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PatternMaker Drafting Sofware for PC.
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Tutorial

Quick guide | User's Manual |Grading

In this tutorial PatternMaker basics have not been touched. We presume that you have gone through the information given in the User's Manual which you have gotten with the program delivery.

All exercises in this tutorial are real-life design cases which can be used with or without PatterMaker. So, doing (or viewing) these exercises you will learn something about designing garments, too. After having done the exercises you will be able to apply your new skills to make your own designs.

For pedagocic reasons the exercises in this tutorial have been grouped according to PatternMaker editing commands. There are, of course, many commands which are used in each exercise, but in all exercises there is one command in which we want you to pay special attention to.

There is no special order in which you should do the exercises. You can pick any of them to start according to your personal preferences. Use the links below to move to a certain exercise in this document.

What are the macros?

Each macro is a little computer program that draws a particular pattern based on measurements you give it. These patterns are made up of polygon objects, which can be modified like any other objects in your drawing.

PatternMaker macros were programmed in Finland and they are based on the Scandinavian Pattern drafting method. They have been thoroughly tested in commercial and school use

There is a very important benefit of the Scandinavian pattern drafting system. All the measurements you have to take are unambiguous and easy to take. There is no need to take cross-measurements from shoulder tip to CF or CB, which are quite difficult to take. Front and back circumferences are measured as one, and bust, waist, abdomen or hip circumference are not measured separately at front and at back. The length of the side seam is not measured.

The PatternMaker macros have been programmed by a pattern drafting professional i.e. an end user of the program like you. So she was able, when writing the macros, to test all the options of the macros by sewing the garments for herself.

A macro is a small computer program

A macro is a small computer program, which you run with your PatternMaker program. After you choose the macro command from the main menu or by clicking on the macro icon, the program asks you to choose the garment. Then you are asked to give some information: choose options and give measurements. Usually you also choose one of three ease options: minimum, normal or maximum. Please refer to
the sewing instructions for the macros to learn about the ease amount of each ease category. After you have answered all the questions, the program runs the macro and you get all the pattern pieces you need for a fashion garment – and everything has been drafted according to the given measurements.

Tailored garments according to given measurements

With the macros you draft patterns for tailored garments according to given measurements. If the measurements have been taken correctly, you usually get faultless patterns for the garment you have chosen. Difficulties may rise with some unusual body shapes – like strongly asymmetrical bodies – as they would with any pattern drafting method. To make sure that you have taken the measurements correctly, it is strongly recommended that you sew a test garment (muslin) with the patterns for the basic bodice (sloper). It should fit very tightly on you, like a second skin. If the test garment is all right, you can be sure that all PatternMaker macro garments fit well when the tested measurements are used.

Ladies’s basic macros

The Ladies' basic macros are included in the program. With these macros you can draft patterns for an entire wardrobe to given measurements. You do not need to know anything about pattern drafting to do this. The basic macros contain simple basic garments, which are good for most figure types. If you want to see what other macro collections there are, plase go to the PatternMaker Website http://www.patternmakerusa.com .

This is how to run a macro

Try the macros first with the default measurements given (= Scandinavian size 42) to get familiar with the kinds of garments you can sew with the PatternMaker macros. If you want need to get women's standard measurements for other sizes, click here .

Choose the command File/Macro from the main menu. You can do this in three ways: either you simultaneously press the <Alt> key and the underlined letter of the command (<Alt>F then M) or you pull down the File menu and then choose the command by clicking on it with the left button of the mouse (M1). Or you can click (M1) on the Macro icon on the left side of the screen. It’s the icon that says “mac.”

When you get the dialog box depicted above, choose the macro you want to try by double clicking on its name with the left mouse button (M1) or click on its name once and then click <OK>.

The program asks different things for different garments: single or double breasted, with or without sleeve, amount of ease etc. Choose the options by double clicking on the option or click on the option once and then click <OK>.

Note: You have to choose an option in each dialog box. If you click <OK> or type <Enter> without choosing any option, the macro stops.

Next, a dialog box for the measurements is opened. Instructions for taking the measurements are given later in this tutorial.

Move from field to field in the dialog box with <TAB> key, or by clicking the mouse (M1).


After having answered to all the questions and given the measurements, the program drafts all pattern pieces for the selected garment on the screen. Wait until the hourglass cursor changes back to an arrow. If you cannot see the patterns at all or you see only part of them, type the <END> key on your keyboard. Then the screen is zoomed so that you can see the entire pattern.

Note: When you want to try another macro, clear the screen by choosing the command “File/New” from the main menu. Click the word “File” in the menu bar at the top of the screen with M1, and then the word “New” with M1. Usually, you will answer “No” when the program askes whether you want to save the file or not.

Adding seam allowances

If you want to add seam allowances to the patterns, type the wanted width of seam allowance to its place in the measurements dialog box. If you want your patterns to have no seam allowance, type "0" (zero) as its value. After having ran the macro you can use the command Draw/Offset, from the Draw menu. After choosing the command, select all the pieces one by one with M1 and accept the selection with M2.

Using the command Draw/Seam Allowance you can add a seam allowance of varying width to different edges of the pattern. Please refer to the User’s manual to learn more about this.

Layers

In the black drawing area there are many layers superimposed one over another. You can use the layers to organize your pattern, for instance by placing the different sizes of the garment (36, 38, 40 …) on different layers or different garments for one customer (skirt, jacket, blouse …) on different layers. You can change the settings of the layers by clicking the layer box in the status bar (Layer 0) with M1. You can name the layers whatever you want: Click in the box for a layer’s name with M1 and write the new name on top of the old one.

One of the layers is active at a time. Drawing commands and the macros produce objects on the layer which is active. Activate a layer by clicking with M1 in its “Current” column.

The layers can be visible or hidden. To hide a layer, click with M1 in the “On” column to change it to Off. The printing command Print All prints the objects all the layers which are On. So, if you want to print the items on one layer only, turn the other layers off.

HINT : When you make alterations to the fashion patterns or basic bodice (sloper) which you have drawn using the macros, run the macro twice, first on layer 0 and then on layer 1. Then hide layer 0. Make the alterations to the patterns on layer 1. From time to time you can display layer 0 and compare the changed patterns with the original ones. This is a good way to check that you have made all the changes you intended to do.

Drawing objects

Exercise 1: drafting a collar

In this exercise you learn to draft a collar in three different ways: 1) using a frame, 2) typing the points of the collar from keyboard and 3) drafting the collar using the Grid points

First make a plan as in the picture below. According to the plan we are going to draft a collar which is 6 cm high at the CB (A-J) and which has been curved at the neck 3 cm (from point J downwards). The collar is 6 cm high also in the CF (D-E) and its point (D) extends 5 cm to the left from the CF point. Let's assume that the measured neck circumference of the garment is 40 cm. Then the half length of the collar is 20 cm.

Look at the collar in the picture to notice how it is composed of lines and arcs. At the top edge of the collar there is a combination of an arc (B-C-D) and a line (A-B). In order make the arc and the line merge into one another smoothly, point A has to be on a straight line with the starting point of the arc (B) and the corner point of the arc (C).

At the bottom edge of the collar there is a combination of two arcs (J-H-G and G-F-E). In order to make these two arcs merge into one another smoothly, the corner point (H) and the end point (G) of the first arc have to be on a straight line with the corner point of the other arc (F).

If you need to know more about arcs, please refer to PatternMaker User's Manual.

Method 1) Drafting the collar in a frame:

Draw a rectangle 20 cm wide and 9 cm high (Draw /Rectangle): Choose the command, click somewhere on the screen with M1 (this will be the left corner of the rectangle E) and type the coordinates of the right top corner of the rectangle (A) from the keyboard: "@20,9" <Enter>. The "@" sign means that the coordinates of the latter point are given relative to the given location of the first point (E).

Then draw another rectangle starting from the bottom left corner of the first rectangle using snap to end point <CtrlF3>, M1. Type as the relative coordinates of its top right corner (C) "@5,9" <Enter>.

Draw two additional rectangles of size 5x9 cm. The first one starts at the right bottom corner of the second rectangle (F) and the other at the right bottom corner of rectangle F.

For the collar tip (D), draw a rectangle of size 5x6 cm starting from point E and going to the left: select the starting point of the rectangle at point D, M1 and type the coordinates of the opposite corner of the rectangle (D) from keyboard: "@-5,6" <Enter>.

Now you can draw the collar following the points of the frame (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3). Please note that the points C, F and H are corner points of an arc. When you come to a corner point, draw the point before the corner point in the usual way and then change the polygon tool to the X arc mode(M2 … Arc(x)). When you have finished the arc, remember to change the polygon tool back to the line mode (M2 … Line). If you make a mistake, you can undo it and try again (M2 ... Undo last point). If you find this difficult, you can draw the collar first with all straight lines and change the arc corner points later to round points (Point /Round vertex).

