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!