- Clothing Patterns 101
- Tips and Techniques Videos
- Basic Pattern Techniques
How do I Turn my Boring Block into Something I'll Actually WEAR???
Just a few basic skills are all you need to make a total transformation!
If you have your dress block, you might be wondering, "OK, what do I do with this now? How do I turn this boring dress into something I'll actually wear???"
It's really not that hard, and it's actually the fun part!
Flare the skirt, re-shape the neckline, add a cute sleeve - and you've got a new dress!
There are almost infinite ways to design your pattern, but this video focuses on the basic techniques you'll use over and over again to design skirts, dresses, pants - even sleeves and collars!
You'll need to understand how to manipulate darts (moving them, or converting them into shaping seams that add style as well as fit) and how to slash and spread your pattern.
Slashing and spreading sounds kind of scary - but don't worry, you'll never cut up your block pattern! You always trace a copy, and you're free to cut into the copy.
Cutting your pattern and spreading the pieces apart is how you'll transform your straight skirt into a full skirt, or a straight sleeve into a flutter, bell, or bishop's sleeve.
There's more about these techniques at ClothingPatterns101.com, at the following pages:
Manipulating your bust dart into a yoke seam
Manipulating hip darts into a pant or skirt yoke
Slashing a spreading your sleeve into a full, puff sleeve
Slashing a spreading your skirt to add pleats
Get out your quarter scales and start practicing!
More Tips and Techniques Videos
- Why Do I Need a Dress Block? Can't I just re-design a purchased pattern?
- Why Do I Need Darts? They're so UGLY !!
- Using Your Quarter Scale Patterns
- Turning Your Darts into Styling Details
- Slashing and Spreading your Pattern to Add Fullness
- Customizing your Body Form
- Using Basic Pattern Techniques
- What does it mean to "true" your pattern?
- Don't Make MY Mistakes! Do a Proper Muslin Fitting
- The Difference Between Fit Ease and Style Ease
- Flat Pattern vs. draping
- What Are Style Lines?
- Do You Have Trouble Fitting The Bust?
- Where Do You Find Design Inspiration?
- Even the Greatest Style Falls Flat if it's Out of Proportion
- Do You Speak the "Language of Patterns"?
- The Difference Between Sewing Ease and Style or Fit Ease
- Sewing Gifts for Your Friends - or For You!
- How Collars Work
- Patternmaking Tools to Get You Started
- Style vs Fashion - Do You Know the Difference?
- More on How to Use Quarter Scale Patterns
- More on Pattern Manipulations to Move Darts and Add Fullness
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What's New - The Latest News in Sewing and Recent Articles on ClothingPatterns101
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Pattern Making Basics: Slopers and Blocks
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More Pattern Manipulations for Fullness and Darts
There's more than one way to do pattern manipulations. In this video, I show you multiple methods to add fullness or move a dart on your pattern.
Tips and Techniques!
Watch videos that demonstrate the techniques you will use to design your patterns. And get tips to make the process easier!
Videos are added periodically, so keep checking back!
- More on Pattern Manipulations to Move Darts and Add Fullness
- More on Using Quarter Scale Patterns
- Style vs Fashion - Do You Know the Difference?
- Patternmaking Tools to Get You Started
- How Collars Work
- Sewing Gifts for Your Friends - or for You!
- The Difference Between Sewing Ease and Style or Fit Ease
- Do You Speak the "Language of Patterns"?
- Even the Greatest Style Falls Flat if it's Out of Proportion
- Where Do You Find Design Inspiration?
- Do You Have Trouble Fitting The Bust?
- What are Style Lines?
- Flat Pattern vs. draping
- The Difference Between Fit Ease and Style Ease
- Don't Make MY Mistakes! Do a Proper Muslin Fitting
- What Does It Mean to "True Your Pattern?"
- Using Basic Pattern Techniques
- Customize your Body Form
- Slashing and Spreading your Pattern to add Fullness
- Turning your Darts into Styling Details
- Using your Quarter Scale Patterns
- Why Do I Need Darts? They're so UGLY!
- Why Do I Need a Dress Block? Can't I just re-design a purchased pattern?