Please note that there is not a point already drawn in the place where you have to draw point G. To place this point, use snap to intersection, CtrlF7. Change your snap mode back to snap to end point (CtrlF3) after you draw this point, because snap to intersection will slow your computer down.

Method 2) Drafting the collar by typing points in from the keyboard

Here, you are entering exactly the same points as with Method 1), but without the frame to guide you. Select the starting point of the collar (A) anywhere on the screen, M1 and type other points from the keyboard as follows:

point B: @-5,0 <Enter>, change the polygon tool to arc mode, M2 … Arc(x)
point C: @-10,0 <Enter>
point D: @-10,-3 <Enter>, change the polygon tool back to line mode, M2 … Line
point E: @5,-6 <Enter>, change to arc mode, M2 … Arc(x)
point F: @5,0 <Enter>
point G: @5,1.5 <Enter>
point H: @5,1.5 <Enter>
point J: @ 5,0 <Enter>, finish, M2 … Done (closed)

Method 3) Drafting the collar along the grid points of the screen

Set the grid spacing to 1 cm using the command Misc /Grid. Activate snap to grid typing CtrlF2. You show and hide the grid by typing F4.

Select the starting point of the collar (A) anywhere on the screen, M1. Notice that as you are using snap to grid CtrlF2, the cursor moves from grid point to grid point. Select the rest of the points with mouse (M1) going along the grid points as follows:

point B: count 5 points from point A to the left and click with mouse (M1), then change to arc mode, M2 … Arc(x)
point C: count 10 points from point B to the left, M1
point D: count 10 points to the left and 3 points down, M1, change back to line mode, M2 … Line
point E: count 5 points to the right and 6 points down, M1, change to arc mode, M2 … Arc(x)
point F: count 5 points to the right, M1
point G: count 5 points to the right and 1.5 points up (please notice that as we are using a grid 1x1 cm, there isn't any grid point here. Therefore, deactivate snap to grid, CtrlF1, select the point by eye and activate snap to grid again, CtrlF2)
point H: count 5 points to the right and 1.5 points up
point J: count 5 points to the right, M1, and finish, M2 … Done (closed)

Exercise 2: Patters for corset from basic bodice patterns

corset_2.gif (9867 bytes)

1. Run the basic bodice macro (File /Macro, Lbodice.mac). Decrease 2 cm of ease on the front and the back pieces. (The whole circumference is thus decreased by 8 cm i.e. the ease that has originally been added to the body measurements in the basic bodice patterns). Decrease the ease by moving points (Point /Move vertex). Choose all the vertices that are to be moved in the same direction at one time, M1, M1, M1 … accept, M2. Give as the base point of the move "0,0" from keyboard and as the destination point of the move "2,0" (moving to the right) or "-2,0" (moving to the left) <Enter>. Move the back piece and its waist dart to touch the front piece at the armpit vertex (Edit/Move). Use snap to end point (CtrlF3) to be exact.

Draw a circle with 8 cm radius and center point at the bust apex, and a circle with 2 cm radius and center point at the joint armpit vertex of the front and the back pieces (Draw /Circle, CtrlF3). Choose the center point of the circles and type the radius from keyboard "8" or "2" <Enter>.

2. Draw the corset patterns according to the picture along the existing vertices (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3). Round points (corner points of an arc) have been marked with "R" in the picture. Draw the shoulder straps (Draw /Line or Draw /Poly). Erase the guide circles.

Exercise 3: Drafting patterns for hood

1. Measure the neck circumference of the garment (not your neck circumference). Divide it by 2.

2. Draw a rectangle with size 1/2 of the garment neck circumference x 35-40 cm = points A-B-C-D

3. Draw a circle at the upper right corner of the rectangle with radius 8 cm

4. Add points as follows:

- midway between points A and D = point E
- 8 cm from point B to the left = point F
- 8 cm from point B downwards = point G
- midway between points C-D = point H, use snap to mid point (CtrlF2)
- midway between points C-H = point J
- midway between points D-K = point L
- midway between points H-L = point K

5. Move point A 2 cm to the left. Move points D and L 3 cm down
- move point K 1.5 cm down

6. Change points B, E, H and L to round points (Point/Round Vertex)

Copying objects

Exercise 4: A long evening skirt

longskir.gif (3018 bytes)

1. Run the skirt macro, giving as the length of the skirt 90 cm (File Macro, Lskirt.mac). Remove the lining and the waist band (Edit /Erase). Draw guide lines at the front and back waist of the skirt (Draw /Line) as in the picture i.e. three lines per piece and one line for the zipper extension

2. Move the lines 3 cm up (Edit /Move): Choose the command, select the lines one by one, M1, M1, M1 … and accept the selection, M2. Type as the starting point of the move "0,0" <Enter>, and as the destination point of the move "0,3" <Enter>.

3. Using the vertices of the waist and the guide lines draw the pattern pieces for the raised waist (Draw Poly, Ctrl F3).

4. To draw waist facings, copy the pattern pieces for the raised waist above the skirt pieces (Edit /Copy) Move the pieces of the facings adjacent to each other (Edit /Move, CtrlF3). Choose the command, then select the piece to be moved , M1, accept M2. Give as the starting point of the move one of the edge points of the piece, M1 and as the destination point of the move the edge point of the other piece where you want the pieces to meet, M1. Join the facing pieces (Edit /Join). After choosing the command select one of the pieces to be joined, M1, accept M2. Then select the piece next to it, M1, M2. Continue joining pieces one at a time, selecting the piece which you just joined, M1, M2 and then the piece the be joined with it, M1, M2.

longski2.gif (8010 bytes)

5. Join skirt pieces and the pieces for the raised waist. To round the corner of the center front pieces at the hem, add vertices on the CF line at a distance of 10 cm from the hem and at the hem line at a distance of 10 cm from CF; use snap to measured distance CtrlF9 or draw guide circles with a radius of 10 cm. Finally, change the center front point of the hem to round point (Point /Round vertex).

Working with points

Exercise 5: Drafting patterns for an overall

1. a) First make preparations for the top part of the overall and run the basic bodice macro (File /Macro, Lbodice.mac). Erase all other pattern pieces but the front and the back pieces. Do not erase the back dart piece. Use command Edit /Erase, select all the pieces to be erased one by one, M1, M1, M1…, accept and execute the command with M2.

b) Draw a line to cut the pieces at the waist level as in the picture (Draw /Line, CtrlF3). Start the line at the CF waist point and end at the CB waist point. Then cut the pieces with the line (Edit /Cut): Choose the command, select the CF piece, M1, accept M2, then select the cutting line, M1, accept and execute the command M2. Cut the same way also the front side piece and the back piece as well as the back dart piece. Erase the cutting lines and all pieces under the waist level (Edit /Erase). Select all the pieces to be erased one by one, M1, M1, M1... , accept the selection and execute the command with M2.

overall.gif (8606 bytes)

2 a) Start designing the front pieces. Draw a cutting line on the front side piece as in the picture (Draw /Line), starting from the bust apex (CtrlF3) and ending outside the side seam. Cut the front side piece with the line (Edit /Cut). Choose the command select the piece to be cut (= the front side piece), M1, accept M2 and then the piece to cut with (= cutting line), M1, accept M2. Erase the cutting line (Edit /Erase).

b) Rotate the top part of the front side piece to close the bust/shoulder dart and to open it to the side seam (Edit /Rotate). Choose the command, select the piece to be rotated (= top piece of the front side piece), M1, accept M2. Select the point to rotate about (it is marked in the picture) (= bust apex), M1, then select the base point of the rotation (also marked in the picture, M1 and finally the destination point of the rotation, M1.

c) Join the front pieces together into one piece (Edit /Join): Choose the command, select the CF piece, M1, accept M2, then select the top side piece, M1, accept M2. Finally select the piece you joined, M1, accept M2 and the remaining bottom part of the side piece, M1, accept M2. Add ease to the front piece by moving the vertices as in the picture i.e. 2 cm to the right. Choose command Point /Move vertex. Select the points to be moved with a selection window, it is shown in the picture. The selection window is activated by the selection window icon or typing "W" from the keyboard after you have chosen the move vertex command. Choose the left top corner of the selection window with M1, move the mouse and point the right bottom corner of the selection window with M1 (refer to the picture). Accept the selection with M2. Then type as the base point of the move "0,0" <Enter> and as the destination point of the move "2,0" <Enter>.

3 a) Make a mirror copy of the back piece so it faces in the same direction as the pants back piece (Edit /Mirror). Choose the command, select the piece to be mirrored (= back piece), M1, accept M2. Then give, as the top point of the line to be reflected across, the CB neck point, M1 and as the bottom point of the line to be reflected against, M1. Erase the original back piece (Edit /Erase). b) In order to add ease to the back piece, move the points marked in the picture 2 cm to the right the same way you moved the points in the front piece (Point /Move vertex). Use a selection window as illustrated in the picture.

overall2.gif (10132 bytes)

4. Now start designing the pants part of the overall. Run the pants macro (File /Macro, Lpants.mac). Erase center lines, pocket mouth line, waist band and the zipper extension (Edit /Erase).

