Dress Pattern (confused)?

Question

For a summer project before I start my degree course (Printed textiles) at university, one question requires me to : 'Buy or find a dress pattern. Lay the pattern on the floor and embellish each pattern piece in some way that reflects you. Before you start, think carefully about your likes and dislikes/ views on the world etc. This will help you establish appropriate imagery/ colour/ layout/ materials.'

Now, I might be dumb for being confused on this, but I don't quite know if i am required to actually cut the pattern onto fabric, and embellish the fabric, rather than embellish the paper pattern. It makes more sense to embellish fabric rather than paper, but the question isn't making it clear....and Ive also never used a dress pattern before, and have no idea how to transfer it onto fabric. I have downloaded and printed a simple pattern from burdastyle.com (dress 6004) and have printed the instructions. The question does not require me to make the actual dress, just embellish the pattern pieces, but I don't know for sure if it means I have to make the pattern using fabric. Please could anyone tell me what they think the question is asking me to do and also how would I go about marking out the pattern onto the fabric? Do I pin the paper onto the fabric and just cut along the lines?

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help me with this.

Answer 1

Is there any information on the internet showing last years course work or even names and details of last year students? Maybe break the ice with this other girl? You may be glad of her friendship on the new course.  

Answer 2

Do both,

Advice for tarnsfering pattern to fabric, trace the pattern on to grease proof paper (cheaper than pattern paper but may need to stick bits togethor) once thats done, cut out the pattern on the grease proof paper, then pin to your fabric, then cut out, transfer placement markings, etc on using tailors chalk,

Then you can embellish the fabric and the pattern, so your guarenteed to get it right,

Also try Burda magazine website (google it) it has free patterns in the download section, which includes the constrution details,

Answer 3

I think the question is confusing too. Strictly it sounds like they want you to embellish the pattern. So do as Sue has said - change necklines, add pleats, or ruffles etc. This is quite skilled and requires some knowledge of pattern cutting - a hard task if you have never even used a paper pattern before.

(Sorry but how have you got onto the course you are doing without this pretty basic experience?)

To save spending hours doing the wrong thing - ask them. Contact your tutor/who ever set the task and ask them for clarification. One of the keys to succeeding is - if  you don't know - ask! Good luck.

Answer 4

It sounds like to embelish the pattern, the paper pattern!

I have layed out paper patterns to get ideas of what I want to do with them BEFORE putting it to fabric.  I change necklines, I change sleeve treatments, change collars, add details like yokes to western type garments, mark where I want the lace or ruffles to go, add button facings to the front, add pockets or delete them, drop waist or raise it, drop hemline or raise it, etc.

In other words, I make the pattern MINE rather than a simplicity or burda designer.

to transfer a pattern to fabric, you lay the fabric out on the floor or table lay the pattern pieces out on it, pin it in place, and cut it out with scissors making sure you have double fabric where needed, fold lines where needed and then using dressmakers carbon mark any dart lines, pocket placements, and miscellaneous "dots", then mark the match up notches.

This last paragraph is for you to ponder as well. You did say you had no clue as to how to put pattern on fabric.

Enjoy doing the changes on the pattern pieces.

Answer 5

I think it means to actually buy a pattern and draw on the paper that patterns are made out of.    You should order a pattern from ebay or go into a sewing shop and buy a proper pattern, printing one wont really have the same effect.

Do you not know anyone who is going to be doing the same course?  I wouldn't worry too much about it, they will be interested in how different people interpreted the brief differently.  As long as you make an effort it will be fine.

ETA I said I thought you should buy one because I'm not sure how printing one would work?  Do you print it on A3/A4 sheets and then stick them all together?  It would only cost about £4-5 to buy a proper pattern.

Answer 6

I'd say they want you to embellish the actual pattern paper.  Sounds like a fun project!  If you printed a Burda pattern out it should be on decent printer paper-right?  That should hold up to markers/glue/etc.

Answer 7

I think you are supposed to use the paper pattern.  I am thinking that you are just to be creative and show who you are without worrying about the fabric aspect at this point.  This is just to get you to start thinking.  The most famous fabric designers have a style all their own the you can almost tell they designed something before looking at the label.  it comes from who they are.....well who are you? and what do you bring?

That is just my opinion.