Tools and Equipment for Making Patterns

A student should aim to acquire a good set of equipment. However, some items are very expensive. The items marked with an asterisk denote those that are not essential immediately.

Working Surface:

A flat working surface is required. However, a tracing wheel will mark any polished or laminated top therefore some protection must be given to this type of surface.

Paper:

Strong brown paper is used for patterns. Parchment or thin card should be used for blocks that are used frequently.

Pencils:

Use hard pencils for drafting patterns (2H). Colored pencils are useful for outlining complicated areas.

Fiber Pens:

These are required for writing clear instructions on patterns.

Rubber:

Metric Ruler

Curved Rules

These are used for drawing long curves.

Meter Stick:

Set Square      A large setsquare with a 45° angle is very useful; metric grading squares can be obtained.

Metric Tape Measure

Tracing Wheel:

Shears             Use separate shears for cutting cloth and paper as cutting paper will blunt the blades.

Sell tape:

Pins

One-quarter, One-fifth Scale Squares. These are essential for students to record pattern blocks and adaptation in their notebooks.

Stanley Knife:

Tailors Chalk             This is used for marking out the final pattern onto the cloth and for marking alternations on the garment when it is being fitted.

Toile Fabrics:

Calico is used for marking toile’s for designs in woven fabrics. Marks sure the weight of the calico is as close to the weight of the cloth as possible. Knitted fabric must be used for making toile’s for designs in jersey fabrics; the toile fabric should have the same stretch quality.

Metric Square:

This does not have to be the more expensive graduated tailor’s square based on a chest scale. The system in this book is based on a range of standard body measurements so the graduated square is of limited use.

Calculator:

The calculator is now a common tool in all areas of skill; it eliminates the hard work of calculating proportions and is accurate. If a calculator is not available use the table of aliquot parts

French Curves:

Plastic shapes and curves are available in a range of sizes; they are useful for drawing good curves. A flexi curve, which allows a shape to be manipulated, is also available.

Pattern Notcher

This is a tool, which marks balance points by snipping out a section of pattern paper.

Pattern Punch

Pattern Hooks

Pattern Weights

These keep pieces of pattern in position on paper or cloth.

Model Stands

Although not essential for a beginner, they are invaluable to the serious student for developing designs.

Computer Equipment

A description of computer equipment can be found