5. Add to the front and the back pants 2 cm ease in the same way you did in the top parts (Point /Move vertex). Use a selection window illustrated in the picture.

6. a) Move the top back piece to touch the pants' back piece, so that their CB waist points lie on top of each other (Edit /Move, CtrlF3). Choose the command, select the piece to be moved (= back top piece), M1, accept M2. Choose as the base point of the move the CB waist vertex of the top, M1 and as the destination of the move the CB waist point of the back pant, M1.

b) Rotate the top piece so that its waist is on the back pants' waist (Edit /Rotate, CtrlF3). After having chosen the command select the piece to be rotated (the top piece), M1, accept M2. Choose the CB waist vertex of the top piece as the center point of the rotation (the point to be rotated about), M1, the waist side vertex of the top as the base point of the rotation, M1 and the the waist side vertex of the pant as the destination of the rotation, M1. These points are marked in the picture 6a.

c) To add vertical ease at the waist of the overall, move the back top piece 2 cm up (Edit /Move). Choose the command, select the piece to be moved (= back top), M1 and accept, M2. Give as the base point of the move from keyboard "0,0" <Enter> and as the destination of the move "0,2" <Enter>.

overall3.gif (5104 bytes)

d) Rotate the back top so that you get an additional vertical ease at the CB waist (Edit /Rotate). After having chosen the command select the piece to be rotated (= back top), M1 and accept, M2. Give the side vertex of the top waist as the center point of the rotation, M1 and the CB vertex of the top waist as the base point of the rotation, and type the distance to be rotated from keyboard "-2" (the distance is a negative number because the rotation is to be done clockwise) <Enter>. The points are marked in the picture 6c

7. a) Now move the front top piece so that it touches the front pant at waist, the CF vertexes lie on top of each other (Edit /Move, CtrlF3). Choose the command, select the piece to be moved (= the front top), M1, accept M2. Give as the base point of the move the CF waist vertex of the top, M1 and as the destination of the move the CF waist vertex of the front pant, M1.

b) Add 2 cm vertical ease at the waist. Move the front piece up by this amount (You do not need to select the command as it already is active). Select the front top, M1, accept M2. Type as the base point of the move from the keyboard "0,0" <Enter> and as the destination point of the move "0,2" <Enter>.

overall4.gif (5797 bytes)

8. Finally, draw the overall following the existing points (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3). Show vertices by typing F5. Do not go through the waist vertices. Go directly from the hip point to the armpit point (back) and from the hip point to the bust dart point (front). Please notice that there are arcs and lines in the patterns. When you arrive at a point where an arc begins, open the polygon menu with M2, and choose from the options (Arc(x). After having given the points for the arc (start, corner, end) - and if there is not another arc after the first one, change the polygon tool back to the line mode (M2 … Line). If you find this difficult, you can draft the patterns with all straight lines (= without changing to arc mode) and change the arc corner points afterwards to Round points with Point /Round vertex.

After you have drafted the front and the back pieces of the overall, erase all the original pieces (Edit/Erase). Draw grain lines on the pieces (Draw /Line, CtrlF5).

Draw a collar for the overall if you want one. You can use the collars macro. Before drafting the collar, make the neck opening of the overall 1 cm bigger in all directions (Point /Move vertex). This exercise is based on the patterns of the basic sloper and it does not have enough ease at neck for a real garment pattern. After making the neck opening bigger, measure its length at front and at back (Point /Set/Meas.dist) and multiply the result by 2 to get the whole neck circumference. You will use this measurement in the collars macro.

In a real designing situation you would not have removed the sleeves at the beginning. Please notice that if you want the overall to have sleeves you have to make the armscyes bigger, too. You have to lower the armscye of the bodice and broaden the sleeve at the armpit by the same amount. This makes the sleeve larger at the armscye.

Alternatively you can use another macro for the top of the overall - e.g. the blouse macro or the jacket macro. These macros already have the needed ease at the neck opening and at the armscyes and the sleeves. Using these macros, you need to add ease only to the pants part of the overall.

Exercise 6: Jacket with a side panel

1. Run the jacket macro (File /Macro, Ljacket.mac). Move the pieces so that they touch each other at hem (Edit /Move, CtrlF3). a) Draw vertical lines starting at the vertices on the armscye lines as in the picture and ending outside (down) from hem (Draw /Line). ( Picture 1a ) Use snap to end point (CtrlF3) to grab the armscye vertices and then snap to ortho (CtrlF5) to draw vertical lines.

2. Draw a polygon around the area between the side seams of the front and the back piece (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3). ( Picture 1b ) Go along the existing vertices and use snap to end point (CtrlF3). At the waist of the side seam there are three vertices; the center one is a round vertex. You need not draw all these vertices; just draw one (line) point at the center vertex as in the picture.

In the same way, draw a polygon around the back waist dart (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3). ( Picture 1c )

3. Move the polygons horizontally so that their new positions are on the lines that you drew down from the armscyes (Edit /Move, CtrlF3). ( Picture 2a ) Choose the Move command, select the polygon drawn between the side seams, M1, accept M2. Give as the base point of the move the joint hem point of the front and the back piece (CtrlF3), M1, and as the destination point of the move the intersection (CtrlF7) of the vertical line and hem (CtrlF7), M1. Move the other help polygon similarly, now to the line drawn down from the back armscye. The base point of the move is now the intersection (CtrlF7) of the line down from the back waist dart with the hem line, and the destination of the move is the intersection of the line drawn down from the back armscye with the hem line.

4. Draw the new shapes of the front, back and side pieces following the existing points (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3). Draw the front center and the front side pieces as two separate pieces. Draw the back piece as one piece with a shoulder dart. Draw the side panel in one piece. ( Picture 2b and picture 3 ).

sidepan2.gif (12062 bytes)

5. The shapes of the pieces are not quite satisfactory: The back piece does not curve enough at the waist compared with the front piece. The side panel is somewhat distorted. Therefore, move the waist vertices of the pieces as shown in the picture: the waist vertices of the front side and the back pieces (simultaneously) to the right and the waist vertices of the side panel (simultaneously) to the left (Point /Move vertex). You can do this by eye. First use the snap to end point (CtrlF3) to select the vertices to be moved and then snap to ortho (CtrlF5) to move the vertices horizontally. When moving the points in this way "in pairs" the move of the points does not change the waist circumference of the garment. ( Picture 4 )

Draw a cutting line on the front side piece at the top hip (abdomen) level (Draw/Line, CtrlF3, CtrlF5). The line must extend over both edges of the piece. ( Picture 5 )

sidepan2.gif (12062 bytes)

Cut the side piece with the line (Edit /Cut). Choose the command, first choose the object to be cut (= the side panel), M1, accept M2 and then the object to cut with (= the cutting line), M1, accept M2. Erase the cutting line (Edit /Erase). Rotate the topmost piece of the front side pieces so that the shoulder dart is closed (Edit /Rotate, CtrlF3). ( Picture 6 ) In this kind of a jacket the pocket is positioned on this cutting line. After you have sewn the front waist dart, close the cutting line temporarily with zigzag stitches. Iron a strip of interfacing to its wrong side. When fastening the pocket you will cut the pocket mouth along this line. If you are sewing a patch pocket, position it so that the cutting line is hidden under the pocket.

Cutting objects

Exercise 7: Making a collar wider

widecoll.gif (1742 bytes)

In order to make the collar wider, you also have to lengthen the outer edge of the collar. Otherwise it does not have enough space to lie flat on the back piece at the neck. Tailored collar in the PatternMaker macros is 7 cm wide. The raise at the neck is 3 cm and the visible part of the collar is 4 cm.

The aim of this exercise is to broaden the collar with 3 cm. When this has been done, the visible part of the collar will be 7 cm.

widecol2.gif (4136 bytes)

As seen in the picture, the new length of the outer edge of the collar at back is 17.9 cm which is 5.3 cm longer than the outer edge of the original collar. So you have to lengthen the outer edge of the collar with 5.3 cm.

To draw the above picture:

1. draw the collar stand from the neck shoulder point 3 cm upwards

2. draw the original height of the visible part of the collar from top edge of the collar stand to the shoulder line (use guide circle)

3. draw the new height of the visible part of the collar from top edge of the collar stand to the shoulder line

widecol3.gif (2147 bytes)

4. draw arcs starting from the intersection of the visible part of the collar and the shoulder line to the center back seam

5. Measure the lengths of the arcs i.e. collar back edges in both situation (Point/Set/Meas.dist)

Draw a cutting line across the collar (Draw/Line).

