11) Textiles: What are the patterns available? Creating Your Own
Description
This article is from the Textiles FAQ, by Lara Fabans lfabans@adobe.com with numerous contributions by others.
11) Textiles: What are the patterns available? Creating Your Own
BonFit
1-800-258-0555
- Note: This is what I, the faqkeeper, own & use & I love it.
A plastic generic pattern piece that can be adjusted in just
about every direction. There are four kits that can be ordered
for women's sizes: skirts, pants, shirt, advanced shirt (extra
collars & templates for princess seaming). What you do is figure
out what you want to create (ie a pencil skirt with kick pleat
and patch pockets), measure yourself, add in the ease that you want,
dial in the information onto the BonFit patterner piece, place
it on the cloth, trace, double check the measurements to verify
that it matches your body, make any adjustments, cut the fabric.
It's not recommended for beginning sewers. You need to have a
good idea of how to put together garments as there are no cookbook
directions for garment construction. You can mail Bonfitter@aol.com
to get a sample newsletter that she maintains.
SureFit
- I'm not really sure what this is for & would love to have someone
write me up a paragraph description
But here's what I have from cutting & pasting comments:
I too use the Sure Fit Pattern system (and have all 4 sets). I have used
them all and frankly don't know what I would do without them. Making
costumes for many different sized men and women would be impossible for
me to do without this basic tool. I have never found a person that the
pattern didn't cover. I still buy patterns, but I first use the Sure Fit
pattern to make a sloper for that person, then add the bought pattern
details to it. I've gotten very good at cutting and pasting!
On the down side, it has taken some experience to get really good at using
Sure Fit. For one, I have learned to take more measurements than it asks
for, since not all people are shaped and proportioned the same way (for
example, I take an upper arm width measurement to make sure the pattern
has enough ease ever since I got burned once).
The address for Sure-Fit is:
Sure-Fit Designs
P.O. Box 5567
Eugene, Oregon 97405
(503)344-0422
Glenda Sparling is the lady who designed the system and will give you
support as you learn how to use it.
Cut To Fit: How to Make Clothes that Fit
I got the author Karen Howland to write a blurb for me:
From: KKHowland@aol.com
After many frustrating experiences trying to fit commercial patterns to my
clients, I found a much easier way to fit: make the pattern to fit in the
first place. This is easier than it sounds, and is really rather fun.
Patternmaking begins with a sloper, a basic fitting pattern that includes
wearing ease. The sloper represents the needed fit. By designing from this
sloper, the fit is built into the pattern.
Cut to the Fit explains in a step-by-step format how to draft skirt, bodice,
and sleeve slopers. Drafting pants is also covered.
To make the math of patternmaking easier, I also have a 30" metal ruler that
includes a half scale and a quarter scale. No dividing numbers necessary.
Cut to the Fit costs $39.99 plus 4.00 shipping. The ruler is $14.99 plus
$3.00 shipping when ordered separately, but the book and ruler together are
$49.99 plus 6.00 postage. Illinois residents please add sales tax to the
before shipping price. Send check or money order to:
Kensinger Press
1316 W. Pine St
Chillicothe IL 61523
888-683-2032
Alternate # 309-274-4160
Accepts MasterCard or Visa
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