The Flat Pattern Method
What Does a Pattern Cutter Do?
A flat pattern Cutter will work with the following people to produce a flat pattern that will be mass produced in the factories for customers to buy and wear on the high street. A design team is made up of the following people: A Fashion designer, A Pattern Cutter, A Machinist and A Garment Technologist.
A Fashion designer would be responsible for the designing of the collections and he/she will decide what fabrics to use, what pockets (if any) will be on the garment, sleeve length (short or long) and neckline shapes and so on.
The Pattern Cutter’s role is to follow the designer’s illustration and working drawing to produce a first draft pattern that can be cut into a tester fabric called a Toiles once the machinist has sewn together the samples the design team then deliberate over what changes need to be made (if any).
At this stage the aim is to test the design collections feasibility i.e. will the design styles work, are there any design or fabric changes or alterations needed to pockets or sleeves?
Buyers will use real models to try on the samples to aid their signing off process with final alterations to the design made before mass production.
Once the designs have been selected by the buyers, the pattern cutter then moves to the pattern cutting final stages where the designs and patterns and turned into block patterns ready for the factory.
A pattern cutter could use two methods to create a pattern.
Method 1: The Flat Pattern Method
This method is drafted from a flat pattern and is very technical because it uses only measurements, rulers and straight lines. Most pattern cutting books are flat pattern based and so we recommend you buy 1 or 2 books so that you can start to learn the terminology.
This method begins with the creation of a Pattern. If you would like to know more about what is a Block Pattern then you can visit our website by clicking the link.
Once your block is finalised it will become your go-to template that you will use to make your patterns from many styles with various necklines, sleeves and dart manipulations from it.
Method 2: The Draping Method
The draping method involves using muslin fabric and pinning the fabric directly to a dummy, then transferring the fabric outline and markings onto pattern paper or using the muslin fabric as the pattern itself.
Once the pattern is ready the pattern cutter cuts out a toiles and gives it to the machinist to sew together.
A Final Thought:
If it’s your first time in the fashion industry with little or no experience of pattern cutting, then choosing a course that allows you to develop your pattern cutting skills to industry standard is important. If you want to start your journey and learn more about developing your pattern cutting skills please CLICK HERE
To your style success..
StylelinePatternCutting Team “The backbone of fashion”