Cut the collar with the line (Edit/Cut). Select the collar, M1, accept M2, then select the line, M1, accept M2. Then rotate one cut piece of the collar in order to add length to the collar edge. Select the piece to be rotated (in the picture it is the right side piece), M1, accept M2. Choose the point to rotate about with M1, (marked in the picture), the starting (base) point of the rotation (also marked in the picture), and finally type -5.3 from keyboard. Draw the new shape of the collar along the existing vertices of the collar pieces (Draw/Poly).

If needed, you can correct the shape of the new collar by moving points manually (Point/Move vertex).

Exercise 8 : Changing the styling of a tailored collar.

1 Clear the screen using the command File/New. Answer “No” when the program asks whether you want to save the file or not. Run the macro Ljacket.mac (File/Macro).

2 Remove all other pattern pieces except for the collar and the CF-piece of the jacket (Edit/Erase). Do not remove the turning line for the lapel.

3 Move collar so that it touches the CF piece: choose the command Edit Move. Select the collar, M1, accept, M2. Choose as the base point of the move the point of the collar which is marked with an arrow in the picture, M1, and as the destination point of the move the point of the CF piece marked with an arrow in the picture, M1. Use snap to end point to be exact <Ctrl F3>.

4 Draw a cutting line, which starts from outside of the CF piece, goes along the turning line of the lapel, and continues from there as a tangent line across the collar. Because this line has more than two points, you cannot use the Line drawing tool. Use the Draw/ Polygon tool. Choose the first point of the polygon somewhere outside the CF piece (look at the picture), M1. Choose the following points of the line (polygon) at the bottom edge of the turning line for the lapel, M1, and at the top edge of the turning line for the lapel, M1. Open the drop-down menu for the polygon with M2 and choose from it "Tangent Line" (= a line which continues in the same direction as the previous segment of the polygon), M1. Finally, place the last point of the cutting line outside the collar, M1. Pan the view using the arrow keys in keyboard, if you need to.

5 Cut the collar and the CF piece with the line you just drew. Use the command Edit/Cut. Select the collar, M1 and accept it, M2. Select the cutting line, M1, accept, M2. (It is easiest to select a line near its end point. Select the CF piece, M1, accept, M2. Select the cutting line, M1, accept, M2.

Look at the blue command line at the bottom of the screen to see that the cut really has taken place (you should see “Calculating … done”).

6 Remove the cutting line. Use the command Edit/Erase. Select the line, M1, and accept the selection, M2.

7 Mirror the small pieces of the collar and the lapel you just cut, on top of the front piece. Use the command Edit/Mirror. Select the collar, M1, and the lapel piece, M1. Accept the selection, M2. Point the bottom end of the line across which the mirroring is to be done (= bottom end of the turning line of the lapel, M1 (look at the picture). Point the top end of the mirroring line (= the point where the cutting line crossed the collar, M1 (look at the picture).

8 Remove the original cut pieces of the collar and the lapel (Edit/Erase).

9 Alter the collar and/or the lapel to the shape you want by moving its point(s). Use the command Point/Move vertex. Select the points to be moved, M1, M1 …, accept the selection, M2. Choose the base point of the move (preferably near the points to be moved), M1. Move the mouse and choose the destination of the move anywhere you want it to be, M1. If you are not pleased with the result, undo the move with the command Edit/Undo and try again.

10 When you are satisfied with the new shape of the collar and the lapel, mirror them back to their original position to the left side of the turning line of the lapel. Use the command Edit/Mirror. Select the collar piece, M1 and the lapel, M1, accept the selection, M2. Choose the line across which the mirroring is to be done. It is the same line as the previous mirroring line, M1, M1.

11 Remove the collar piece and the lapel on the CF piece (Edit/Erase).

12 If you want to, you can join the collar pieces to each other, and join the lapel to the CF piece (Edit/Join). This is not necessary, but if you want to draw seam allowances around the pieces, it is easier when the pieces are joined.

Exercise 9 : Adding ease to patterns

Note : PatternMaker macros produce patterns which are ready to sew. You don’t have to add ease to them. If you want to sew a T-shirt or a sweater with the shirt patterns, or an overcoat with the jacket patterns, then you may want to add ease to the patterns.

1 Clear the screen using the command File/New. Answer “No” when the program asks whether you want to save the file or not. Run the macro Lbodice.mac (File/ Macro).

2 Erase all other pieces but the front and the back pieces and the back waist dart. Choose the command Edit/ Erase. Select the pieces to be erased one by one, M1, M1, M1…, accept, M2.

3 Move the points of the front and the back piece. Select the points with the help of a selection window as in the picture: Choose the command Point/Move Vertex. Type from keyboard "W" or click the window icon in the icon area with M1. Choose one corner of the selection window, M1, move the mouse and choose the opposite corner of the selection window, M1. Accept selection with M2.

Exercise 10: Sleeve with gathers

1. Run the basic bodice macro (File /Macro Lbodice.mac). Remove all pattern pieces except the sleeve and its center line (Edit /Erase).

gathslee.gif (9918 bytes)

2. a) Draw lines to cut the sleeve with. Refer to the picture.

2. b) You must draw the left side line using the polygon tool (pencil icon or Draw /Poly … Open), because it needs to contain three vertices. Draw the polygon through the apex of the elbow dart (CtrlF3 to snap to the apex)

2. c) Cut the sleeve in turn with each of these lines (Edit /Cut): choose the command, select the object to be cut (= sleeve), M1, accept M2 and then the cutting object (= line), M1, accept, M2

3. a) rotate the leftmost new piece of the sleeve counterclockwise: use command Edit /Rotate; select the piece, M1, accept M2; choose the starting (base) point of the rotation, M1, and the point to be rotated about, M1, (marked in the picture) and type the distance to be rotated from keyboard "5" <Enter>.

3. b) rotate the rightmost new piece of the sleeve clockwise: use command Edit /Rotate. When typing the distance from the keyboard, type "-5" <Enter>. The negative number means the rotation is to be made clockwise.

4. Move the center piece of the sleeve 6 cm up (Edit /Move): choose the command, select the piece to be moved with M1, accept M2. Type as the base point of the move "0,0" <Enter> and as the destination of the move "0,6" <Enter>.

5. Draw the new shape of the sleeve along the existing vertices (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3).

If needed, correct the shape of the sleeve cap by moving one or more vertices (Point /Move vertex). Note that both sides of the sleeve cap are formed of two arcs with a line in between. In order for the arcs to merge smoothly into each other, the corner point of each arc should lie along the same line as the straight segment.

Exercise 11: A flared collar

flarcoll.gif (1668 bytes)


1. Use the basic bodice macro for this exercise (File /Macro, Lbodice.mac). Erase the sleeve and its center line (Edit /Erase). Rotate the front side piece so that the shoulder/bust dart is closed (Edit /Rotate, CtrlF3). The center point of the rotation is the dart apex point, the base point of the rotation is the right side point of the shoulder/bust dart points on the shoulder, and the destination point of the rotation is the left side point of the shoulder/bust dart points on the shoulder.

Design the shape of the collar upon the front piece the collar (Draw/Polygon). For this purpose draw guide circles at the front neck shoulder point (radius 10) and the front neck CF point (radius 14 cm) (Draw /Circle, CtrlF3, 14<Enter>)

 

Using the guide circles draw the shape of the front collar (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3). Refer to the picture. Notice that there are arcs and lines in the collar. In the picture the arc corner points (round points) are marked with letter "R". When you come to the starting point of an arc, change the polygon tool to arc mode by opening the polygon menu with M2 and choosing the option "Arc (X)".

2. Draw guide circles (Draw /Circle, CtrlF3) and the shape of the back collar on the back piece (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3).

 


3. Move the front and the back collar so that they touch each other at their joint shoulder vertex as in the picture (Edit /Move, CtrlF3). Rotate the back collar so that you get a joined collar (Edit /Rotate, CtrlF3). The center, base and destination points have been marked in the picture.

4. Join the pieces (Edit/Join). If needed, correct the shape of the collar in the place which is marked in the picture with an arrow by moving a point (Point /Move vertex).

5. Draw cutting lines on the collar (Draw /Line).

Cut the collar with the lines (Edit /Cut): Choose the command, select the piece to be cut (= the collar), M1, M2, and then the piece to cut with (= the line), M1, M2. Then cut the remaining pieces of the collar with the remaining cutting lines similarly. Erase the cutting lines (Edit /Erase).

6. Rotate the pieces of the collar so that the outer edge of the collar opens (= increases) by 2.5 cm at each intersection of the collar edge and the cutting lines (Edit /Rotate). Choose the command, select the topmost piece of the collar, M1, accept M2. Choose the center point of the rotation as in the picture, M1, M2 and type the rotation distance from keyboard "2.5" <Enter>. Continue to rotate all the collar pieces similarly.

