Credit Points: 22.5
Study Time: 225 Hours

The production of a pattern is crucial to the garment-making process. It is essential that design skills are developed alongside the technical ability to realise them.

This unit explores creative design through the development of pattern cutting and construction skills and techniques. It will form the basis of an introduction to pattern and garment making. The principles of flat-pattern making are demonstrated through the use of „basic master blocks‟ as a way of developing awareness of procedures used in the fashion industry.

Workshop sessions will introduce you to various pattern cutting and construction techniques, including darts, openings, facings, collars and sleeves. It will also give the opportunity to produce finished toiles demonstrating skills and techniques learnt.

Outline syllabus
An indicative guide to the content covered by this unit. 

• Induction to production facilities and demonstration of machinery 
• Sewing skills exercises with attention to finishes 
• Introduction to measurements, the importance of the dress stand and the toiling process 
• Pattern construction and basic blocks introduction with dart manipulation exercises including fifth scale 
• Basic block adaptations with an introduction to openings, facings, collars, sleeves, skirts and trousers 
• Sewing exercises including seams, bodice construction, zip insertion and finishing techniques 
• Production of finished toiles

Method of delivery
Technical demonstrations, tutorials, production workshops.

Aims

A1 To provide the opportunity of working with industrial machinery and production room facilities, within health and safety regulations.
A2 To encourage development of your technical skills.
A3 To develop basic pattern-cutting techniques and be able to use these in a creative context.
A4 To emphasise the significance of pattern-cutting in relation to fabric and the design process.
A5 To explore the relationship between design development and construction techniques using two-dimensional and three-dimensional methods.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit you will be able to:

LO1 Demonstrate your ability to use machinery and equipment within the context of relevant health and safety regulations.
LO2 Develop the technical process.
LO3 Demonstrate a technical ability necessary to produce personal and original solutions.
LO4 Utilise the characteristics of materials, processes and technology to inform fashion design solutions.
LO5 Utilise demonstrated and self-developed techniques innovatively in the realisation of a pattern/toile.

Reference material

Key
Aldrich, W. (1996). Fabric form and flat pattern cutting. Oxford: Blackwell Science
Aldrich, W. (2004). Metric pattern cutting. 4th edition. Oxford: Blackwell Science
Stanley, H. (1991). Flat pattern cutting and modelling. Cheltenham: Stanley Thornes

Recommended
Aldrich, W. (1996). Metric pattern cutting for menswear. Oxford: Blackwell Science
Shoben, M. and Ward, J. (1987). Pattern cutting and making up: the professional approach. Butterworth-Heinemann.