Are we on the same page???
Tech Pack Tools offers handy guides for you and your vendor. Make sure you are aligned with your vendor on measuring, terms and points of measure.

Communication is key.

Make sure you’re using the right words with your vendors.

Tech pack tools now offers an easy to understand fashion production terms glossary for your tech pack toolbox.

Download it today 📚🤓

www.techpacktools.com

✂️ Fit Tip:

Understanding how a garment lays on the body and what the wrinkles or folds are trying to tell you will make you a star in fittings.

Horizontal folds or wrinkles often mean the garment is too long and there is excess fabric in the length.

If the garment fits well at the chest, waist and sweep circumference, pin up the excess fabric along the waist to remove those pesky lines.

Tech Pack Tuesday!

✂️ This week’s fit tip:

Shoulder widths 💁🏻‍♀️

If you’re like me, you’ve been fitting over zoom or making fit corrections based on photos.

You might not be able to check where the armhole seam falls along the shoulder’s edge.

Pay close attention to pull and drape lines during fittings.

These subtle lines can tell you if something is too big or small without having to be up close and personal.

✂️ What brought you to this industry?

When I was child, my mother worked at a fabric store.

Sometimes I would go to work with her and spend hours organizing the embroidery threads. I loved being surrounded by colors. I loved organizing, even at a young age. I loved walking down the tapestry aisles and picking out fabrics for my dream home. The thought of making something... the possibilities… brought me so much happiness. I guess that explains how I made a career in fashion.

Sometimes when I’m overwhelmed, I think back to the little joys that brought me into this creative industry and how far I’ve come.❤️

Measuring Tips:

• Always use a fabric or plastic tape measure.

•Occasionally, check your tape against a metal ruler for accuracy.

•All measurements should be taken with the garment laying in a natural position on a flat surface.

•Gently smooth out all the wrinkles.

•Close all buttons and zippers before measuring.

•When measuring a curved seam, like an armhole, stand the tape measure on its edge for the most accurate measurement.

•If there is more than one method for taking a measurement, it is important to establish the measuring criteria for your company. This is known as the point of measure and must be indicated on your spec sheet.

•Follow your Point of Measure (POM) descriptions when measuring. For example, when measuring a shirt, specify on your spec sheet whether to measure the front body length from the high point shoulder (HPS) edge or seam.

•Your spec sheet should be listed with POMs in top to bottom order. For example, for shirts, you would begin measuring with the body length and then work your way down the garment. Measuring POMs in the same order as the spec sheet is efficient and saves time.

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Make the most of your fittings by focusing on the fit of the garment first. Don’t let yourself be distracted by sewing details which can easily be fixed, while fit corrections can take multiple proto rounds to approve.

Fitting Objectives Checklist:

•Take photos of the garment for tracking and documentation purposes:

Front, side and back photos of the garment.

•Take up close photos of any wash/fabric errors or fit issues, and photograph the garment before and after it has been pinned or cut (front, side and back).

•The fit of the garment should be examined and corrected, as needed.

•The model should feel comfortable and be able to move effortlessly.

•The garment should meet the designer’s expectations for look, feel and attitude (design intent).

Notes should be taken during the fitting to ensure that all fit corrections can later be recalled during the fit comment process.

✂️ Happy Fittings!

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✂️ Fit Tip:

Examining the pull lines on a garment can tell you a lot about the length, or lack thereof.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Tech Pack Tools newsletter and be the first to know about the Fit Course for Technical Designers.

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✂️ Hello Tech Packers!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend ❤️

While preparing for Thanksgiving this week, I realized that tech packs and cooking recipes have a lot in common.

A tech pack is the recipe for creating a garment much like a baking recipe for cookies.

❓What is the number one complaint I hear from pattern makers and sewing factories? Really looooonnng tech packs (7 or more pages) or incomplete tech packs.

Have you ever stumbled upon a nice looking baking recipe and the chef shares her entire life story or irrelevant information? You just want the recipe right!? Same goes for the pattern maker or sewing contractor. More is not more and less is not right. In the season of over consumption and abundance, just give the right amount.

One more tech pack tip: Measuring on the body as I’m doing in this photo is a big fail. Mark the spot and measure the garment flat every time.

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