How Pattern Design Software Inspires Innovation Outside your Closet

Most people are familiar with the possibility of using a computer to create clothing patterns. Certainly, our Garment Designer users have shown a myriad of creative projects which we witness in our Toast and Boast get-togethers, as well as online through social media.

But what if the power of pattern making software and specifically, Garment Designer could be harnessed to make more than just clothing? What if our software designed for fashion could be the secret ingredient in creating a world of bespoke items and innovative designs outside the wardrobe?

Let’s explore how Garment Designer can be repurposed to craft items from home décor to accessories, toys, and even ceramics.

The Foundations: What Is a Garment Designer Pattern Making Software?

Before we wander outside the closet, let’s clarify what Garment Designer can do. The program (Mac or Windows) allows you to create patterns tailored to your personal measurements. You can input measurements, manipulate shapes, visualize seams and hems, and output precise patterns for cutting fabric.

Garment Designer offers:

• An intuitive visual user interface
• The ability to use your own measurements or your closest standard size from Ready-to-Wear
• Numerous style options for tops, dresses, pants, and skirts
• Tools for creating and modifying curves and lines through a click-and-drag process
• The ability to print your pattern on a home printer, or save it as a pdf to take to an outside printing service

This combination of features means that Garment Designer doesn’t just help you make clothes—it allows you to create 3D results. And herein lies its great versatility. Now to explore… what else can we do?

Accessories: Bags, Hats, and Beyond

Fashion isn’t limited to what you wear on your body in terms of Tops and Bottoms. Accessory items often have complex shapes and functions, making precise patterning essential.

• Bags and Purses: From tote bags to purses with multiple compartments, Garment Designer allows you to design each panel, pocket, and strap with accuracy. Combine curves and straight lines, add seam allowances. Cochenille even offers an optional add-on to Garment Designer called Couture Totes. This includes twelve tote bags which are styled after fashion clothing. On their own they are great, but you can also use them as starting points for your own version of the style.
  

• Hats: Some hats are quite simple to construct. A beret, for example, can be composed or two circles and a rectangle. Other hat styles might require a bit more work, as in the case of a barrel hat, but Garment Designer’s Edging feature in the Extra’s menu allows you to create gathered bands, or flared pieces, both of which suit the components of hats.
  

• Bracelets: Bracelets are fun to make with Garment Designer. Essentially, all you need is a long shape like a rectangle or triangle that can be wrapped around your wrist.

Cooking it Up! Custom Potholders and Aprons

• Potholders – Why not make quick potholders for friends and family this year? The clam-style potholder couldn’t be simpler. Combine one full and one partial oval… using fun fabric and with a little quilting and binding you can create multiples quickly.

• Aprons for the family are another fun project for gift-giving or simply for utility. You can make one apron style in multiple sizes (including dolls!)

Home Decor

When you think of sewing for the home, pillowcases, curtains, and tablecloths may spring to mind. But pattern making programs can help you take home décor to a new level, enabling you to design tailored solutions for your space.

• Bespoke Cushions and Upholstery: Whether your sofa is an odd shape or you want cushions that fit perfectly into your bay window, Garment Designer can assist you to cushions, upholstered items, and even functional utility caddies.  See an earlier blog entry which goes into detail on how to create this tool caddy and provides a free pattern.

• Ceramics – that are hand-built can easily utilize a pattern template. Envision the actual scale and proportions prior to cutting the clay pieces. Read more about this in our past blog entry.

Toys for the Little Ones..

Pattern making is a secret weapon in the world of DIY toys.

• Plushies and Soft Toys: Why not make a stuffed toy for a little one in your life. Build the body, head, and limbs, and enjoy embellishing your toy with whimsie.

The Process: Tips for Moving Beyond Clothing

If you’re ready to unlock this new power of your Garment Designer pattern making program, here are some tips:

• Think in Shapes, Not Just Garments: Break down the item you want to create into simple geometric forms—rectangles, squares, circles, triangles, etc. The same principles that shape a sleeve or top can build a tote bag.
• Determine where the ‘straights and curves’ are in your desired piece, then seek a garment style or generic shape in Garment Designer that has those straights and curves in the right place.
• Work out the dimensions of your pieces with a quick drawing/schematic. This little bit of forethought may save a second round of re-do.
• Then… build in Garment Designer.

Do you need more rectangles?

Garment Designer has generic shapes such as circles, rectangles, and triangles, but some projects require a lot of pieces, so if you are in need of more rectangles… here is a trick. You can turn the body of a garment into a rectangle using the following style combination:

• Sleeve Style: Drop Shoulder
• Shoulder: Straight
• Neck Group: Boat>Standard
• Now use a sleeve that is a straight sleeve… you have more rectangles

Conclusion: Creativity Without Limits

Garment Designer offers much more that a tools for creating clothing. You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to expanding to items beyond the closet. Give it a try!

~~ by Susan Lazear
Creative Director of Cochenille Design Studio

P.S. – watch for an upcoming Cochenille Design Challenge… Beyond Garments. Join our mail list to be kept abreast of what is new at Cochenille.