watched the demo videos and it sounded like the seminar I went to when I bought this deal. I read the site and the box I had also had similar supplies and things they describe.They used to have "seminars" at Holiday Inns and such to show how easy it was and all the things you could do. It was the only way to buy it at that time. I've since tossed all but the curve and measuring tape in the set. I dragged it around for 20+ years and finally got rid of it during my last big culling frenzy. It was about $100.00 when I bought it which was very expensive then. I was honestly never really satisfied with what it did. Somehow things always look better in the demo than at home later. Of course, there wasn't internet support at that time. They did have a nice thick manual that was basically how to alter a pattern. No magic there. I found that the "system" didn't do much more than I could just altering store bought patterns. I would haul it out every couple of years thinking that things would get better, they never did. I've tried several different pattern drafting systems/programs over the years because my body looks like a tube of toothpaste used in a home with 6 small children. Fitting is a b*tch. I stopped looking after I tried Wild Ginger. For me, that turned out to be the best program. Does Lutterloh have a money back if not satisfied or a free trial period? This may just be the ticket for you even though it wasn't for me. That's the beauty of having choices to make.

Val

Dear Val,

I had a system that I bought in New York in the eighties. It had a tiny sloper over which one put tracing paper, and drew out with marked numbers to get a custom sloper. I was teaching at Syracuse University at the time, and thought it might be a help. Instead, it languished in a box for 20 years, and I learned how to use a computer to draft instead. Could that be the same system?

Teri

That is the basic system, although there are several out there that like that at various price points. (Lutterloh seems to be the only currently in-print on that I have found). I collect these type of patterns/drafting systems and they are great fun to play with. If you can pick one up cheaply on ebay or elsewhere, they are interesting. From what I have read, if you are serious about using a pattern drafting system, Wild Ginger or something similar, which I do not own and have only tried the freebie, is probably not a whole lot more expensive at retail by the time you include supplements and much more time efficient.

Just my not particularly well informed opinion.

The one I did, very much like yours, was in the early 80s--- Designing with "Dusan". I never did know whether that was his first or last name. Dusan didn't talk much either.... lol.

Oh geeze, I'm embarrassed to say I also had Designing with Dusan which turned out to be a thinly veiled knock off of Lutterloh. Teri is correct, they both have 'basic patterns' with certain points marked on them that you lay their "patented measuring device" and increase or decrease from there. This is all done on top of the tracing tissue and then you draft your custom pattern with ease......ta-dahhhhhh! Unfortunately, for me, neither worked all that well and I found that going back to just altering store bought patterns was actually easier and less time consuming. BUT, that is just my personal opinion and this may just work very well for somebody else.........but apparently not all of us who've posted so far.

I would check out Wild Ginger, Pat, before you click 'send'. You can get smaller programs from them called "Click and Sew" for $25.00 rather than buying the $100 - $200 pattern master programs. It's a good way to check things out to see how it works for you.

What previous thread? I didn't see a previous thread about the Lutterloh system.......how did I miss that?

Val

Take note that there are no construction directions, no seam allowances, and no provisions for facings and such. It is very intuitive. I found I spent alot of time trying to decide where to start constructing once I finally traced the pattern. I personally like to know what order to put things together before I start, I also like to know what weight fabircs a pattern is appriopriate for, where to put zippers and such. I found the system so time consuming it took the "fun" out of it for me.

I bought the Lutterloh System about 15 years ago and still have everything in the box. I went to Holliday Inn for the demo and decided I "had" to get it. I used it once and decided it was too much trouble. I went back to store bought patterns. Barbara in SC

OK.......I think I agree with all of you.......I am forgetting this and getting a book on pattern fitting........Thanks very much for all the input. I truly appreciate it.....

What these systems don't tell you is that for best results, you should have a patternmaking background. The Lutterloh and Dusan systems help you draft a sloper, from which ALL garments are made, then design your garments by tracing the sloper, then manipulating it to get your design. If you don't know the principles of patternmaking, all you have is a dress with a waist seam.

My students made slopers first by hand, then in the computer. They were taught to manipulate them. We used Jack Handford's book for the slopers, then the Armstrong book for design. They also learned how to add/subtract from the sloper to make dancewear, swimwear, jackets and coats. Once you have a sloper that fits, a patternmaking book helps to design.

gjones, Would you elaborate on those books? Titles,publisher, date? Are there any other books you would recommend for a person to hand design their own clothing? Thanks, AK in PA

Pat, if you have some non-standard problems, ask your library to interlibrary loan for you Liechty, Pottberg and Rasband's Fitting and Pattern Alteration: A multi-method approach.

It's not chatty and "fun" like some sewing books, and it doesn't have fancy color pictures, but it's the best I've found for learning to read wrinkles and then figure out what you need to change to make the pattern work for you. It's the most complete book like this I've found. It reads like a textbook... a good textbook -- and the methods work.

Kay

Dear AK,

The Handford book is Professional Patternmaking for Women's Wear and Casual Menswear. Your library probably has it, or can get it for you before you purchase it. The Armstrong book is Patternmaking for Fashion Design. The Armstrong book is quite expensive--last look found it at $85 for a used copy. The Handford is much more affordable.

Now, I have to say that these books will teach you how to manipulate pattern pieces, but neither has modern fashion styles in it. That's where your personal design comes in. But the exercises teach you what to do to get what you want.

And now I'm going to see if I can find the book Kay recommends. I've never heard of it, and am always on the lookout for new ways to do things.

Teri

I have it, Teri. You may remember Ilaine (Sewhartman) recommended it way back when we were all on the AOL sewing boards. I have never found it particularly useful for my needs, it just doesn't "talk" to me. I'll be happy to send it on, just e-mail me with your present snail mail address.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Thanks, AK in PA

There's a book by Don McCunn called How To Make Sewing Patterns that is pretty straightforward. He has a website,