Flat Garment Drawing

Background
A flat drawing (or sometimes called technical drawing) helps communicate the precise specifications of each garment. A technical drawing depicts the item's structure in a simple line. They communicate balance, structure, and specifications. They usually show only the front and back (never the side view). Sometimes a flat drawing may include color. They are usually created on the computer, but all fashion designers should know how to create them with pencil and pen. Where have you seen a flat drawing before?

Steps

• Take a croquis from the croquis library. Lay it underneath your paper
  
• Draw the outline of the garment. Use sharp, fluid lines, not sketchy, short lines. Be sure to consider the volume of the garment. Use the model's body shape as your guide. Draw the bodice, neckline, and hem.
• Draw the interior lines and seam lines, adding any fabric details such as pleats, gathering or tucks. Add embroidery, lace or any other embellishment.
  
• Draw the stitch lines using a dashed line.
• Trace over the entire sketch with the pen, in the same order that you drew the flat. If possible, use a thicker tipped pen for the outline and a thinner tipped pen for the interior lines. Erase the pencil lines.

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