Pattern Grading
Pattern Grading Services.
24/16). We offer both manual pattern grading and digital computer pattern grading services for UK fashion and clothing businesses.
Freelance Pattern Grading.
There are very few independent freelance pattern graders in the UK. Most pattern grading services are provided by just a few larger companies. Some offer just computer files, while others will provide print outs or graded sets in pattern card.
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Stack Grading Vs Single Ply Grading.
In 1975 the height of sophistication in the grading world was stack grading. This involved manually cutting a number of different pattern sizes at the same time, with the aid of a pair of long handled short blade sheers. These sheers ensured that you had plenty of leverage to cut through many layers at once.
Only the most experienced pattern graders used this method. It had the advantage of being much faster than single ply grading. The disadvantage with grading this way was that either all the sizes were right, or they were all wrong.
If you grade each size individually you would check the grade by stacking them one on top of the other after they were cut, rather than as they were cut.
Another alternative method was to Mark the base size and the biggest size on the same sheet of paper, then to strike through all the relevant points to automatically find the intervening sizes.
Then to trace through each size using a tracing wheel. After grading, each graded pattern piece would be marked up with all the relevant information either using different coloured pens, or using a John Bull type printing set to stamp each pattern piece.
There was also a grading machine that a few clothing companies would use. Each individual pattern piece would be attached to an arm that would move vertically or horizontally. At each stage of movement part of the pattern would be marked with a pencil.
Manual Grading Vs Digital Grading.
The computer has made pattern grading more of a “white collar” job and has made it far more efficient. But the job requires the purchase of quite expensive equipment and requires extra computer skills on top of the grading skills.
There are very few people today who continue to grade manually. Those that do are likely to be either manual pattern cutters like myself who will grade just a few sizes rather than send them elsewhere.
Or they may be fabric cutters who put their hand to simple pattern cutting or grading.
A digital pattern grader generally does not have the hands on experience of a manual grader or pattern cutter. Consequently they may be more skilled as computer operators than as graders.
Thats why it is important to supply the grader with a well worked out size spec.
An experienced Pattern Cutter is often more skilled at understanding the correct proportions a pattern should be. A computer grading service will often insist on receiving a size spec before proceeding with the grading.
The Size Chart.
Supplying the Grader with a size chart ensures that the grader does not take easy short cuts. It also puts the designer in control of production rather than the factory.
If the factory have been given a garment spec that details the measurements each size should be, they have no excuses if the garments do not measure up.
If the factory supply the spec, then they can make the spec to fit the garment rather than visa versa. I often see cases where the factory have supplied their own size spec after the garments have been made.
These specs can be all over the place. And there will often be massive problems, especially with the bigger sizes.
When providing a size chart it is important that you provide a UK size chart for a UK market. A UK size chart will be different to an EU size chart, or a US size chart.
There is not too much difference between menswear grading and ladieswear grading. While a mans size chart will obviously be different to a ladies size chart, the increments may be the same.
In the UK we still often use imperial measurements, although when supplying charts for computer grading it is normal to provide metric measurements.
Pattern Grading Rules.
It is important to take some time to consider the grading rules beforehand. These are the most important part of the grading process.
Because most grading services charge according to the amount of pattern pieces rather than time or difficulty involved, it is human nature to try to cut corners.
If you were to ask a factory to grade a pattern up or down one size, they will often only adjust the side seam, rather than grade equally throughout the garment.
In determining the grading rules, even if I am just providing a size spec to the grader, I will often physically grade an outline of the smallest and largest sizes in order to check that the proportions are correct. This is especially important for childrenswear grading because of the extreme changes in size and stature.
I still offer manual grading as an extra service for my own patterns, but normally I will provide well thought out size charts for the digital graders to follow. If it is a complicated grade I will often manually grade the largest size just to test the grading.
I also try as much as possible to stick to an even grade right through, instead of different increments for each size. This means that it is far easier for the small business to check the grading.
If the smallest and biggest sizes are correct, then each size in between must also be correct. If you stack all of the pattern pieces on top of each other they should all follow the same pattern.
Grading is not an exact science – It is a compromise. This compromise works sufficiently well when only a few sizes are grade, but when there are a large number of sizes, the inaccuracy builds up and becomes obvious.
The relationship between armhole and sleeve for instance means that the shoulder is graded too much and the bicep too little.
This is because a jacket with a 40″chest is graded according to the 40″ chest rather than the round arm measurement of 48″. Both the armhole and biceps width is increased by 1.4 cms .
