Sew Craftful ✂

Drafting
Pattern drafting uses comprehensive body measurements and charts to establish desired pattern lines. It’s considered the most difficult of the three design methods to learn because of the time required to complete a draft and the absolute necessity of many precise measurements.

The American Designer and Cutter, written by Saul Schorr in 1915, is one such drafting system.

Draping
Draping involves actually “draping” fabric onto a dress form or human to achieve desired design effects. Said to be for the extremely talented due to the high level of perfection and time required, its greatest advantage is the level of creativity the method affords to the designer.

Flat Pattern Design
Flat pattern uses a fitted basic pattern as the basis for making other patterns.

Unlike draping, flat pattern design doesn’t require a dress form.  It’s also the easiest of the three methods to learn which is why it’s a great beginning point for the design beginner.

She visits thrifts, charities, auctions and estate sells regularly-everyday and more than everyday.

Above everything else she’ll feed her habit.  She’ll skip breakfast, lunch and dinner for a day or two just to save up enough money to purchase that one special something she’s watched for the last two or three days on her favorite website.

Money is no object.

She’s not into sharing or lending.  Instead she hoards, stores and covets; ensuring a steady supply is on hand to look at, to dream about and to create as much as and as ofter as her heart desires.

She can’t stop. She’ll do things she normally would not to feed her habit; like staying up all night browsing and going into work late the next morning.

She doesn’t mind getting down and dirty: digging, dusting and rummaging in unlikely places: old cabinets, forgotten drawers, ratty mildew boxes and dark smelly old basements.

These are the signs and symptoms of vintage pattern addiction.

Does she need intervention?

Nope.  There’s no cure.  The only relief is feeding the addiction.

The Commercial Pattern Archive, is an online collection of dressmaker pattern data and images from the US, Canada and the UK dating back as early as 1868. The archive organization, also an official project of Save America’s Treasures, is dedicated to identifying and rescuing enduring symbols of American tradition.  It is also supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the United States Institute for Theater Technology Edward F. Kook Endowment.

When you have a jones visit for relief.