7. Finally join the pieces of the collar together into one piece (Edit /Join). Choose the command, select the topmost of the pieces, M1, accept M2 and the second from the top, M1, M2. Select again the topmost piece (= which now is a combination of the two joined top pieces), M1, M2 and the next piece, M1, M2. Join the collar piece by piece in this way.

Exercise 12: A draped dress

1. Use the dress macro for this exercise (File /Macro, Ldress.mac). Erase the sleeve, the back pieces and the facings. Make a mirror copy of the front pieces (Edit /Mirror, CtrlF3). Choose the command, select the front pieces, M1, M1 and accept, M2. Then choose as the top end of the reflection line the CF line top (= the neck) vertex, M1, and as the bottom end of the reflection line the CF bottom (= the hem) vertex, M1. flardres.gif (2078 bytes)

2. Draw a cutting line across the mirrored front side piece as in the picture (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3). Because you need more than two vertices for the line, you have to use the polygon tool and not the line tool. Select as the starting point of the line any point outside the armscye, M1, as the second point of the line the bust apex point, M1 and as the end point of the line any point outside the original front side piece, M1, open the polygon menu with M2 and conclude the command by choosing "Open (done)" from the options. Cut the mirrored front side piece with this line (Edit /Cut). Choose the command, choose the object to be cut (= mirrored front side piece), M1, accept M2 and then the piece to cut with (= the cutting line), M1, M2.

3. Transfer the dart by rotating the topmost of the cut pieces so that the shoulder dart is closed and a dart opens up at the armscye (Edit /Rotate, CtrlF3).

Join all front pieces except the original front side piece into one piece (Edit /Join).

flardre2.gif (13088 bytes)

flardre2.gif (13088 bytes)

flardre2.gif (13088 bytes)flardre2.gif (13088 bytes)

flardre2.gif (13088 bytes)

4. Draw cutting lines across the joined front pieces as in the picture (Draw /Line). All the lines have to extend beyond the edges of the piece. Notice that one cutting line has to go through the bust apex. Use snap to end point (CtrlF3) to be exact. Cut the piece with the lines that you drew (Edit /Cut).

5. a) Rotate the pieces so that the dart which was moved to the armscye is closed and so that

b) each intersection of the cutting lines is opened to 5 cm. The center and base points of the rotation have been marked in the picture. The distance of the rotation is given by typing from the keyboard "5" <Enter>.

Rotating points and objects

Please refer to the User's Manual to get more information about rotating points and objects.

Memorize this rule for rotating objects and points

Click the mouse as follows

M1 (selection of the objects/points to be rotated), M2 (accepting the selection), M1 (center point), M1 (base point), M1 (destination point) i.e.

    M1, M2, M1, M1, M1 or
    M1, M2, M1, M1, distance <Enter> or
    M1, M2, M1, angle <Enter>

EXERCISE 13 : Rotating an object to close the bust dart


1 Clear the screen using command File/New. Answer “No” when the program sakes whether you want to save the file or not. Run the macro Lbodice.mac using the command File/Macro. Accept the default measurements by clicking <OK> and <OK> with M1. Zoom the drawing to fill the screen by pressing the <End> key.

2 Remove the back piece and its darts well as the sleeve and its centerline using the command Edit/Erase. Choose the command, then select the objects to be removed one by one, M1, M1, M1, M1 and accept the selection, M2

3 Zoom the drawing to fill the screen by pressing the <End> key

4 Choose the command Edit/Rotate. Continue the exercise, referring to the picture below.

EXERCISE 14 : Rotating points to make an A-line tunic

 

1 Clear the screen using the command File/New. Answer “No” when the program asks whether you want to save the file or not.

2 Run the macro Lshirt.mac using the command File/Macro. Accept the default measurements offered by clicking <OK> and <OK> with M1. Zoom the drawing to fill the screen by pressing the <End> key.

3 Erase the sleeve and its centerline as well as the collar and the cuff pieces using the command Edit/Erase. Select the objects to be erased one by one, M1, M1…. And accept the selection, M2.

4 Zoom the drawing to fill the screen by pressing the <End> key. 5 Choose the command Point/Rotate vertex. Continue the exercise according to the picture below.

Exercise 15 : From tailored collar to shawl collar

1 Clear the screen using the command File/New. Answer “No” when the program asks whether you want to save the file or not. Run the macro Ljacket.mac (File Macro).

2 Erase all other pieces except the CF piece and the collar. Choose the command Edit/ Erase. Select all the pieces to be erased one by one, M1, M1, M1…, accept, M2.

3 Erase all other pieces except the CF piece and the collar. Choose the command Edit/ Erase. Select all the pieces to be erased one by one, M1, M1, M1…, accept, M2.

4 Move the collar so that it touches the CF piece (as in picture): Choose the command Edit/ Move. Select the collar, M1, accept, M2. Choose as the base point of the move the collar point which is marked with an arrow in the picture, M1, and as the destination point of the move the point of CF piece which is marked with an arrow in the picture, M1. Use snap to end point to be exact (<Ctrl F3>).

5 Join the collar to the CF piece: after choosing the command Edit/ Join, select the collar, M1, accept, M2 and select the CF piece, M1, accept, M2.

6 If you want to, you can remove the angle in the shawl collar by deleting the points in it. Choose the command Point/Delete vertex. Select the points to be removed, M1, accept, M2.

HINT: Even if the outer edge of the shawl collar can be seen without joining the pieces, it is usually wise to join the pieces. This way, it is much easier to draw seam allowances around the pieces.

Exercise 16 : From jacket to A-line jacket

1 Clear the screen using the command File/ New. Answer “No” when the program asks whether you want to save the file or not. Run the macro Ljacket.mac (File/ Macro).

2 Move the front and the back pieces so that they touch at the hem (Edit/ Move). The base and destination points of the move have been marked in the picture.

3 Rotate the shoulder/bust dart of the front piece until it is closed (Edit/ Rotate). The center, base and destination points of the rotation have been marked in the picture. Use the snap to end point <Ctrl F3> to be exact. Rotate the back shoulder dart in the same way to close it.

4 Join the front and the back pieces so that you get a single front and back piece. Choose the command Edit/ Join. Select one of the pieces to be joined, M1, accept, M2. Select the other piece to be joined, M1, accept, M2.

Look at the blue command line at the bottom of the screen. You should see: "calculating … done". Sometimes it may happen that the program cannot join pieces whose edges just touch. In such a situation, delete one or more of the overlapping segments from one of the pieces or both. (Point/ Delete Segment). Select the segment you want to delete, M1, accept, M2. Note that there should be two segments together, one from each object.

5 Delete the points of the “hem dart” which appeared when you joined the pieces (Point/Delete Vertex). Select the points to be deleted one by one, M1, M1, M1 …, accept the selection, M2

6 After you have deleted the points, if the piece has an open section at the hem, close it using the command Edit/Close Obj. Select the piece to be closed, M1 and accept the selection, M2.

Exercise 17 : Moving a dart to another place

1 Continue from where you left off in the previous exercise.

2 Move the front pieces to that they touch at hem. Choose the command Edit/Move. Select the piece to be moved, M1, accept, M2. Choose the base and destination points marked in the picture below, M1, M1. Use snap to end point to be exact <Ctrl F3>.

3 Rotate the front shoulder/bust dart until closed. After choosing the command Edit/Rotate and the piece to be rotated (M1, M2) choose the center, base and destination points of the rotation as marked in the picture below, M1, M1, M1.

4 Draw a line from the bust point (apex) across the front side seam. After choosing the command Draw/Line, Use M1 to enter the end points of the line. The line must begin exactly at the bust point and therefore you should use snap to end point <Ctrl F3>.

5 Cut the front side piece with the line you drew (Edit/Cut). After choosing the command, select the side piece, M1 and accept, M2. Then select the cutting line, M1, M2. Look at the blue command line at the bottom of the screen to see that the cut was made successfully. You should see the words "Calculating … Done".

6 Erase the cutting line (Edit/Erase). Choose the command, then select the line, M1 and accept the selection, M2.

7 Rotate the bottom part of the side piece so that the shoulder/bust dart is closed. Choose the command Edit/Rotate and the piece to be rotated (M1, M2) point the center, base and destination points, M1, M1, M1.

8 Rotate the bottom part of the side piece so that the shoulder/bust dart is closed. Choose the command Edit/Rotate and the piece to be rotated (M1, M2) point the center, base and destination points, M1, M1, M1.

NOTE ! When using the cutting the command (Edit/Cut), you always have to select the piece to be cut first, and the piece to cut with second.

Exercise 18: Drafting a raglan sleeve

raglan1.gif (7463 bytes)

1. Run the basic bodice macro (File /Macro, Lbodice.mac). Erase the center line of the sleeve (Edit /Erase). Move the front and back shoulder darts temporarily to CF and to CB. First, draw cutting lines from the dart apexes to and across the CF and CB lines = A-B and C-D (Draw /Line, CtrlF3). Cut the center front piece and the back piece with the cutting lines (Edit /Cut). Choose the command, select the object to be cut (= center front or back piece), M1, accept M2. Then select the object to cut with (= cutting line), M1, accept M2. Cut the other piece the same way.

