The present invention relates to a method for making a sewing pattern, in particular a sewing pattern for women's outerwear.

Market needs have led to making garments with standardized sizes. Since there can only be a limited number of standard sizes and since the physical features vary from person to person, it is apparent that standard sizes cannot fit everyone as they should. For this reason, many people resort to specialized tailors to obtain garments made to measure which can better adapt to their physical features. Sewing patterns, usually made of tissue paper, which are firstly drawn and then cut out, are produced to make garments, e.g. outerwear, to measure. The sewing pattern is drawn on the basis of a given number of measurements of parts of the person's body. In general, the drawing of the sewing pattern for women's garments includes at least one triangular shaped zone which, once cut, defines a dart in order to provide three-dimensionality and thus volume for the breasts.

Disadvantageously, the conventional sewing patterns, and thus the outerwear which result therefrom, are made on the basis of some standard measurements or are taken on a woman, typically a size 40, who is employed as a model. Sizes are then developed on a computer or by drawing by hand to make the subsequent size, i.e. sizes 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, etc. Therefore, the outerwear cannot always adequately fit a woman. Furthermore, the conventional methods for making a sewing pattern are burdensome and laborious; indeed, such methods imply many correction steps, for example aimed at correcting posture or plumb line faults which are performed on the woman employed as a model, which imply a lot of work when the outerwear has already been made. A known method for making a sewing pattern is described in US 4 899 448 A.

The need is thus felt to provide a method for making a sewing pattern which allows to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for making a sewing pattern which is more accurate than the conventional methods.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for making a sewing pattern, the drawing of which is based on greater details concerning the conformation of the person.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for making a sewing pattern which allows the minimization, with respect to the prior art, of the possible correction steps, in particular on the finished outerwear, e.g. aimed at correcting posture and plumb line defects.

The present invention thus achieves at least one of these objects by providing a method, according to claim 1, for making a sewing pattern on the basis of measurements of parts of the body of a person, the sewing pattern being divided into a first sector, named "chest sector", a second sector, named "armhole sector" and a third sector, named "back sector", wherein a "V"-shaped zone is provided in the first sector,
wherein an "L"-square is provided, with a first and a second arm forming the "L", wherein at least the first arm is graduated on a scale in centimeters or millimeters, wherein the following steps are included:

• measuring:
  • the rear width of the shoulders M₁₃, the length of the breast M₇, the inclination angle α of a shoulder with respect to the horizontal, the circumference of the chest above the breasts M₁, the distance between the breasts M₁₂;
  • resting the "L"-square on the person so that the first arm touches an upper part of a shoulder and the second arm, arranged vertically, touches the most protruding part of the breast corresponding to the shoulder to measure a reference length M₂₀,
  • defined by the distance between the vertical straight line passing through the most protruding point of the breast and the resting point of said first arm on the upper part of the shoulder,
• calculating the following values:
• a first value V₁, obtained by means of the formula: V₁ = M₁/12;
• a second value V₂, obtained by means of the formula: V₂ = (M₁₃/2) - V₁ + T₁ - 0.5 cm

• a third value V₃ expressed in degrees, obtained by means of the formula V₃ =α + 8°
• a fourth value V₄, obtained by means of the formula V₄ = (M₁₂/2) + 1 cm;
• and a reference value V_ref = M₂₀/2, named "breast dart width",
• operating the following geometric construction:
  • tracing a first segment AB, comprising a first end point A and a second end point B, of length equal to measurement M₇;
  • tracing a second segment AC perpendicular to the first segment AB, of length equal to the first value V₁;
  • tracing a third segment CD inclined with respect to the second segment AC by a first acute angle equal to the third value V₃ and of length equal to the second value V₂, the third segment CD comprising a third end point D;
  • tracing a first straight line r1 parallel to the first segment AB, distant from the latter by a length equal to said fourth value V₄, and comprising a first point E and a second point F, wherein the second point F is the intersection point between a second straight line r2 passing through the second end point B and perpendicular to the first segment AB, and wherein the first point E is the intersection point between the straight line r1 and the third segment CD, defining a fourth segment EF, a fifth segment ED and a second acute angle DEF;
  • tracing a third straight line r3, parallel to the first straight line r1 and at a distance from the latter equal to said reference value V_ref,
  • determining a third point L given by the intersection between a circumference centered in the second point F and passing through the first point E, and the third straight line r3, defining a sixth segment LF of length equal to the fourth segment EF;

The method is particularly adapted to make a sewing pattern for outerwear, from which a bodice, a shirt, a jacket or a coat can be made, for example. Advantageously, the method of the invention may include one or more steps in which the fit is checked so that possible corrections to the finished outerwear are minimized.

Advantageously, the method according to the invention includes making the width of the breast dart on the basis of a measurement taken with an "L"-shaped square, so as to provide outerwear which better fits the physical features of a woman, in particular her breast size.

In the present content, all the segments, such as for example AB, AC and the like, should be understood as two points of a line, e.g. between points A and B, A and C etc.