But the bicep should really have extra ease in the sleeve head to allow for the extra biceps width that is not graded.
If your manufacturing is to be within the U.K. and on a small scale then manual pattern grades on card is the norm, although sometimes Computer patterns would be preferable. For bigger factories and Offshore production Computer files are usually preferable.
I am very experienced in grading every type of pattern for Menswear, Ladieswear and Childrenswear as well as for plus sizes.
Most grading is very straightforward, with the majority of Clothing Companies sticking to a small range of standard sizes, but when grading beyond those standard sizes, or if grading for Childrenswear or certain specialised groups then the grading is more complex.
One of the first things to decide when determining the grading rules is whether you are grading as if for separate individuals of different sizes, or as if for one person who is getting bigger as they get older.
The former gets taller as well as wider, whereas the latter remains the same height once maturity is reached. With the former they tend to get uniformly bigger in girth whereas the latter will get disproportionately bigger in some areas than others.
In this respect, grading for Men and Women are very distinct. If a standard grade is used then any error on the grading system will increase with the increased sizes.
When we grade vertically for the armhole depth or for the rise in trousers, we are not grading so much for height as for the additional fat that builds up in these areas as we get bigger. An extra height element would have to be added to the formula.
Ladieswear.
Grading for Ladieswear is normally fairy straightforward if there are only a few sizes to grade. Simple grading for ladieswear is something that can be learned quickly. But outside of the normal size ranges from sizes 10 – 18, it becomes a little more difficult.
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The grading system tends to be just a compromise that is perfectly adequate when dealing with standard sizing for a small range of womens sizes. Even with a complicated style most errors in the grading system will probably not be apparent.
Problems arrive however as the amount of sizes increase, and it tends to be more problematic grading down than grading up in size. The vast majority of Ladieswear styles in the U.K. are graded in sizes 8 to 16 . Beyond these standard sizes is where the grading problems begin to escalate.
Grading is quite imprecise whichever system is used. Mainly the imprecisions revolve around the armhole, shoulder and biceps measurements. For plus size grading we have to try to mitigate the imprecisions becoming a problem for the larger sizes by tweaking the grading system.
Here at The London Pattern Cutter we only do manual grading, although we can provide Digitised grades if required. All our grading is completed in card unless otherwise advised.
Menswear.
Menswear grading like all grading is a compromise. It can be very straightforward or it can be quite complex. Usually for grading just a few sizes a standard grade would be used.
If there are a lot of sizes then a more sophisticated grading method would be needed to ensure that the more extreme sizes do not become out of proportion.
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While Menswear is on the whole less design orientated, with fewer variations in style there can be far more sizes involved. Classical mens tailoring traditionally has about eight sizes and may also come in short, regular and long making twenty four sizes in total.
Styles may be slim fit, classic fit, athletic fit or corpulent fit. As men tend to get disproportionately big in the waist girth, the waist will need to be graded more than the chest or hip. The extra grade on the waist would tend to go on the front grade rather than being equally dispersed.
Mens off the peg jackets will generally have a deeper armhole than a Bespoke jacket as it has to fit a wider variety of sizes. This is especially true of jackets bought online as companies cant afford to have too many returns due to badly fitting garments.
In the UK, mens sizes are normally graded in 2″ increments – 38″. 40″. 42″ etc. But sometimes Small. Medium. Large are used. This means that sizing can be spread over a larger size range with fewer garments. Each size can cover 3″ or 4″ increments.
Plus Size Patterns.
Plus size pattern cutting requires an extensive knowledge of sizing and human anatomy. Patterns must be made to flatter the figure. There are an immense amount of styles available for the smaller sizes, but very few available for the larger man or woman.
often the styles that are available for the plus sizes are not very flattering and are badly cut by Pattern Cutters who are not familiar with how to cut the bigger sizes properly.
EMAIL – [email protected]
I offer a Plus size pattern cutting service for all types of garments in both Mens and Ladies wear from Tailoring, Outerwear and Dresses to Shirts, T Shirts and Polo Shirts etc.
Having had a vast amount of experience in cutting patterns for all shapes and sizes over the years. I can also offer stock patterns for those on a budget who have not got the experience to create a pattern from scratch, but can amend an otherwise factory ready pattern.
I have forty years of experience as a Pattern Cutter and have been Freelance since 1984.Please feel free to contact me for further information.
Grading Courses.
If you would like to learn how to grade your own designs, please, check our one to one pattern grading classes.
FAQ Page.
Please see our FAQ page on grading
EMAIL [email protected]