The Importance of Darts

Now that we have learned a bit about darts and the slash and spread method of transfering them from one place to another. You can begin experimenting and rotating them around on your own! There will be future videos on Fettuccinetube with tutorials on dart transfers; but don´t wait for me to get around to uploading them. Forge ahead on your own if you feel like!  There is wonderful free information on the internet on this topic.  Here is a series of short explanations on the different dart configurations that give some great insight.  Fashion Dart Variations by Laurel Armstrong. 

The main concept in creating dart variations is to transfer or convert them. What you remove from one part of the garment needs to be made up for in another part. You can divide one dart into two little ones for example or you can lump two darts together into one, convert a dart into a seam etc... Newspaper is my favorite paper to use for experimenting and creating new designs.

How to Transfer a Shoulder Dart

See  "how-to" videos:

  Draft a Basic Bodice,  Convert Bodice into Blouse,  Rotate a Shoulder Dart

Transfer of Darts in Patternmaking

Lesson number 3 in the Advanced Beginners series on Fettuccinetube will be a demonstration of various dart rotations that can be made to the basic bodice pattern in order to achieve different designs.  Meanwhile those interested in getting a head start can look up information on this topic.  And of course there are hundreds of new and used books about couture design on Amazon .

 Here are a few I thought looked quite good. I actually already have the High Fashion Sewing Secrets book. That is an excellent book for people who already have introduction into drafting patterns and transfering darts and seams.  And explains many finishing treatments that the famous designers use as well as a bit of insight into the fashion  industry itself.  Quotes made by famous designers in the past regarding fashion and Claire Schaffer gives some of her secrets and tips in little sections throughout the book based on her long history working with famous designers since the 1950s. The other book, How to Make Sewing Patterns is written by Don McCunn who also has clothing design tutorials on YouTube.