Pattern Making - Basic Tools

Hi guys! This post is going to be more like an informative one. I am going to be talking about pattern making tools used for fashion designing. Lets get started!

Here is a list of some tools that we use for pattern making-

1. Ruler

2. L Scale

3. French Curve

4. Hip Curve

5. Grading Scale

6. Tracing Wheel

7. Pattern Paper

1. Ruler

A straight metal ruler of 24 inches is used for pattern making. It makes drawing long straight lines easier because of its length.

2. L Scale

It is also called a triscale or and is made of wood or steel. L-scale has one arm, which measures 12″ and the other is 24″. Basically used for drafting on brown paper to draw perpendicular lines. L – scale is one of the basic of the pattern drafting rulers. This ruler helps to draw accurate 90° angles and straight edges. It measures, rules, and squares jointly.

3. French Curve

French curve is made of transparent plastic. It helps in marking shapes of the neck, depth of sides and garments bottom. Essential tool for perfect shaping armholes, necklines, and collars.

4. Hip Curve

The hip curve is a tool for making pattern as well as fitting adjustments at hip line. The tool is also great for making adjustments at the elbow, for lapels and at the hemline. Anywhere a slight curve is needed, this is the best ruler to use.

5. Grading Scale

Grading scales are made of strong clear plastic and have a grid across the whole ruler making it easy to accurately mark seam allowance. Clear grid rulers are great for marking seam allowance on straight edges where you can get a completely parallel line. They are also ideal tools for grading patterns, hence they are often referred to as grading rulers.

6. Tracing Wheel

It may look a little intimidating, or even like a weapon, but fear not! The tracing wheel is a basic sewing tool that will become one of the most useful items in your sewing basket when it comes to pattern making.

A tracing wheel is a pattern making tool with little spikes or teeth, that allows you to transfer information from one surface to the next by tracing and making perforations

7. Pattern Paper

Pattern Paper is paper that is used for creating patterns. It can be used for creating patterns from scratch or even tracing existing patterns to preserve the original pattern.

These were some of the basic tools with their uses that can be seen in the design process.

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References

Gaurav, K. (2022) Pattern Making Tools, Academia.edu. Available at: https://www.academia.edu/38734642/Pattern_Making_Tools (Accessed: 4 June 2022).

Rulers, P. and Uses, P. (2019) Pattern Drafting Tools and their Uses - Metro Rulers, Metro Rulers. Available at: https://www.metrorulers.com/pattern-making-tools/ (Accessed: 4 June 2022).

What Is A Tracing Wheel And How To Use It In Sewing/Pattern-Making (2022). Available at: https://www.doinaalexei.com/beginnersewingtutorialblog/what-is-a-tracing-wheel-and-how-to-use-it-in-sewingpattern-making (Accessed: 4 June 2022).

The Best Paper For Pattern Making (2020). Available at: https://craftysewingsew.co.uk/the-best-paper-for-pattern-making/#:~:text=Pattern%20Paper%20is%20paper%20that,to%20preserve%20the%20original%20pattern. (Accessed: 4 June 2022).