Designing from Master Patterns

Once you have a Master Pattern that fits, an unlimited number of designs can be created using the Master Patterns as a base. There are three ways to do this.


Design on a Pattern		Design on Photo of Person		Copy Design from Internet

For the second and third options once the Design Lines have been drawn, they are transferred to a copy of the Master Patterns. If the Design Lines are to be drawn over the photo from the Internet, the photo should be graded to the proportions of the quarter-scale photo of the person the patterns are being made for.

This process illustrates that photos of the front and back are the "canvases" for a design. The side of the design is the "frame" that controls the fit and holds the "canvases" in place.

Two examples for creating a design are illustrated here. One shows how to create a vest suitable for either men or women by changing the external lines for the outline of the garment and internal lines for the fit. The other example shows the changes required to make a skirt with a contoured waistband that illustrates how to add fullness to a garment.

There are instructions showing how to change a Master Pattern to other designs in Fashion & Costume Design in Quarter Scale on pages 163 through 173. There are step-by-step instructions showing how to change Master Patterns to a variety of different designs for both men and women in How to Make Sewing Patterns on pages 83 through 160. This book also includes instructions for creating collars, sleeves, and pants.

Larger Image

A prototype of the design can be created for a quarter-scale Mini-Me in the fabric to be used. This approach allows you to preview the design in three dimensions so you can adjust the design, fit, choice of fabric, sewing techniques, etc.

This is currently a work-in-progress.

Vest for
Men or Women

Contoured Waistband Skirt

A Note on Copyright Law The process of copying the design of a garment someone else has created does not violate Copyright law. The Copyright law does not include protection for copyrighting a garment design. This is why some companies use logos to protect the products they create because logos can be protected under Trademark law.

The Copyright law does protect photographs. The photos included here fall under the Fair Use clause which allows photographs to be used for non-profit, instructional purposes without permission from the copyright holder.

Tracing Photos ► Week Eight