Loved the croquis article. I used my photoediting software to convert the images to line drawings, then copied the results to an Excel workbook where I resized the images, brightened them to pale gray, and arranged them 8 per sheet. I’ve been playing with the combinations as suggested in the article. It’s the first time I’ve really seen how proportions work, and playing with hem lengths is so much easier. Great job!
The “Fix Your Pattern” article was informative, too: I’ve had a couple patterns where things just didn’t match and I couldn’t figure out what was wrong.
Replies
They ran this same information/subject in issue number 105. In that issue they included information where you could get a pdf of croquis figures on the Threads site so you wouldn't have to draw your own. Since they neglected to include that info in this one here's the link:
http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00147.asp
There's are some major differences between the two articles: in Nancy Shriber's recent article on proportions, she shows you how to draw a croquis that matches your own figure, rather than using a standardized one. Also, she shows how to translate a fashion illustration from a pattern envelope--which is usually quite elongated--into a sketch of how the pattern design will look on you. That way, you can "try on" the design without even making a muslin.
Carol
Yes, and that makes Nancy Shriber's article useful for understanding what does (and does not) look good on oneself. That subject, of what styles work for what sort of body shapes, might be a good companion to Shriber's article! (Although information on that is also plentiful elsewhere, e.g. What not to wear.)
I especially like her suggestion for "trying on" a pattern before buying it (using the pattern envelope to draw it onto the croquis of yourself). Pattern illustrations are often deceptive!
The earlier piece with download-able croquis (by Jennifer Sauer, wasn't it?) was useful for a different purpose.
On a different note: I liked the pullout for helping someone else to learn to sew. Have you ever considered creating an online dictionary of terms to help new sewers understand sewing terminology? There are some terms I took for granted as things "everyone" knows, until I asked my husband his opinion about a hem I had basted on something and his reply was "what's a hem?"
Marijke
I didn't mean to imply the articles were a copy of each other, only that the subject had been covered before and that for those without access to a digital camera and/or editing software to edit a photo, using the already drawn croquis figures may be an additional resource and thought it helpful to point out the file available on your site.
That's true, and we did try to make the Threads croquis to reflect actual proportions, rather than the extremely elongated bodies of fashion illustrations (and fashion models, for that matter). So they're a good place to start for some people, for sure.
When I made a croquis of myself, I was somewhat startled to see my "actual" outline. Things look a lot different when you're flattened out into a paper doll! But it was really helpful in showing me why certain jacket styles work better than others for me.
Carol
I was startled too. A real eye opener (especially the back view).
I liked this article, too. What a great idea of figuring out how things will look on me....without the hassle of the dressing room!
Dawn
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