Basic pattern development - Pattern Making of Indian Garments
Pattern Making of Indian Garments
Indian Garments
Traditionally Indian women wear saree, salwar kameez, kalidar kurta suits or lehnga choli. Even in large metropolitan cities, majority of women prefer traditional Indian garments for special occasions like festivals or weddings. However, a substantial number wear it on daily basis both as working attire as well as for daily use in all the cities. Women from smaller towns and rural India wear for all purposes. Indian d e s i g n e r s w h o a r e d e s i g n i n g womens wear always have a range of traditional line even if they are primarily doing western garments, lingerie or resort wear.
Due to abundance of labor in India coupled with tradition of draped garments from saree to dhotis, the skill of pattern making in India did not develop in the same manner and
speed as per global benchmarks. Indian pattern makers have mastered the art of direct drafting. Traditionally Indian garments are cut by direct drafting method, be it saree blouse, choli blouse, kameez, kalidar kurta, salwar or churidar payjama.
In direct drafting method pattern is cut for individual persons measurements. In block method patterns are made as per standard measurements for example for bust size 34 or
36 following a standard measurement chart and are then adapted to make various designs. While in direct drafting method an individual is measured and a pattern for a particular design is drafted for the individual's measurement. Most of the time, it is drafted by expert
tailors directly on the final fabric itself, this can be often seen in tailor shops across India.
There are advantages and disadvantages of both methods the block method is a boon for ready to wear (RTW) markets big brands range of RTW apparel is only possible through block method. Globally fashion industry follows block method to create patterns as it is easy to cut patterns for standard sizes through block method , it saves time as one does not need to test-fit again, it saves money and is easy to store patterns in standard blocks. Grading to several sizes in the range is possible even for most complicated patterns. However, fit of the garment is a big issue as standard measurement charts divides the entire population of a country in five to seven sizes it is a known fact that no two human beings are alike in structure. Direct drafting ensures that the garment would conform to an individual measurement and give proper fit it ensures, that most complicated designs also do not require a test-fit. Garment can be designed keeping the shape of the person in mind lot of detailing in garment and individual styling is possible in this method. Both the methods are opposite to each other, advantages of one are the drawback of the other method.
Interesting fact about salwar, churidar pajama and kalidar kurta is that the method of cutting the pattern is identical for both genders only change being that the required measurement of an individual. These three garments are worn by both men and women
even today, though today salwar is worn by men only in certain communities.
Various Kinds of Saree/ Blouse
The upper garment worn with a saree is called a saree blouse it has unique feature like it fits the body like a second skin. It is widely used by women from all walks of life it can be a basic one as being of the same color as the saree. It can be of different color, contrast color and is even used to make a statement.
Detailing of Blouse
The fabric generally used for saree blouse is 2X2 rubia, it has some inherent stretch in the fabric,If the blouse is being cut on silk with lining or in thick cotton fabrics, sufficient ease needs to be added on bust and waist level.There are various necklines that are possible in the saree blouse. The saree blouse has a placket opening that is in either front or back of the blouse. For the ladies garments the right overlap the left for the opening.The placket in the left front of the wearer is extended by ¾" and right front is completely folded inside.
Necklines & Its Variations
There are number of variation in necklines that are possible to make once the basic block has been drafted.
The measurement required for any neckline is the depth of the neck measured from the nape of the neck point to the center front diagonally. (Neckline measurement A)
In case of necklines like square, glass neck, sweet heart measure in a straight line on the body for the length and for the width of the neckline at that point to the center front is also measured. (Neckline measurement B)
Neckline measurement A Neckline measurement B
Points to be kept in mind for developing Necklines
1. If a neckline is made wider in the front, the same needs to be done for the back.
2. Try avoiding deeper neckline for both front and back at the same time. In case one decide to keep the neckline deeper in both front and back then an ease of about ½" needs to be taken out on the centre front neck.
3. The measurement which is taken diagonally should be marked diagonally on the pattern and a measurement taken straight should be marked straight.
4. For curved neckline, always square out ¼" either side at center back and center front and on shoulder level.
Various Possibilities in Necklines
V-Neck Broad V Round
U Square Glass
Sweet Heart Sweet Heart Variation
Finishing of Necklines
The necklines in a garment can be finished with a collar or a separate finishing like facing or piping, since the neckline is cut as a shape it has a substantial amount of stretch so it needs to be secured properly. The neckline also frames the face of the wearer hence it draws maximum attention. Both kinds of facings that are cut on bias or a shaped facing are prevalent in all kinds of clothing around the world, however, piping is generally only used in Indian garments specially the sari blouses.
