For this month’s challenge on NeedleworkMonday, community members have been asked to show a WIP (Work in Progress), so I wanted to demonstrate the pattern drafting software I’ve developed. I use this software to make all my PDF sewing patterns and it’s really easy to use, and means that any designer can build up a selection of patterns to sell without having to pay huge amounts for a CAD, or use one of the free options available, such as InkScape, which has not been purpose built and can be very hard to use. (It’s very hard to draw accurately measured lines and curves. Also, there’s a steep learning curve)
Obviously, this doesn’t fall into the traditional category of fabric manipulation so it’s not an entry for this month’s contest
When using this CAD, designers do not need to draw a single line, but rather they need to enter the measurements of the lines, curves and arcs that go to construct any sewing pattern. Patterns can be drafted in two ways.
_1. By following traditional drafting instructions and using a table of measurements to build the pattern.
_2. Using a Sloper (base pattern) and drawing the pattern on paper. Then the designer can measure their work and simply enter the dimensions, lines, curves and arcs that they can physically measure.
Once the data has been entered, the designer can add text and automatically grade the pattern. All that remains is to click a button to render the precisely drawn image and then render to a perfectly sized PDF. It’s really easy to do. No drawing involved, the program simply draws to measure for you.
What I have done so far
I’ve written all the functions to draw lines, arcs, curves and to add text. The software can auto grade the pattern into sizes as needed and add seam allowance. A single click renders the data into a correctly sized image, which can be turned into a precise PDF. Everything necessary to make the pattern is done. But it doesn’t look very good, and because I was using it only for myself, no dashboard has been added.
What I still need to do
Build an all-in-one dashboard where the designer can work on one “page” with the image of the pattern in the middle of the screen so that changes can be seen instantly. This should take about a week.
Then I need to integrate the software into a permissions based online system with login accounts. This should take another week.
I want to offer designers the opportunity to mint their PDF patterns as NFTs and sell these NFTs on Hive. Will take another 2 weeks (hopefully)
Video Demo of CAD
Free pillowcase pattern to download at my site. See link below.
Progress can be monitored here
Download the pillowcase pattern
https://itsostylish.com/sewingpatterns/pillowcase.pdf
All images and videos are my own shot using my iPad