Design Lesson II

 

The last time we discussed how to design different styles of clothing with squares and rectangles.  If you can make an afghan or a dishcloth, then you can design and make a sweater. Below you will see some of the other shapes that result in stylish designs.  Study them, choose a layout, and then go back to Design Lesson I and do your math.  Once you have planned your design and finished your pattern pieces, you simply join them together and do some edging. Voila! You’re done!

The Simplest Design of All

 

The above layout is for a sleeveless jacket or vest.  You can see that you simply make a large rectangle to your measurements and then leave two slits open for armholes.  The top of the jacket will fold over as a large cowl.  This design is very flattering and various types of yarns can give many different effects.  I made the Draped Sleeveless Jacket using this layout.

Another Simple Design

 

In the above drawing you will note that the basic rectangle has been changed somewhat to include cutouts for the neck area. Once you have finished your pattern pieces, you can either make a rounded neck by working decreases at the corners when you do your trim or keep the neck square.  You can also add a cowl collar which is what I did when I used this layout for my Envy Sweater.

Envy Sweater

 

Other Popular Layouts

        

                                                                                                           

My Favorite Design

 

This side-to-side cardigan is a composite of my own design and a commercial pattern. But the layout is simple and one that I have used over and over again. You can work it in an airy open stitch as in the above photo or you can use a denser stitch and make a winter jacket.  By simply adding a collar and cuffs you can change it into a coat.

 

I hope that I’ve given you some good ideas. Please let me know if you are going to try one of these layouts.  I’ll be happy to help with the math and any other problems you might encounter.  Next lesson, we will explore some ways of shaping your garment to make it a little more fitted.

 

Let’s talk About How to Design Clothing

Some of the questions and comments I receive on my blog concern the fact that I always make my patterns up in only one size.  Frequently readers would like to know how to resize the pattern to fit themselves.  Designing a pattern for a particular size is not a subject that can be dealt with in a few sentences.  I thought it might be fun to begin an ongoing discussion of how the design process works.  We can begin with a very simple pattern and gradually address the design techniques that make for a better fit.

I will warn you now, if you are averse to doing a little simple math or making a few swatches, the design process is not for you!  On the other hand, if you think that you can use a calculater as well as anyone and wouldn’t mind spending a TV evening working on some swatches for gauge then you’ve come to the right place.  I’ll go over all the tricks that I wish someone had told me when I started to design my own sweaters by trial and error. 

It’s really not that hard.  In fact, you can make it as easy as you please.  Simply choose a plain stitch and a garment made of rectangles and you are on your way!  So how about it? Let’s start designing!  I’ll begin with some basics and move to the more complicated processes.  If you would like to keep track of these lesson, you may do a search for Design Lesson.  Just give me a few days to prepare my first lesson before you “click” on the above link!