Once the pattern is created, it must be graded to ensure that it will fit a range of sizes.
This is done by creating different versions of the pattern in different sizes. After the pattern is cut, the garment goes through a series of processes called “grading.” Grading is creating different sizes of a garment from a base size.
This is done by making small, gradual changes to the measurements of the pattern pieces.
There are two types of grading:
Horizontal
Vertical
Horizontal grading creates different widths from a base width, while vertical grading is used to create different lengths from a base length.
In general, horizontal grading is more common than vertical grading because it’s easier to make small changes to widths than it is to make small changes to lengths. For example, when making a shirt, it’s easy to add or remove a few inches to the width of the pattern pieces to create a larger or smaller shirt.
However, it’s more difficult to add or remove a few inches to the length of the pattern pieces.
Grading is an important part of garment production because it allows clothing manufacturers to produce a wide range of sizes from a limited number of pattern pieces.
This makes mass production of clothing more efficient and helps keep manufacturing costs down. Grading is typically done by computer these days, but it’s still important for designers and pattern makers to understand the basics of how it works.