Cut the sleeve into two pieces: Draw a cutting line upon the sleeve starting from the center point of the sleeve cap and ending at the vertex which is at the center of the sleeve cuff (Draw/Line, CtrlF3). If needed, make the vertices visible with F5. After having drawn the line, cut the sleeve with it (Edit /Cut). Choose the command, select the object to be cut (= the sleeve), M1, accept M2 and the object to cut with (= line), M1, accept M2.

raglan1.gif (7463 bytes)
raglan1.gif (7463 bytes)

raglan1.gif (7463 bytes)

Erase all cutting lines.

2. Rotate the upper piece of the center front piece and the upper piece of the back piece until the shoulder darts are closed (Edit /Rotate, CtrlF3). Choose the command, select the object to be rotated, M1, accept M2. Then point the vertex to rotate about (= the dart apex), M1 and the base point of the rotation (= at front the left side vertex of the shoulder dart at the shoulder and at back the right side vertex of the shoulder dart at the shoulder), M1. Finally, point the destination point of the rotation (= at front the right side vertex of the shoulder dart at the shoulder and at back the left side vertex of the shoulder dart at the shoulder), M1.

3. a) Measure the distance between vertices E and F = the armscye curve at front. Use the dimension tool (Draw /Dimension, CtrlF3). Choose the command, select one end of the distance to be measured (= E), M1 and then the other end of the distance to be measured (= F), M1. Move the mouse and click the place where you want the distance to be displayed. In the picture the distance is 8.1 cm. On the back piece there is a similar vertex with similar distance from the back armpit vertex.

b) Draw guide circles with a radius of 8,1 cm with the center points at the armpit vertices as in the picture. (Draw /Circle, CtrlF3). Choose the command, point at the center point of the circle and then type the radius from the keyboard, 8.1 <Enter>. Add new vertices at the intersection of the circles and the armscye lines (Point/ Add vertex). Having chosen the command, select the arc where the new vertex is to be added at the armscye, M1, accept M2. Choose the position of the new vertex using snap to intersection, CtrlF7. We mark these vertices with letters G and H.

4. Move the front (= left) half of the sleeve to a place where vertex F of the front piece and vertex G of the front sleeve are one on top of the other. Use command Edit /Move and snap to endpoint, CtrlF3). Choose the command, select the piece to be moved (= the left half of the sleeve), M1 and accept, M2. Point with M1 vertex G as the starting (base) point of the move and vertex F as the destination point of the move. Move the back half of the sleeve accordingly.

raglan2.gif (9259 bytes)

5. Rotate the front sleeve so that it touches the shoulder tip vertex (Edit /Rotate, CtrlF3). After having chosen the command select the object to be rotated (= front sleeve), M1 and accept, M2. Choose as the point to rotate about vertex F, M1. Click with M1 for the starting point of the rotation anywhere on the screen, M1. Move the mouse and when the the sleeve head touches the shoulder tip, click with M1 for the destination of the rotation. Rotate the back sleeve accordingly.

6. Draw the raglan sleeves along the existing vertices. Please refer to the picture to see vertices of the sleeve to be drawn. Use command Draw /Poly. Choose the vertices of the polygon one by one, M1, M1, M1… When you have pointed all the vertices and come to the last but one vertex, open the polygon menu with M2 and choose the option "Done (closed)". When drawing use the snap which you find best in the situation in question, CtrlF3 or CtrlF4 or no snap. You can draw the arcs "angular" and change the vertices in question later to round vertices (Point/Round vertex).

7. Draw the new front and back pieces accordingly (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3). Go along the existing vertices. Draw the front pieces in three separate pieces i.e. upper part of the center front piece, the lower part of the center front piece and the front side piece. Draw the back piece also in three separate pieces i.e. the upper part of the center back piece and the lower part of the center back piece and the back side piece.

raglan3.gif (3022 bytes)

8. Rotate the upper part of the center front piece to close the temporary dart at the CF (Edit /Rotate, CtrlF3). Choose the command, select the object to be rotated (=the upper part of the center front piece), M1, accept M2. Choose the dart apex as the point to rotate about, M1, the upper vertex of the dart at the CF line as the starting point of the rotation, M1 and the lower vertex of the dart at the CF as the destination point of the rotation, M1. Rotate accordingly the upper part of the center back piece to close the temporary dart at the CB and to move it to the shoulder. Join the front and back center pieces together into whole pieces.

 

Exercise 19: A-line dress by rotating points


1 Clear the screen using the command File/New. Answer “No” when the program asks whether you want to save the file or not. Run the macro Ldress.mac (File/Macro). Erase the sleeve and its centerline as well as all facings. After choosing the command Edit/Erase, select the objects to be erased one by one M1, M1. M1 … accept selection, M2.

2 Choose the command Point/Rotate Vertex. Select the points of the CF piece to be rotated, M1, M1, M1 (look at the caption "These points have been rotated" in the picture below). Then select the center point of the rotations at the waist point of the piece, M1 (refer to the picture). Choose the hem point as the base point of the rotation, M1. Type as the distance or end point of the rotation, from keyboard, "2" and press <Enter>.

3 Continue as in the picture and rotate the corresponding points of other pattern pieces. Please note that the points of the CF and CB lines are not rotated.

NOTE! When you rotate the points of both sides of a pattern piece, the hem rises to the level where the hem points will be after the rotation. Therefore it is necessary – at least when the amount of the rotation is large – to add a new point to hem between the hem points which are to be rotated. This new point remains on the correct hemline after the rotation. To be able to curve the hem, you also need to add additional new points between the original hem points and the point you just added. Look at the picture below.

 

Exercise 20: An overcoat based on the jacket patterns

overcoat.gif (12454 bytes)

1.a) Run the jacket macro (File /Macro). Use the maximum ease option (= bust circumference +16 cm). Type the length according to your wishes, e.g. 60 cm.

b) Add 4 cm ease to the garment (the ease of the overcoat will be 16 + 4 = 20 cm). Add the ease by moving the right side vertices of the center front piece 1 cm to the right and the left side vertices of the center back piece 1 cm to the left: use command Point /Move vertex for each of these two moves. Select all the vertices to be moved M1, M1, M1 …, before accepting the selection, M2. Show the points if needed by typing <F5>. Use snap to end point, CtrlF3, if it helps. Type the base point of the move from keyboard "0,0" <Enter>. Type as the destination point of the move from keyboard "1,0" <Enter> (front) and "-1,0" <Enter> (back).

The jacket has round points at the back shoulder dart apex. Before going on, it is best to change these points to corner points (Point /Corner vertex).

overcoat.gif (12454 bytes)

overcoat.gif (12454 bytes)overcoat.gif (12454 bytes)

2. a) Move the two front pieces and the two back pieces together, so that they touch at the hem (Edit /Move): choose the command, select the front side piece, M1 and accept the selection, M2. Choose as the base point of the move the leftmost hem point of the front side piece, M1, and as the destination point of the move the rightmost hem point of the center front piece (shown in the picture). Use snap to end point, CtrlF3, to be exact. Move the back pieces the same way, so that they touch each other at hem. Draw a cutting line from the front shoulder/bust apex to and across the front armscye (Draw /Line) and from the back shoulder dart apex to and across the back armscye. Be sure to use snap to endpoint to be exact, CtrlF3. Cut the front and back side pieces with the lines you drew. Use command Edit /Cut. Select the piece to be cut, M1, accept M2, then select the piece to cut with (= the cutting line), M1, accept M2.

2. b) Rotate the top pieces (which you cut) so that the shoulder darts are closed (Edit /Rotate, CtrlF3): having chosen the command select the piece to be rotated, M1, accept M2. Then select the point to be rotated about (= the dart apex point) and the base and the destination point of the rotation M1, M1, M1 (refer to the picture).

3. a) Draw the front and back pieces of the overcoat along the existing points (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3). Type F5 to see the points. If you need to correct the shape of the armscyes, do it by moving one or more vertices. (Point /Move vertex).

3. b) Measure the length added to the front and the back armscyes = x and y. Use the Dimension tool (Draw /Dim) and snap to end point (CtrlF3). Choose the command, select the base point and the destination point of distance to be measured, M1, M1, move the mouse and click the place where you want the dimension line to be displayed, M1. Write down the measurements, then erase the dimension lines (Edit/Erase).

3. c) Broaden the collar and the lapel according to your wishes, e.g. 2 cm. Use command Point /Move vertex. Select all the vertices of the collar to be moved simultaneously, M1, M1, M1 …, accept the selection M2, click anywhere on the screen with M1 for the base point of the move, move the mouse and when you are satisfied with the new width of the collar, click again with M1. Do the same with the lapel. Note: when you broaden the collar, you have to lengthen its outer edge, otherwise it does not lie flat on the back. How to do this is explained in Exercise 8.

