Tools: Pattern Making.

Have been working on a few new ideas as of late and it involves building new patterns and testing them out by sewing samples out of cheep fabric, in our case muslin. Since the building of things need and use tools thought it would be fun to share with you the tools that are used in building patterns and samples. So here we go:
(a) Tailors Shears: used to cut out the fabric for the samples. "Mr.Ray" loves these shears.
(b) Pattern Shears: used to cut the pattern out of the pattern paper. These "Mr.Ray" got while attending fashion design school.
(c) Clear Tape: used for all sorts of things but in this case mostly to hold cut pieces together when correcting or changing the paper pattern.
(d) Razor Blade: used for detailed cutting and to rip seams of samples when they need to be take apart for corrections or changes. "Mr.Ray" learned to use blades to rip seams and remove buttons when he was working in the alterations department at a department store. Very helpful.
(e) Drafting Mechanical Pencil: used to draw out the pattern shape on paper and to sketch out ideas and designs when they come. This one has a great balanced weight to it, makes drawing even more fun.
(f) Red Felt Tipped Marker: used to make corrections and final lines on the pattern paper.
(g) An Awl: used to make marking holes in the pattern and to help "walk" the pattern pieces, such as the arm hole and sleeve, to make sure they will work before cutting out the pieces in fabric.
(h) French Curve: used to make nice smooth arcs and curves, like armholes and neck openings. Very handy little tool.
(i) Hip Curve Ruler: used like the french curve to make curves but more for things like hip shapes and other gradual curves.
(j) Clear Plastic Ruler, 2"Wide x 18"Length: this is very handy and used all of the time for taking measurements and cause it is clear it has so many more functions that are very helpful.
(k)Yard Stick: long and straight lines come from the use of this handy tool.

Hope you enjoyed a little insight into what is used to make a pattern by hand.

Cheers,
'Mr.Ray'
& the Littlecrow Family.