Once you’ve selected your stretch materials and planned the fit of the garment, it is time to start drafting your pattern. The pattern harnesses the stretch properties of your fabric to shape the fit and hug and support the wearer in all the right places. It is at this stage that creative design gets technical.
Drafting a good pattern requires knowledge of the fabric it will be made in. This is especially true when working with stretch materials. The combination of fabric properties and the pattern shape create the finished garment’s fit. Your design depends on getting this combination right.
People love stretchy fabric. It is easy to live in stretchy loungewear. But should stretch fabric be the go-to for all fashion? There are plenty of ways stretch fabric can benefit your design, but I think there are times when stretch fabric isn’t the best choice.