Pattern Cutting Exercise

Designing a shift dress with displaced seams and darts



Front View

Today in my pattern cutting class we had to displace the seams and darts in a simple shift dress. I had already drawn off the shift dress block pattern onto fabric, poly cotton, and sewn it together in preparation for the lesson so started the lesson by placing my toille on the stand and initially drawing the toille onto a piece of paper and playing with a few guidelines to start me off.

I ended up with the views below.




Back View

I found the process very interesting, deciding where to place the lines so that the pattern will lay flat without too much manipulation later on. I like the way there is a balance of straight lines and curves. I like the ideas of maybe using these lines to add 3D panels that maybe jut out at you. Or maybe add layers or use this in combination with origami ideas to produce a new idea. Maybe also this could be used to develop a woven effect with layers overlapping each other and then rejoining the seams.

Next I will need to ensure that my pattern actually works by converting to a flat pattern on paper and then reproducing the garment in fabric not forgetting seam allowances and notches and making it fully lined with fastenings