4. Draw cutting lines for the sleeve (Draw /Line). Be sure to position the ends of the lines outside the sleeve. Cut the sleeve with the cutting line (Edit/Cut) .

5. To alter the sleeve to match the altered armscyes, rotate the sleeve pieces which you cut by the amount that you measured in 3b) = x and y. Use command Edit /Rotate. Select the leftmost piece of the sleeve, M1, accept with M2 and rotate it counter clockwise x cm. Select the point to be rotated about (shown in the picture) and the base point of the rotation (shown in the picture) and type the distance to be rotated from keyboard (= x) and type <Enter>.

Rotate the rightmost piece of the sleeve the same way. Note that the distance to be rotated is now a negative number (=y) as the rotation is to be done clockwise.

6. Finally, draw the new shape of the sleeve along the existing points (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3). If you need to check how the sleeve cap is made of arcs and lines, refer to exercise 1.

Mirroring objects

Exercise 21: Wraparound skirt

wraparo0.gif (1490 bytes)

wraparou.gif (9304 bytes)

1. Run the basic skirt macro (File /Macro, Lskirt.mac). Erase all pieces but the front and the back pieces (Edit /Erase).

2. Mirror the front piece (Edit /Mirror). Choose the command, then select the piece, M1, accept M2 and give the center front line of the skirt as the line to be reflected across. Draw a vertical line (Draw /Line) starting from the dart apex (CtrlF3) down (CtrlF5) and across the hem line as in the picture.

3. Draw the wraparound piece along the existing vertices (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3). Add points to the CF at the waist and at the hem. Align the hem CF vertex with vertex of the inner dart apex as in the picture. Use command Point / AlignX; select first the point according which you want to align (= inner dart apex) and then the point to be aligned (= hem CF point).

Note, that in the side seam from hip to waist there is an arc = the top hip (abdomen) vertex is a round vertex. You can change this vertex to a round vertex afterwards (Point/Round vertex) or you can, when you come to this point, change the polygon tool to the arc mode by opening the polygon menu with M2 and choosing from the menu "Arc(x)". When you have finished the arc, change the polygon tool back to the line mode (M2 … Line).

4. Move the wraparound piece apart from the front piece (Edit /Move) and change the vertex in the hem corner to a round vertex (Point /Round vertex).

Draw the center front line to the wraparound piece (Draw /Line, CtrlF3 and CtrlF5)

Exercise 22: Another wraparound skirt

wraparo2.gif (2493 bytes)Run the Lskirt.mac macro (File /Macro). Erase the lining (Edit Erase). Erase the outer vertices of the back piece zipper and the vent extensions.

1. Mirror front piece using the center front line as the reflection line: Choose command Edit/Mirror. Select the front piece M1, accept M2. Select as the top of the reflecting line the waist point of the CF line, (CtrlF3) M1, and as bottom of the reflecting line the hem point of the CF line, M1 Draw guide circles at the waist and the hem points of the center front line, radius 10 cm (Draw /Circle, CtrlF3).

2. Draw vertical guide lines between the intersections of the 10 cm circles and the waist and the hem. Draw new guide circles at the intersection of front hem and the lines you just drew, radii 3 and 9 cm (Draw /Circle, CtrlF3)

3. a) Draw the right side wrap piece as in the picture, using the existing points of the right side and dart points of the skirt and the intersection of the 9 cm circle with the right vertical guide line. 3. b) Draw the left side wrap piece as in the picture using the existing points of the left side and dart points of the skirt and the intersection of the 3 cm circle and the left vertical guide line.

wraparo3.gif (11808 bytes)

wraparo3.gif (11808 bytes)

Note that in the side seam from hip to waist there is an arc = the top hip (abdomen) point is a round vertex. You can change this vertex to a round vertex afterwards (Point/Round vertex) or you can, when you come to this point, change the polygon tool to the arc mode by opening the polygon menu with M2 and choosing from the menu "Arc(x)". When you have finished the arc, change the polygon tool back to line mode (M2 … Line). When drawing the wrap pieces, be sure to draw one vertex at the waist CF to be able to draw the center line later using this vertex.

Erase all the guide circles (Edit /Erase).

4. Draw 7 cm wide facings at the edges of the wrap pieces: a) Draw a vertical guide line from the top of the front edge of the right side wrap piece as in the picture (Draw/Line, CtrlF3, CtrlF5).

wraparo3.gif (11808 bytes) wraparo3.gif (11808 bytes)

b) Copy this line 7 cm to the right and to the left: use command Edit / Copy, select the line to be copied, M1 and accept, M2. Type as the base point of the move "0,0" <Enter> and as the destination point of the move "7,0" <Enter>. Then select the same line and type as the base point of the move "0,0" <Enter> and as the destination point of the move "-7,0" <Enter>.

c) Draw a help line starting at the intersection of the left line and the hem and from there horizontally (CtrlF5) to and across the edge of the piece as in the picture. Use command Draw / Line, choose as the starting (base) point of the line the intersection of the left line (CtrlF7) and the hem, change to snap to ortho (CtrlF5), move the mouse and click when you have moved across the right side guide line.

Draw similar guide lines for the left wrap piece.

5. Draw wrap pieces with facings along the vertices of the existing wrap pieces and the intersections of the outer vertical line and the horizontal help line (Draw / Poly). Move wrap pieces with facings to a blank place on the screen. Erase the help lines and the wrap pieces without facings (Edit /Erase).

wraparo3.gif (11808 bytes) wraparo3.gif (11808 bytes)

6. Add seam allowances to the wrap pieces (Draw / Seam Allowance). Give as the seam width 4 cm for the hems, 0 cm for the front edges and 1 cm for all other edges of the pieces. Draw center front lines and fold lines for the pieces as in the picture (Draw / Line, CtrlF3).

7. Draw a cutting line on the back piece starting from the dart apex (CtrlF3) and going vertically (CtrlF5) from there to and across the hem line (Draw / Line).

8. Cut the back piece with the cutting line (Edit /Cut). Choose the command, select the object to be cut (= the back piece) M1, accept, M2, and then the object to cut with (= the line), M1, accept, M2. Erase the cutting line (Edit/Erase) and move back pieces apart from each other (Edit / Move).

9. Add seam allowances to the back pieces (Draw / Seam Allowance). Give as the seam width 4 cm for the hems, 0 cm for the center back seam and 1 cm for all other edges of the pieces.

EXERCISE 23 : Mirroring objects to draft facing

1 Clear the screen using the command File/New. Answer “No” when the program asks whether you want to save the file or not.

2 Run the macro Lbodice.mac using the command File/Macro. Accept the default measurements offered by clicking <OK> and <OK> with M1. Zoom the drawing to fill the screen by pressing the <End> key.

3 Erase the back piece and its waist dart as well as the sleeve and its center line with the command Edit/Erase. Select the pieces to be erased one by one, M1, M1, M1, M1 and accept the selection, M2.

4 Zoom the drawing to fill the screen by pressing the <End> key. Choose the command Edit/Mirror. Select the CF piece as the piece to be mirrored, M1, and accept the selection, M2.

5 Choose one end of the mirror line at the CF point of the neck opening, M1, and the other end at the CF point of the hip, M1 (use snap to end point <Ctrl F3> to be exact).

6 Move the mirrored facing piece 4 cm to the left to form a button extension: choose the command Edit/Move, select the facing piece, M1, and accept the selection, M2;

7 Type as the base point of the move, from keyboard, "0,0" <Enter> and as destination point "-4,0" <Enter>.

8 Move the center front points of the center front piece 2 cm to the left: choose the command Point/Move Vertex; select all points on the CF line M1, M1, M1, M1, M1. Accept the selection, M2. Type, from keyboard, the base point of the move as "0,0" <Enter> and the destination of the move as "-2,0" <Enter>.

9 Move corresponding points on the CF line of the facing 2 cm to the right. The command Point/Move Vertex will repeat, so you don’t need to choose it again. Select the CF points of the facing M1, M1, M1, M1, M1 and accept the selection, M2; choose as the base point of the move the CF hem point of the facing, M1, and as the destination point of the move the CF hem point of the CF piece, M1

10 Join the CF piece and the facing: choose the command Edit/Join, select the CF piece with M1, accept with M2; select the facing with M1, and accept with M2.

Using snap

Exercise 24: Drafting facings

Facings are drafted using two Snap modes -- Snap to End Point ( CtrlF3 ) and Snap to Offset ( CtrlF8 ). Snap to End Point is used to draw along the existing points of the original pattern piece (e.g. points 1-6 of the CF facing in the picture) to create the outside edge(s) of the facing, and Snap to Offset is used to draw the points that form the inside edge(s) (e.g. points 7-11 of the CF facing in the picture).

