Pattern drafting classes - worth it?
MountainLady
Not exactly what you are asking, but I found this site useful.
Mountain Lady
Gita wrote in message <9nai2i$7or$2...@bertrand.ccs.carleton.ca>...
>For the past month or so, I have been considering taking some pattern
>drafting classes. Has anyone taken classes and were they worth it?
Any
>experiences, good and bad, would be helpful. Time is more of an
issue in
>my decision than money.
Unknown
>
>For the past month or so, I have been considering taking some pattern
>drafting classes. Has anyone taken classes and were they worth it? Any
>experiences, good and bad, would be helpful. Time is more of an issue in
>my decision than money.
Of course the talent of the instructor is a big factor, but I say go for it.
Where is it by the way? I took a class that was more of a fit class, start with
making a sloper and then either alter patterns or draft your own from that. It
was an independent ongoing class that everyone worked on their own projects. It
was a big help for me since fitting my self has alway been a problem for me. I
would still be taking it if it wasn't so far away and rush hour traffic makes it
very hard to get to, but I'm thinking of starting up again.
Also depends on what you want to get out of it. Do you want to be able to fit
yourself or someone else that has fitting challenges that might be more severe
than you can figure out from a fitting book and need individual help? Or do you
plan on making your own pattern or clothing line to sell? There are good
drafting books out there if you just want the later.
Joy
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hn
also throw in a number of sewing techniques as well. I was very pleased
with the sewing techniques - even though I have sewn forever, I learned a
number of new things. I did NOT like their approach to drafting the master
pattern. I DID, however very much enjoy the flat pattern manipulations to
create the variations on a theme.
Since finishing the first course, and prior to the second, I have purchased
Dress Shop 4.0, and on their discussion list, learned of a FABULOUS book
that tells you everything you ever wanted to know about pattern
drafting/manipulation. It is "Patternmaking for Fashion Design" by Helen
Joseph-Armstrong. Before buying it, I signed it out of the library to
determine if it was really worth the $104CDN price tag (bought it at the
local university bkstore). Indeed it is very much worth it, absolutely
great information on building the masters and their derivatives. Far more
detailed than the info presented in our drafting class.
I am not unhappy that I took the class, but the second one may be the last
one for now. What it did for me was whet my appetite for this type of info
and convince me that I am able to do this. Like everyone else, commercial
patterns don't work out of the envelope anymore, and I really wanted to be
able to sew clothes that fit. I absolutely HATE altering commercial
patterns - it takes as long to do that as to build a good pattern in the
first place!
The KEY to this game is getting master patterns(slopers) that fit, and it
doesn't really matter how you do that - software, drape, draft, used a
commercial fitting pattern and alter.. once they are perfected, you can do
anything!
We do not have a great selection of advanced sewing courses here - most
people, it seems (according to the local sewing machine dealer) are far more
interested in quilting than they are garment sewing. NONE of the local
colleges offer these type of courses - the main fashion program in Alberta
is at Olds college, which is a 3 hr drive from here. I take my classes at a
local fabric shop, and there is one other sm dealership that offers quite a
few classes, mainly beginner/intermediate level. SO... I read books, and
email lists, and newsgroups... :)
Holly in Edmonton
Gita <insertmy...@engsoc.carleton.ca.invalid> wrote in message
news:9nai2i$7or$2...@bertrand.ccs.carleton.ca...
Twinkle Toes
I took a 1-semester pattern drafting class about 2 years ago. It was
offered through the "evening school" of an Art school at a university
that offers degrees in Fashion design. The class was great, and was
taught by a lady who does patterndrafting for a bridal manufacturer in
the area. The class I took was the first of 3 semesters, but the
evening school program was cancelled by the art school before they
offered the second semester (pout!). We didn't cover fitting at all,
but learned how to draft different bodices and skirts using a standard
size sloper.
I learned a LOT that semester, and was really disappointed that the
program was cancelled (the art school still offers degrees in Fashion
Design, but they're full-time, day programs for Bachelors degrees,
which isn't what I was after).
Make sure you know what the class will teach, and make sure that's
what you're wanting to learn. If you want fitting, and the class is
taught using a "standard" size sloper, then you won't get out of it
what you're looking for (and vice versa).
Good luck and have fun!
--twinkle (who's still looking for another evening/weekend program in
pattern drafting in the area)
Kay Lancaster
>For the past month or so, I have been considering taking some pattern
>drafting classes. Has anyone taken classes and were they worth it? Any
>experiences, good and bad, would be helpful. Time is more of an issue in
>my decision than money
I took a week long class (about 40 hours of class time) with Connie Amaden
Crawford in a draping and patternmaking class specifically geared for
those of us who sew at home. My sewing abilities took a BIG leap forward
because of that class, mainly because I suddenly understood what I was
really trying to accomplish when I was whacking away at patterns -- I was
no longer cookbooking it, I knew what I needed to do and how to do it.
I learned to read the wrinkles and pulls of fabric, and everything I'd been
struggling with for years suddenly made sense.
Every body that I sew for is very non-standard-issue <g>, and they all
(including mine) have major fitting problems. Understanding pattern drafting
and (especially for me) understanding basic draping has made
a very big difference in what I sew and in how willing I am to undertake
new projects.
If you can find a basic patternmaking class, I'd say "go for it!".
Kay Lancaster k...@fern.com
Fittingtips2
draft patterns after leaving the class. I think many find they don't have the
time - BUT I think they all leave with the knowledge of how a pattern is
developed.
At first this bothered me but now I realize that even if they never draft a
patterm once they leave the class they have the knowlege to work with
commercial pattens to achieve the fit and style they want.
Karen.