Pattern and Toile

I started making a flat pattern first but found it difficult to know where to make the design lines. I decided it was easiest to pin calico to the mannequin and draw my design onto it then transfer it to a flat pattern. This worked out a lot better and I could see how the garment would look. I also got to experiment with where the straps were going to go on the back.

This was how I came up with the shaping and style lines of the swimsuit

My flat pattern pieces. I also cut strips of the fabric to be gathered up for the rouching panels and strips for the binding.

When I made my toile and fitted it on the mannequin I only had minor fitting changes which was a relief. But I had to decide how to finish off the edges. This was difficult with the rouching as I didn’t want to lose any width off the straps. We decided on using elastic binding.

I had never used this before and when I first used it I didn’t realise it needed to be stretched onto the garment so the elastic went all bubbly and wasn’t right at all. I had to experiment a lot with this as I had never used it before. I was practising with the TAFE’s white elastic but it was old and wasn’t working as well as it was meant to. When I purchased some of my own black elastic it had a lot better stretch and was easier to attach.

I was very happy with the fitting of my toile and liked how it was coming along.