| p>1(5) Pattern-making Templates - Find | | | | Disadvantage: This is a long and tedious process |
| If you sew your own clothes, you may have | | | | for people unfamiliar with drafting. |
| considered making your own sewing patterns. | | | | 3. Use a computer to draft your template digitally |
| Where does making your own patterns begin? | | | | Use CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) programs or |
| The best place to start is with a pattern-making | | | | CAD related technology to draft your slopers to |
| template - which is seldom if ever, called "a | | | | your specific measurements. Some programs rely |
| pattern-making Template". It may be called a | | | | upon an extensive list of measurements and |
| basic block, a sloper, a fitter or something else | | | | others rely upon sophisticated algorithms applied |
| that means a plain starting shape for changing into | | | | to fewer measurements to calculate others. |
| patterns for making stylish garments. | | | | Advantage: The computer calculates and prints |
| There are several ways to get a pattern-making | | | | your pattern-making templates for you. The |
| template, but we will consider the three easiest: | | | | templates can usually be styled and stored using a |
| 1. Purchase a basic sloper from a pattern | | | | CAD system. |
| catalogue. | | | | Disadvantage: All are individual having different |
| Even pattern-making companies use slopers | | | | strengths & weaknesses |
| (templates) at the beginning of making patterns | | | | Traditional starting slopers are bodice and skirt, |
| that appear in their catalogues. Pattern catalogues | | | | but there are others that include a combination or |
| usually include a pattern that can be used as a | | | | adaptation of these first basics as well. Examples |
| template by you for styling patterns too. | | | | include pants and blouses. |
| Advantage: Readily available | | | | Start with a template most suitable for your |
| Disadvantage: Available in standard sizes only | | | | project; for example, start a waist free gown |
| 2. Draft a sloper for yourself manually | | | | from a sheath sloper or a gown with a waist |
| You could use a set of instructions and basic | | | | from the combination of skirt and bodice slopers. |
| drafting tools to manually draft slopers for | | | | Creating your own patterns is an excellent way |
| yourself or others. Instructions can be found at | | | | to increase your sewing satisfaction. No longer will |
| such places as libraries and on-line sewing sources. | | | | you have to combine pattern pieces from other |
| Advantage: You can use you own measurements | | | | patterns to get just the one that you want. |
| and make your template personal. | | | | |