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TheSloperLady
By Lauraline Grosenick,
CADTERNS Custom Clothing Inc.
http://www.cadterns.com
Slopers 101: "What is a sloper?"
A sloper is the most basic of patterns, used by apparel manufacturers to
style a garment. Have you ever wondered why some clothes fit better than
others do? "But," you ask, "Should you not be able to expect clothes
purchased in the same department from the same store to fit as well as the
others?" "Why doesn't my friend feel as comfortable as I do while wearing
the exact same thing that we both bought from the same store at the same
time?"
Consider jeans for example. You might have a distinct preference for EhBCs
and your best friend may wear only XYZees - ALL the time. This can be due
to any of many reasons, one of which is the original sloper used by this
particular manufacturer. It is quite likely that the slopers used by your
favourite garment or pattern manufacturer are more suitable for your figure
type than for your friend's.
Sometimes you really "luck out" and get a fabulous fit from an end-of-season
sale on a "no-name" label for a fabulous price. This probably happens as
often as you win at Bingo, and it's probably just as memorable too. And why
did the no-name pair remain nameless? How can a designer put her or his name
on the label, call it exclusive and charge "a king's ransom" when there are
so many and they all look alike?
Marketing accounts for a big portion of the price and sometimes, creating an
exciting or desirable aura around a brand or designer name. That is why you
forget the brand of "no name" jeans, even though they DID actually have a
brand name. They didn't have a name you'd often heard or seen. Marketing
people are paid to make you remember, and they're good at it. They have to
be paid too.
There are a variety of other variables in the production of the garment that
influence the price as well. Just remember that the fit is related more to
the cut of the sloper than the name of the store where you purchase them or
the name on the label.
Now mind you remember:
"If it's worth sewing, it's worth sewing well;
and, if it's worth sewing well, it's worth FITTING FIRST!"
Til next time,
TheSloperLady
Definitions:
Glossary of Terms
Articles:
Sloper Talk - Preamble
Slopers 101: "What is a sloper?"
Slopers 102: "Why would I want one?"
"Where can I get a sloper that will fit me?"
"How many measurements does it take to get a perfect sloper?"
"How CAN you tell when you’re done?"
"How can you use your fitted sloper to fit other patterns?"
"How can we make new patterns from our fitted slopers?"
Sloper Home
Biography
Lauraline Grosenick holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of
Alberta. She has taught secondary high school and adult education sewing and
patternmaking for more than 20 years in both private and classroom settings.
Teaching was one constant but not her only professional activity. While
free-lancing in theatre costuming, Lauraline designed and produced Growin'
Ups(TM) - a line of children's wear, using cottage industry manufacturing
strategy. As a pioneer of CAD for clothing, Lauraline initiated and
continues in the development and application of CADTERNS(R) Custom
Patternmaking Program - computer software for personal patternmaking. She
has published several small Computer Assisted Patternmaking booklets to
accompany custom patternmaking software.
CADTERNS is a personal patternmaking program for IBM and compatible
computers. It enables anyone to draft personal Ready-to-Style(R) slopers
(basic patterns) for the purpose of modifying existing patterns to fit or
styling new ones. CADTERNS Slopers can be made for any female figure ranging
from 4'1" to 6'8" in height and from 27" to 68" at bust or hip. Slopers for
skirt, pant, bodice, blouse and sheath can be calculated in mere seconds!
Every pattern made from a personal sloper is a pre-fitted personal pattern.
Do check out CADTERNS home page at http://www.cadterns.com. At this Website
you will find a wealth of information about personal slopers including
on-line lessons on personal patternmaking.
Having taught in a wide range of communities from isolated and remote
locations to large urban centres, Lauraline is pleased to add anywhere in
the world including a-computer-near you through the WWW as her current
classroom.
Lauraline AKA TheSloperLady
CADTERNS Custom Clothing Inc.
http://www.cadterns.com
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