Piping is a bias strip of fabric 1¼" wide and is attached to the neckline on the seam line after stretching. The piping is finished either by hemming or machine stitch. It is finished to about
1/8" - 1/4" wide ready on the right side of the garment. It is a popular finish for blouses and other Indian garments.
Facings are of two kinds - bias facing and shaped facing.
Bias facing is a similar strip of fabric like piping but is attached to the neckline without stretching. The same is finished completely on the wrong side.
Shaped facing: A shaped facing is cut following the shape of the neckline and is attached on the right side and then is completely turned in. The width of this facing varies for each design but is generally 1½" wide.
Choli Blouse
Choli blouse is an outerwear garment which fits the body like second skin and provides the support of foundation garment. Traditionally women did not wear any lingerie with a choli blouse yet felt comfortable wearing the same. In the traditional pattern the choli or cup cut on bias that would stretch to fit on various bust sizes) and gathered on the center front to give ease over bust. It has an under bust band cut on lengthwise grain to give support (which doesn't stretch).
Modern version of a choli blouse has a choli piece and a waistband, but it does not provide the requisite support so use of lingerie is not eliminated. The choli blouse fits closer than the traditional saree blouse. Women with a smaller bust highlight the across bust seam with contrast piping and sometimes the two parts of the cup piece is made up of different fabrics.
Salwar Kameez
The salwar kameez suit traditionally used in north India predominantly in Punjab is the result of Mughal influence. The suit initially was referred to as Punjabi by people in some southern states of India and is now an accepted dress pan India cutting across religious, state and income boundaries so much so, that it is readily available in ready to wear avatar in several price ranges in a number of brands with innumerable design variations. Each state and region has its own variation and a take on this outfit.
Salwar
Salwar lower part of the set is worn by both men and women in North India, however, its use by men in modern India is limited to certain communities. Women use it on daily basis as it is one of the most comfortable of lower body garments which has sufficient ease for manual work, sit or squat on floor and even to sleep in it.
The hem of the salwar is stiffened to enable the garment to fall and drape well. The traditional salwar had full waist which was generally cut one and half time s of hip measurement or even could be cut of free size, ensured that one size fitted majority of women and covered for body changes due to weight gain or loss. It was tied with a draw string, it required an expertise of handling a large amount of fabric and modern day version is a salwar with a belt, which is cut in proportion to an individual's hip measurement.
Salwais made up of basic geometric shapes to create a garment that has no wastage using the width of fabrics. Also by placing the patterns intelligently and using various widths of the fabric variations in designs of the salwar are possible, e.g. a design variation of Patiala salwar uses the larger width fabric, the side panel or kali is cut on fabric i.e.45" in width, a Peshawari salwar is cut with double the width of Patiala salwar.
By traditional method the fabric required for a salwar is 2.5 meters.
Salwar
Churidar Payjama
Churidar payjama traditionally was cut in a very interesting manner, the fabric was folded and stitched to create a bag where the entire fabric was on a bias grain thus making the churidar to be very close fitted and yet give ease of movement to the wearer. This method required a much smaller length of fabric for an adult woman of average height of 5 and half feet, fabric required of usual width of 36" was only 1.75 meters.
The modern version of pajama is cut by folding the two lengths of fabric into half lengthwise and then folding it diagonally.
Upper Body Garments
Kameez
The top half of the suit is called a kameez, it is a long top worn over the salwar. The traditional kameez is a longer version of the saree blouse. However, with influence of global fashion trends and needs of modern women the kameez has changed several silhouettes from being closely fitted short length in 60's to long loose tent silhouette of 90's to an individualistic length of the 21st century. It changes its looks keeping with the global trends it has also appeared on the international ramps regularly for last couple of years since the beginning of this century in various avatars.
The trends have changed its silhouette to suit the needs of modern Indian women from traditionally being worn with salwar or churidar its modern versions are teemed with slacks , trousers, leggings and jeans.
Traditional kameez A-line Kameez
Kalidar Kurta
Kalidar Kurta a comfortable garment and has an interesting pattern. The pattern is made up of geometric shapes. The only measurements required are chest/ bust, length of kurta and sleeve length. Traditional kurta was cut with the center panel on fold. The kalis or side panels of kurta are cut in a similar manner as side panels of salwar. The sleeve has a straight armhole and traditionally a square gusset is attached between sleeve and kali for ease of movement.
Variations in designs of Kalidar kurta are Bhopali kurta, Jama, Angarkha which are gaining international popularity these days and all of them are cut on basic principles of kalidar kurta, if the pattern cutter understands the nuances of kalidar pattern then variations are easy to cut.
Two Kali Kurta
Another popular variation of the kalidar kurta is a two kali kurta where one of the kali or panel starts from the shoulder itself
Variation of Kalidar Kurta by RituBeri
The kurta has several kalis starting from the waist level.
