Sues Tiny Costumes Tutorials » Tips & Tricks

Computerizing your pattern drafting

sued — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 18:25:42 +0000

There are several vector graphics programs out that will work to draft patterns on screen. Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw are two of the common ones available commercially. Inkscape is an open source free alternative that can also do the job it just depends on your skills and budget.

Personally I use Corel Draw and have since version 4. Corel Draw has come a long way since then and I’m currently using version 12 which I love and fits my budget. The newer versions I’m sure have more bells and whistles but I only need a few tools.

Plain lines

Plain curves

Bezier curves

Shapes variety

Contours

Line thickness

Measurement tools

Node edits

Zoom

Layers

Colors

PDF file formatting

Text both art and paragraph

I’ll go into some of these tools in more depth soon. Illustrator and Inkscape have these common tools as well and there are likely other vector programs that I don’t know about. If you have a favorite drop me a line in the comments below.

Quick & easy tip

sued — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 22:34:21 +0000

Sewing on buttons, hooks & snaps can be tricky and if not done right can look horrible after a while. Threads has a great tutorial resource that gives great tips for beautiful hooks, snaps and buttons! I just had to share it as it applies to all kinds of sewing not just dolls!

French Curves for Dolls

sued — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:26:07 +0000

Ever wondered where to get small pattern drafting tools suitable for doll clothes pattern making? You can find a French Curve Set fairly easily actually. After some quick looking

around I found a great set that works not only for dolls but if you sew for yourself can actually come in handy for drafting full size patterns as well!

Why would you want a curve set when found items work just as well? I have found that you can get better results with the smooth edges of an actual French Curve Set versus using a plate, plastic tape dispenser, the curve of your mouse, various coins, jars and other interesting oddities. With a set like this one or more of the curves is very likely to fit what you need and it’s easy to use them to quickly draw the line smoothly. Over time I’ve bought each curve individually and wish I could have found a set like this before now!

This is one of those indispensable items for the doll nut who loves to design and draft or just alter patterns for dolls!

Pattern Drafting Crash Course – Tips & Tricks for Pattern Construction

sued — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:00:03 +0000

Here are some suggestions for some common items that can make drafting and sewing for smaller dolls easier!

Dryer sheet– can be used for any spot that requires interfacing of sorts as in collars and cuffs but should not be used for the entire garment. I have tried it several times and cutting it away sometimes ends in holes in the actual garment no matter how careful I am.

Tear away stabilizer– this is useful for china silk that is slightly heavy yet still slippery. The bad thing is that tearing it away sometimes will distort the stitching and fabric.

Water Soluble stabilizer— my latest discovery! This stuff is easy to use simply trace the pieces to the stabilizer and construct the garment. When ready to get rid of the stabilizer simply dunk in cold water and it all dissolves like magic leaving soft silk in it’s place. It is also handy to use in bodice construction as when you turn bodices sometimes pointy or even dull tools can poke through the fabric the stabilizer helps to prevent this thus avoiding the ruin of a lot of work! So far I haven’t found a downside to this yet.

The 2 stabilizers mentioned above are available in the machine embroidery section of any sewing or craft store and are usually very light weight. My current packages of both the Tear Away and the Water Soluable (Solvy) are by Sulky. No I do not sell the items mentioned I just use it and love it!

Machine basting patterns to fabric is a lot of work. I’ve found that hand basting is faster and less of a hassle as you do not have to pin the pieces to the fabric first. Slightly larger stitches are ok for this too as you want to be able to see to take them out later!

Best tools I’ve found so far are crochet hooks. A size 5 crochet hook has a blunt butt end that is smaller than a bodkin which is useful also but the crochet hook also has a rounded end by the hook that is great for getting bodice pieces to turn nicely too. This is especially important for half inch scale bodices!

Got small kids in the house? I do! Mischief makers both. Now being that I sew and do it A LOT I use needles and pins…. standard pin cushions don’t babyproof enough to suit me. My solution is to take the nice childproof prescription medicine bottles and put pins and needles in those. I have a nice fat one for pins and several skinny ones for various types of needles including sewing machine needles. This makes good storage…. and the kids can’t get into them!

Alternate to ribbon for measuring small dolls accurately is a twist tie.To measure simply place one end at the starting point and the other end you bend then measure the tiny portion before the bend against an accurate ruler.

Dressmaker’s Ham Pattern (pressing aid) – originally on Perfect Patterns but not on the current site it’s on an old page.

Sues Tiny Costumes Tutorials » Tips & Tricks

Computerizing your pattern drafting

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Quick & easy tip

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French Curves for Dolls

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Pattern Drafting Crash Course – Tips & Tricks for Pattern Construction

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