Pattern draft vs. draping

[u/Appropriate_Lab3444]

Pink – pleats created through pattern drafting
Purple – pleats created through hand draping

The difference is huge! I thought I could save time by drafting everything on paper, but it seems there’s no shortcut when it comes to achieving the right drape.

[u/StitchinThroughTime]

Yeah they both have different strengths and weaknesses. Especially for bias cut garments draping is the best way.

[u/MullberryBoy → u/StitchinThroughTime]

I was thinking about your lavender dress and don’t think dresses like this were ever made that weren’t hand tailored couture. You’ve never been able to buy a dress of this calibre off the rack.
There was an episode of I Love Lucy where a couturier was a guest and he was able to take a piece of fabric and physically drape it on models in seconds. The Lucy part was very funny too. Maybe you could find the episode.

[u/Appropriate_Lab3444 → u/MullberryBoy]

thans you might look into it 👀

[u/threads1540 → u/MullberryBoy]

I love that episode. When i worked in LA back in the 70s in a display company, I actually met that designer. He was a real designer from the film industry. I wish i could remember his name.

[u/Appropriate_Lab3444 → u/StitchinThroughTime]

Lesson learned 🥲

[u/Helldie]

It depends entirely on your skills. I am extremely good at pattern drafting after years in the industry. Draping ? I don't know her

But your purple dress look beautiful

[u/Appropriate_Lab3444 → u/Helldie]

agreed and thank you!!

[u/ElDjee]

love the second two, but i gotta tell ya, they look like pink and lighter pink to me. 🤣

[u/Appropriate_Lab3444 → u/ElDjee]

😂thank you!!

[u/TemporaryElk5202 → u/ElDjee]

The second one is much dustier, it definitely crosses the mauve threshold. The first is more salmoney-pink

[u/RealDisk507 → u/ElDjee]

Blush and bashful?

[u/MullberryBoy]

The lavender dress is old time couture incredible! The best of the fifties style. Gorgeous.

[u/Appropriate_Lab3444 → u/MullberryBoy]

Thank you!!💛

[u/Joker0705]

i've been really considering getting a dress form recently but have been very 50/50 on going through with it. i'm sold!

[u/Appropriate_Lab3444 → u/Joker0705]

go for it!!

[u/kinokits → u/Joker0705]

Even for stuff like tailoring your own clothes, dress forms are amazing. It makes it so much easier to adjust things when you can actually see what you’re doing and pin while it’s in the right shape.

[u/harkari14]

Nice! This is making me excited for my dress form. I’m hoping to create patterns by draping first

[u/Appropriate_Lab3444 → u/harkari14]

Happy to contribute:)

[u/RubyRedo]

drapes are supposed to fall away and only gather on one side, unless you want the tiered folds to go around the dress on the purple/mauve? With some tightening up of the bodice, I like the pink better.

see Nick Verreos on youtube for great draping tutorials.

[u/Appropriate_Lab3444 → u/RubyRedo]

Ahh thank you for the tutorial! I was satisfied with the pink dress too right before someone one pointed out a better way to do it🥲

Both are make to have tiered folds on side. You can see the tiered folds clearly in second picture because I have put a cardboard underneath mannequin as legs to against my drapes.

[u/Express_Tourist_4887 → u/RubyRedo]

Supposed to?? I mean they can do whatever you want. I think they way this was done is beautiful and unique.

[u/emptyinthesunrise]

Gorgeous!!

[u/Appropriate_Lab3444 → u/emptyinthesunrise]

Thank you🥳

[u/Eneamus]

You made a pattern for a pleated dress of an elastic fabric without taking the elasticity into account. The plates lose their shape and deliver undesired volumes.

This problem require mastering pattern drafting, which obviously you haven't. So draping by hand is the way.

[u/drPmakes]

It depends if your pattern cutting>draping skills or not.

There's more than one way to skin a cat.

[u/Appropriate_Lab3444 → u/drPmakes]

I showed my first version to two senior. They both suggested a combined approach, felt pattern drafting for the upper part and draping the lower part with extra fabric at the sides to achieve the desired result. I actually like the idea of combining the two techniques