Dress designing and dress making are as far apart as architectural designing and laying bricks, or reading blue prints, and yet - if the artist is going to design a dress or a building - in order to design not only a beautiful creation which can be executed and put to practical use - it will also be necessary to have knowledge of the dressmaking, or bricklaying, or the practical application of it.
One of the essential elements when you design a dress is to have the basic equipment.
In order to do proper work the designing and sewing room has to be properly equipped.
There are many labor saving devices on the market and many of these you will discover for yourself as you progress with your designing studies and work.
These are your basic tools: Measuring tools - tape measure, yardstick, tailor's square, right angle triangle, T square, French curves.
Cutting tools- Shears, scissors, and pinking shears.
Marking tools - Skirt marker, tracing wheel and dressmaker's carbon paper, Tailor's chalk, and chalk board.
This last you will have to make for yourself and Instructions are given at the end of this article.
Sewing machine - electric preferred.
Seam ripper, pins, needles, and thimble.
Get dressmaker or silk pins - they will not mark delicate fabrics.
Dress Form.
There are various kinds on the market which are adjustable.
You can also make your own with gummed tape over cotton jersey.
Full length mirror.
Cutting table or folding cutting board.
Emery bag; Tweezers; Pressing equipment; Iron - This is one of your most important tools when you design a dress.
If you press each seam as you sew before sewing on an adjoining piece - the effect will be more professional.
Press cloth.
Ironing Board.
Sleeve Board.
Tailor's Ham.
Press mitt.
Seam roll.
Needle board for pressing pile fabrics.
Pounding block or tailor's wooden clapper.
NOTIONS AND TRIMMINGS Threads - one shade darker than your fabric.
Mercerized cotton for cottons, linens and blends.
Silk for silks and wools.
Nylon for synthetics.
Zippers and Nylon Tape Closures.
Belting, bias binding or seam tape, ribbon seam binding.
Snaps, hooks, and eyes.
Buttons, buckles.
Elastic, cording, horsehair braid.
Featherboning, zigzag stays, weights.
Shoulder pads.
Trimmings, braid, ribbon, rickrack, beading, pearls, sequins.
HOW TO MAKE A CHALK BOARD: The chalk board should be about 20 x 24 inches in size.
To make it you will require: 2 pieces of 22 x 26 inch soft white flannel powdered chalk rayon or cotton coarse net carpet or thumb tacks Smooth both pieces of flannel, one on the other, over the board - allowing an inch overlap on all sides.
Sprinkle powdered chalk evenly all over flannel.
Rub in thoroughly and evenly.
Lay the net over the chalked flannel, tuck flannel and net under the board without tipping over the board.
Tack the center of each of the opposite sides to the edge of the board, then the centers of the remaining sides, then all around to keep chalked flannel and net stretched smooth and tight over board.
Cut off excess material.
Store in a horizontal position to keep chalk from spilling.
Now you have the equipment to design a dress you can begin the fascinating process of creation.