Whether you want to manufacture active wear or start your own bikini and swimwear line, one crucial aspect to consider is pattern making. Patterns are the foundation of any clothing design, and mastering the art of pattern making is essential for creating well-fitted and stylish garments. Here are 9 things you need to know about pattern making as you develop your fashion line.

1. Understand the Basics of Pattern Making

Pattern making is the process of creating a paper or digital template that serves as a blueprint for a garment's construction. A pattern maker must have a good understanding of different body shapes, sizes, and proportions, as well as garment construction techniques. Pattern makers typically use flat pattern making or draping techniques to create patterns. This is where you can let your creative side take the rein and let it go absolutely wild, experimenting with different shapes, textures, and colors.

2. Take Accurate Measurements

To create well-fitted garments, it’s essential to take accurate body measurements. A pattern maker must understand how to accurately measure various body parts, such as the chest, waist, hips, and arms. Accurate measurements ensure that the pattern fits the body well and that the garment is comfortable to wear because, let’s be honest, no one enjoys wearing clothes that restrict their body movements.

3. Use the Right Tools and Materials

You will need the right tools and materials to create equally accurate and top-notch patterns. These may include a pattern-making ruler, curve, and French curve. You will also need pattern paper, muslin fabric, scissors, and a sewing machine. It’s essential to invest in high-quality tools and materials to ensure accurate and precise patterns, or your design may turn out to be sloppy. Investment in your fashion line starts here.

4. Grade Patterns

Pattern grading refers to the process where the creative head creates different pattern sizes. It allows you to offer your clothing line in various sizes, ensuring that your garments fit a broader range of customers and are sustainable and body inclusive. It’s tough to grade patterns without compromising on the design and requires the help of experts.

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5. Create a Prototype

Before creating the final garment, it’s essential to create a prototype using muslin fabric or another inexpensive material. The sampling of a garment pre-production allows you to test the pattern's fit and make any necessary adjustments before sending the garment for mass production. This step is essential, as it ensures that not only fabric waste remains minimal, but financial loss keeps at bay by not sending the wrong garment for production.

6. Consider Seam Allowance

When creating patterns, it’s crucial to consider seam allowance. Seam allowance is the extra fabric added to the edges of a pattern to allow for sewing. It’s common knowledge that people have different body shapes and proportions, even if they appear similar. Including seam allowance in your garment ensures that a fit can be customized for an individual.

7. Keep the Design in Mind

While creating patterns, it’s crucial to keep the design in mind. The pattern maker must ensure that the pattern accurately reflects the designer's vision and isn’t a rip-off of some other creative’s design. Customers love uniqueness, and every brand must strive to create something of its own, that helps them stand out from the competitors. However, the unique aspect must not compromise the garment's functionality or comfort.

8. Be Open to Feedback

Usually, criticism sucks, but as long as it’s constructive, it may help you flourish as a brand. One must understand that creating patterns means collaborating with other creatives and taking their concerns into consideration. Manufacturers, seamstresses, and models might give you just the input you need to make your clothing line stand out, so be open to their feedback and try to converge it with your vision.

9. Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice may not make you perfect, but it will make you better at your art. Like any skill, pattern making requires practice. Honing your skills and polishing them ensures you put a better design and an exclusive product out there each time. It also lets your customers observe that every collection you offer seems to be better than the one that came before.

Growth lures customers in, so practice your pattern making skills as much as you can. It’s essential to keep practicing and refining your skills to create high-quality patterns. Consider taking classes or workshops to learn new techniques and stay up-to-date with industry trends.

Pattern making is a crucial aspect of developing a fashion line. A well-fitted and stylish garment begins with an accurate and precise pattern. With Lefty Production Co., you get the best of both worlds; clothing manufacturers that offer garment sampling pre-production and minimal costs. Whether you want to start your own line of children’s clothing or design something for menswear, we’re your dream partners and apparel manufacturers in Los Angeles.

Give us a call and book an appointment to discuss your clothing line needs today!

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