Help With Scaling Up

[MyLadyDedlock]

Hi, I'm reading through the Janet Arnold books. . .and planning my next challenge .

So as far as scaling up goes, I understand the ratio and how to measure, and could do a "skirt" or petticoat no problem, because its pretty much a box, or a bell, or whatever shape - my question is - how do I do the curves in the bodices?

If anyone has done this can you give me an overview on the process, and what works the best, etc? For example, what's the best paper, do I make my own grid, or can I find already "gridded" paper, etc. The book gives some good advice, but I wanted to see what others do first. Thanks!

Does anyone happen to know of a utube video on how to scale-up with patterns? Its worth a shot . . .

[Anna]

You have a couple of options. You can buy gridded paper, and do it square by square the same way you might do a photo or other picture. You can also, if you have the technology, project it on paper taped to the wall, either with a solid projector or by copying it to a transparency. That has the advantage that you can hit whatever size you want, just by measuring the waist or bust and moving the projector around.

My housemate comments that you could also take it to Kinkos and have them blow it up. this may introduce some flaws, but then they all do.

[dawnluckham]

I could swear we've talked about this before but a search doesn't bring it up. Steph, O’Allseeing One do you recall? I find the millions of topic headings overwhelming for me. I can’t think of the correct search words…
I know we've discussed this as I posted this image before:

This is from a costuming text book I have:



There is also an excellent tutorial on the Sense and Sensibility forum by Suzi Clarke.
forums.sensibility.com/viewthread.php?tid=6616

My own method involves blowing the pattern up to original size (which is often quite small) by using pattern paper (sometimes that non-woven interfacing stuff quilters use with a one inch or one centimeter grid on it - Burda makes it too.) I use whatever scale is printed in the book (inches or centimeters) and I count squares and sketch the pattern onto the grid paper. It's surprisingly quick and easy. I think I'd be forever with a photo-copy machine and all would end in frustration and a ton of wasted paper.

Anyway, once I have the original sketched out in original size, I add seam allowance and make a mock up of it. I take measurements and decide how much added sizing is needed and add these amounts to match the final garment size I want.

[cosmoblue]

You can buy gridded paper

I scan my images then open them in photoshop and scale them up to actual size. Then I print it out piece it together and do a muslin/toile. If it didn't fit which hasn't been an issue yet I would have scaled it up further in photoshop. I haven't the patience for trying to figure out how to draw them larger.

[cosmoblue]

Here is the thread that dawn was mentioned.
regencysa.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sewing&action=display&thread=481

[dawnluckham]

Cosmo, you're amazing to be able to find that! How did you do it? Thanks!

[cosmoblue]

Aug 15, 2009 20:04:09 GMT -5 dawnluckham said:

Cosmo, you're amazing to be able to find that! How did you do it? Thanks!

I just went into the Tips section where a thread on the subject should have been and went back a page to find it. There are only like 2 pages of threads there. I figured since I am an admin here and obsessive about thing being ib the correct category that is where I'd have moved it. If it wasn't there I was going to search scaling and scale.

[MyLadyDedlock]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I looked around the boards and couldn't find anything on scaling patterns, so I appreciate your patience with the redundancy.