Fitting in Quarter Scale

These patterns are designed to show the shape of a body. Once the fit is confirmed they can be used to create Mini-Mes in quarter, third, half scale or full Body Doubles. They can also be used to create Master Patterns for creating different designs.

An easy way to do a preliminary check on how accurate they are is to cut the patterns out of poster board, tape them together, and hold them in front of the quarter scale photos. You can verify that the poster board patterns match the shape of the photographs by moving them back and forth a little. If there are locations where they do not match, the poster board can be adjusted and the patterns revised.

Contents

Prepare the Patterns

The patterns are created for half the front and half the back so that the results of the poster board trial fitting will be symetrical. The patterns need to be changed to full front and back patterns for the poster board. This is unless the patterns have been developed specifically for an assymetrical body.

There are two ways to create the poster board for the trial fitting using the full front and full back shapes.

1. Use a desktop printer to print the patterns on full sheet shipping label paper. This can then be applied to the poster board and cut with scissors.
2. If you have access to one of Silhouette America's print-and-cut equipment, the patterns can be prepared to both print and cut using the Studio software.

The photos above show the equipment and material used in the video. It includes the Portrait 3 print-and-cut equipment, the cutting mat with poster board applied, an auto cut blade, and the pen.

One auto blade should be designated for cutting paper and one for cutting fabric just as scissors are used for hand sewing tasks. The pens are stored with caps on to prevent the ink from drying out. The cap needs to be removed and the pen placed in a holder as shown.

Verify the Fit

For a preliminary check on the patterns follow these steps.
1. Tape together the darts and side seams of the poster board.
2. If you are using the Studio program, set the software's zoom menu to 100%:
   View > Zoom > 100%.
3. Hold the upper torso of the poster board up to the front, side, back, and side with arm raised quarter-scale photos.
4. Hold the lower torso of the poster board up to the front, side, back, and side with arm raised quarter-scale photos.

As you are doing this, move the poster board torsos back and forth to view the shaping from different perspectives. This will not be as accurate as comparing a quarter-scale Mini-Me to a photo because of the additional pieces that are used for a complete Mini-Me. But it should indicate any major areas of the patterns that need to be adjusted before a full-size fitting shell is made in fabric.

See Also in the CAPD Classes

• Basics ► Print & Cut Process
• Lines   ► Selecting Lines
• Lines   ► Line Appearance
• Lines   ► Viewing
• Lines   ► Grouping
• Design ► Mirror
• Design ► Rotate
• Design ► Duplicate
• Design Index