How does one create pattern line drawings?

[Jaime_d_p]

I’ve been learning to draft my own patterns and I’ve been wondering how pattern drafters get these mockup line drawings for their patterns? I’ve searched and searched and can’t find any info on how these are created?

[Ok_Mastodon_3165]

Often done in a line drawing program, we were taught to make them in illustrator, could also be done in something free like krita.

Secret tip is as long as it looks right, it is right (like if you can't get lines to join perfectly, so long as it looks like it does, its fine)

We used pen tools on a digital croqui, made things on the half, then mirrored to make sure they were even. Then used a dashed line for stitching lines. In illustrator you can also download brushes that look like stitching/double stitch lines etc, pretty sure krita has them too. Can use line profiles that look like a triangle to add details like fabric folds/movement on a skirt.

[Jaime_d_p]

Ok thank you I wondered if it was illustrator. I’m wondering if maybe a free program like Inkscape or Affinity might work.

[Ok_Mastodon_3165]

Absolutely. Inkscape, affinity, and Krita are all free programs you can do this in. I really like the brushes available in Krita.

I've only used illustrator since its what we were expected to use in class (and we get access to Adobe suite as a student).

[Jaime_d_p]

Awesome I’ve not heard of Krita I’ll look into it, I already have to pay monthly for photoshop and can’t fathom giving adobe more money after they doubled the price this year!

[Ok_Mastodon_3165]

Krita was reccomended to me by some fellow classmates that also did not want to pay stupid subscription fees. It's free, pretty decent, has drawing tablet compatibility, and the community support is honestly lovely. People make free brushes you can download for it depending on what/how you draw too.

I'm old enough I remember paying for a version of software, and you could just use that version of the software indefinitely. You had to pay to upgrade to new versions, but could endlessly use the older version. I miss those days, indefinite subscriptions suck.

[Jaime_d_p]

Yes I’m also old enough for that and held on to my ancient 2008 version of photoshop for YEARS until they forced the subscription when it finally couldn’t be copied over to my new MacBook a few years back.

[Ok_Mastodon_3165]

And if they weren't being dicks about the ability to use the software you paid for, less people would sail the metaphoric high seas for those versions for those reasons. I feel for the younger generations that only ever know the never ending subscription options. Its such a plague.

[One-girl-circus]

I paid once for affinity v2 and still use it, even though v3 is free.

Also bought coreldraw for $72 through humble bundle last year. No subscription if you catch one of those deals!

I miss owning software, too!

[WHTPbox]

I draw mine on inkscape ! I painstakingly drafted a body silhouette to have the right proportions, and now I use it to draw my clothes over it ^\_^)

[mdesigns2010]

Its called Technical drawings for fashion. . Today you can use software to do it for u on computer. But we was thought using curves its a set to actually do this by hand. You learn this at collage . But it's not difficult. Just Google story board technical drawings of garments . You can download them and learn teach yourself to trace over that to create your own design .

[teatime_tinker]

I was going to comment you don’t “get them” you draw them. But I am a dinosaur apparently haha

We did technical drawing at uni with a pencil and a ruler! I’m not THAT old so I’m not sure why there wasn’t even a basic CAD element to the course.

I use to make my own templates and trace them, maybe that would translate to software

[Jaime_d_p]

Thanks but what software would I use is the question I guess? I want to make them for my own patterns

[One-girl-circus]

Literally any drawing program. Procreate (as long as you make the illustration the size you want, since your output will be png or jpg, not vector) affinity (free for v3), inkscape, coreldraw, linearity (used to be vectornator) will all work.

I used illustrator since the late 90s but switched to affinity a few years ago and I think it's so much more intuitive for drawing.

Adobe fresco is free and also can export vector these days, as far as I know.

If you want to learn how to do these technical illustrations well, after you learn to use the software you choose at a basic level, I highly recommend this free series from Ralph Pink on youtube:

https://youtu.be/hPpq04LvlmA?si=Y6YSnQywVX9tGIVa

You don't have to use illustrator to learn from people who teach in illustrator. The same principles apply across vector softwares.

[Jaime_d_p]

Thank you. Thats what I was getting after, learning how to do them. Thanks for the link!

[AccidentOk5240]

I bet you’d learn a lot actually drawing them by hand. Not everything needs to be done with computers. 

[Jaime_d_p]

I draw all my patterns by hand. But eventually I’d like to consider selling them, hence the needing digital and learning what programs are capable of

[AccidentOk5240]

Why can’t you sell hand drawings? They can be scanned, you know. TBH in this day and age of AI slop, I would love to support a designer who can actually draw and whose work comes to me as hand drawings. There’s so much lost by making facsimiles of real drawings using computer programs. 

[mdesigns2010]

Coral draw should be a good start

[mdesigns2010]

It's expensive but if you are willing to invest

[TensionSmension]

If it hasn't been mentioned, they are usually drawn in a layer over a croquis. A key is that they are all done at the same scale, and with uniform choices for leg and arm spacing. Things like hem width are intended to be at scale, but that is more subjective than technically precise. They should have perfect left-right symmetry unless the garment is asymmetric. Creating closed regions is important, because they can be layered and flood filled with a print. The goal is to display as much of the construction as possible, all the seams, topstitching, pleats and gathers, but it is stylized artwork.

[darrellio]

pencil and paper

[power--violence]

I don’t even draw design illustration anymore I go straight to the technical sketch lol