Lets assume that you want to draft facings which are 2" wide. Select the command Draw/Polygon from the main menu. Start by clicking with the left mouse button (M1) on the vertices that are shared with the original pattern piece and the facing (e.g. points 1-6 of the CF-facing in the picture).Use snap to end point CtrlF3.

Then change the snap mode to

Snap to Offset CtrlF8. In this snap mode two distances are asked . If you want to define a vertex which is 2" from a vertex of the original pattern piece and on the line of the original piece (e.g. point number 7 in the CF-facing in the picture e, which is 2" from vertex 6 and on the hem line of the original pattern piece), type as the distances 2 and 0 (or 0 and 2; the order of the distances does not matter) and click <OK>. Move the mouse cursor near point 6. You will notice that you have a choice of 4 vertices which are all 2" from point 6 and on a line (or an extension of the line) forming the original pattern piece. When you move the mouse the cursor blinks as a yellow cross on these 4 points. Choose the point that corresponds to point 7 in the picture.

Points 8-10 are not on a line of the original pattern piece. So you have to change both of the snap distances to 2. To do this, type CtrlF8, enter 2 for both distances, and click <OK>. Now move the mouse cursor upwards from point 7. You will notice that the cursor jumps to a point offset from point 5. Click here to mark point 8. Continue upwards and click to create points 9 and 10. Change the snap distances again to 2 and 0 (type CtrlF8) and click to create point 11.

Now you have finished marking the points, and it's time to close this polygon object. Open the menu for the polygon tool by clicking with the right mouse button (M2). Close the polygon by choosing "Done (closed)" from the menu.

Note that the facings in the drawings above are formed of arcs and lines. In the facing you drew in the preceding steps, however, there are only lines, not arcs. You must now change some of the corners to arcs. In the pictures the arcs have been drawn with red. There are two arcs in the CF facing: 1-2-3 and 9-10-11. In the front armscye facing there are two arcs one after another: 1-2-3 and 3-4-5. The numbers written in red indicate which points should be round points. Use the Round Vertex command on the Point menu to change the appropriate points from corner points to round points.

Alternate method: Rather than going back and converting points after they are drawn, you can also create arcs and round points as you draw the polygon. After you click on the point preceding the round point, change the polygon tool to arc mode by clicking with M2. Choose Arc(x) from the menu and click on the screen where the round point is to be. Then change the polygon tool back to the line mode after clicking on the arc point: open the menu with M2 and choose Line.

Draft other facings correspondingly.

HINT : Why do you want to use a facing for the sleeve cap? In jackets and coats you get a perfectly shaped sleeve heads if you use this kind of a facing at the sleeve cap. Use thick, soft wool fabric for the facing.

When preparing to sew the sleeve to the armscye, set the sleeve and the facing one on top of the other and ease stitch the facing to the sleeve cap. Sew one stitch line through both fabrics using the the longest possible machine stitches. Steam facing well, it will shrink and the sleeve cap is gathered without puckers.

To make the final shaping to the sleeve cap, pull on easestitching in the sleeve cap. Sew the sleeve to the armscye along the easestitching . The facing is fastened simultaneously. Steam the seam allowances of the sleeve cap toward sleeve.

Another way of doing this is to use a bias strip of wool fabric in stead of the facing.

Scaling and resizing the objects

Exercise 25: Patterns for leggings from the basic pants patterns

1. Run the basic pants macro (File /Macro). Give as the cuff circumference the final desired cuff circumference of the leggings, e.g. 28 cm. Remove pockets, waistband, zipper placket, grain lines and the pocket mouth line from the front piece (Edit/Erase).

2. Make a mirror-image copy of the front piece. Use command Edit /Mirror, select the front piece, M1, accept M2, give any vertical line as the line to be reflected against, use snap to ortho if you need (CtrlF5). Erase the original front piece.

Move the mirrored front piece so that it touches the back piece at the hem (Edit /Move, CtrlF3). Choose the command, select the front piece, M1 and accept, M2. Give as the base point of the move the leftmost vertex of the cuff of the front piece, M1 and as the destination point of the move the rightmost vertex of the cuff of the back piece, M1.

Rotate back piece so that it meets the front piece at the hip (Edit /Rotate). The point to be rotated about is the shared vertex of the cuffs, M1, and the base point of the rotation is any point on the screen, M1. Move the mouse and click M1 again when you are satisfied with the distance of the rotation ( the front and the back hips meet).

3. Draft the leggings pattern by "tracing" along the existing points of the front and the back piece (Draw /Poly, CtrlF3). Use F5 to display the existing points. As you draw, skip over the waist darts and the waist side curve at the center front and at the center back. Also, make the curve a little deeper at the thigh and the knee area (deactivate snap CtrlF1 for this). Note, too, that there are arc points in the patterns. These points determine the shapes of curves. You recognize arc points by looking for the green points which do not lie on a line but beside it. When you come to this kind of a point in the drawing, change the polygon tool to the arc mode, (M2 … Arc(x)), click on the arc point, and then change back to the line mode after the arc (M2 … Line). If you find this difficult, you can draw the object with corner points and change the points needed to round points after you have finished drawing the object. (Point /Round vertex).

4. Move the leggings pattern to another place. Remove the original pattern pieces. Draw the grain line for the leggings pattern (Draw /Line). Use snap to midpoint (CtrlF6) to place the line exactly on the midpoints of the waist and the cuff. Hold the mouse still and wait for the cursor to stop moving before you click on the midpoint. (Calculating midpoints while the mouse is moving is a lot of work for your computer's processor, so it may be slow to respond when you are in snap to midpoint mode.) If you find it difficult to keep the cursor in its place, you can - instead of clicking the mouse on the midpoint - accept the point by typing <Enter> with your other hand.

5. Resize the pattern according to the elasticity of the fabric you are going to use (Edit /Resize). Let us assume that your fabric stretches 20 % horizontally and 10 % vertically, then the scaling factors, which the program asks would be x=0.8 and y=0.9. Choose the command, select the object to be resized, M1 and accept, M2. Then type from keyboard "F" for scaling factor. Type in the dialog box "0.8" as the x scaling factor and "0.9" as the y scaling factor and click <OK>.

6. If you want to sew bike shorts, shorten the legs according to your wishes. Draw two circles to use as guides in drawing the cutting lines. If you want the shorts to be 20 cm long from the crotch, use circles with a radius of 20 cm. Position the center points of the circles at the front and back crotch points (Draw /Circle, CtrlF3, M1). Type in "20"<Enter>. Repeat for the second circle. Then draw a line which starts and ends at the intersection of the circle and the leg (Draw /Line, CtrlF7). Deactivate snap to intersection when you don't need it any more. It makes your program very slow (CtrlF1).

7. Then cut the pattern with the line you drew (Edit /Cut). Choose the command, choose the object to be cut, M1, accept M2, and then the object to cut with, M1, accept M2. Erase the circles and the cutting line as well as the lower leg piece (Edit /Erase).

More designs

In the following you have some exercises without specific instructions. Look carefully at the pictures, we are sure you can do these exercises, too. Use as your basic blocks the basic bodice or another macro, according to your wishes. Be certain to have the needed ease in the garment.

Exercises 26 and 27: Two corset tops for evening dresses



 

Exercise 28: A long evening dress and a bolero

evendres.gif (2386 bytes) evendre2.gif (3532 bytes)

evendre3.gif (10407 bytes)

Exercise 29: Drafting a flat collar

flatcoll.gif (5282 bytes)

Exercise 30: A closely fitting evening jacket

Use the jacket minimum ease patterns = 12 cm bust ease as base for this design

evenjack.gif (2939 bytes)

evenjac2.gif (11973 bytes)

Nobody is a born master

If you have not used CAD programs before, you may feel at the beginning that drafting patterns with such a program is clumsy. Sometimes you may think, “This could be done quicker with a pencil and paper.” That might be true - at that time.

After you have learned to use the program, you will notice that PatternMaker is superior to any method of drafting the patterns manually. You can alter the patterns on the screen and print the patterns only when you are satisfied with them. You can easily compare different versions of patterns, print them as miniature patterns and save them for future use.

If you want to alter the patterns drafted by the macros and you have not yet learned how to do it quickly with the editing tools of the program, you can print the patterns out and then make the alterations manually, with a pencil or scissors, before you cut the patterns.

Now you have learned the program and will be able draft any kind of patterns for yourself or for your friends, or if you are in a line for business, for your customers. Only your own imagination and creativity set limits for you.

There is no sense - nowadays - to draft the basic patterns manually. It is pure mathematics and can well be done by a machine. You should concentrate on things that the machine cannot do: creating fashion patterns and your own designs. If you feel you want to learn more, just wait. In the near future we shall launch the advanced lessons with at least 20 design exercises. With these new lessons you'll not only learn to use PatternMaker even more effectively but also a lot of design techniques.




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