Preferably, all the measurements or lengths indicated by letter M and respective subscript are measured according to the decimal metric system, preferably in cm or in mm. It is worth noting that using a measurement system for the described values different from the decimal metric system is not beyond the scope of the present invention.

The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in the light of the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive embodiment of a method for making a sewing pattern illustrated by the way of non-limitative example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Fig. 1 shows a sewing pattern of the invention;
• Fig. 2 shows a geometric construction according to the present invention;
• Fig. 3 shows a diagrammatic front view of a person and of the measurements according to the method of the invention;
• Fig. 4 shows a diagrammatic front view of a person and other measurements according to the method of the invention;
• Fig. 5 shows a diagrammatic rear view of a person and other measurements for the method of the invention;
• Fig. 6 shows a diagrammatic side view of a person and other measurements according to the method of the invention;
• Fig. 7 diagrammatically shows the side profile of a person and the positioning of a square for a measurement according to the invention.

Some points of the sewing pattern are highlighted by full squares for clarity.

The same reference numbers in the figures identify the same elements or components.

An embodiment of a method for making a sewing pattern 100 is shown with reference to the figures. According to the invention, the sewing pattern is divided into three sectors, in particular a first sector 1, named "chest sector", a second sector 2, named "armhole sector" and a third sector 3, named "back sector". The second sector 2 is arranged between the first sector 1 and the third sector 3. The first sector 1 comprises a "V"-shaped zone, indicated by reference numeral 10, defined by two consecutive segments, and in particular by a segment LF and another segment FE. After having made the sewing pattern, the sewing pattern may be cut along such segments LE and FE to make a dart for accommodating the size of the breasts. The method includes measuring the parts of a body of a person, in particular a woman, in order to make a sewing pattern for a woman.

In order to make the first sector 1, the rear width of the shoulders M₁₃, the length of the breast M₇, the circumference of the chest above the breasts M₁ and the distance between the breasts M₁₂ is measured. Such measurements and the method for taking them are well known in the industry. Preferably, the length of the breast M₇ is measured from the upper part of the shoulder down to the breast level, in particular to the nipple. The length the breast may be measured with a tailor's measuring tape by resting one end of the measuring tape on the upper part of the shoulder and extending it to the nipple with an inclination with respect to the vertical which will depend on the breast size. Preferably, the end of the measuring tape is arranged on the upper part of the shoulder at a distance from the neck equal to M₁/12, i.e. V₁. Advantageously, the method also includes the inclination α of a shoulder with respect to the horizontal, and such a measurement is preferably measured in degrees.

Advantageously, unlike the prior art, the method also includes measuring a length M₂₀, or reference length, by means of an "L"-square 4. The "L"-square 4 has a first arm 5 and a second arm 6 forming the "L", and at least the first arm 5 is graduated by means of a plurality of graduation notches which have increasing values, according to a scale in centimeters or millimeters, starting from the cross point between the first arm 5 and the second arm 6.

Alternatively, the graduation starts from a predetermined distance, for example 10 cm. Preferably, in this case, the first graduation notch is thus labeled with number 5, and the graduation pitch is 1 cm between the labeled notches with 0.5 increments. This graduation avoids needing to divide the length M₂₀ by two in the step of the method which will be described below.

The length M₂₀ is measured by resting the square 4 on the person, so that the first arm 5 touches an upper part of the shoulder and that the second arm 6 touches the breast corresponding to the shoulder, e.g. for example a left shoulder with the left breast. In particular, to measure the length M₂₀ the second arm 6, is arranged vertically, touches the most protruding point of the breast with respect to the chest, and is arranged perpendicularly to the ground (not inclined ground). In particular, the length M₂₀ is defined by the distance between the vertical straight line passing through the most protruding point of the breast and the resting point of the first arm 5 on the upper part of the shoulder. Preferably, the square 4 is provided with a spirit level 7 to check the correct positioning of the square 4 itself during the measurement.

The resting point of the first arm 5 on the upper part of the shoulder is at the joint point between shoulder and neck. Said joint zone, also named neck zone, is generally arranged at a distance V₉ = M₁ /12 from the mean point of the shoulder blade.

Such measurements are used to calculate some values which are used to draw the sewing pattern. In particular, the method includes calculating:

• a first value V₁, obtained by means of the formula: V₁ = M₁ /12, also named "front neckline width" or "rear neckline width".
• a second value V₂, obtained by means of the formula: V₂ = (M₁₃/2) - V₁ + T₁ - 0.5 cm

• a third value V₃ expressed in degrees, obtained with the formula V₃ = α + 8°, also named front shoulder inclination;
• a fourth value V₄, obtained by means of the formula V₄ = (M₁₂/2) + 1 cm;
• a reference value V_ref = M₂₀/2, also named "breast dart width",

Once such measurements and such values are known, the method includes making the following geometric construction:

• tracing a first segment AB, comprising a first end point A and a second end point B, of length equal to measurement M₇;
• tracing a second segment AC perpendicular to the first segment AB, of length equal to the first value V₁;
• tracing a third segment CD, inclined with respect to the second segment AC by a first acute angle equal to the third value V₃ and of length equal to the second value V₂; the third segment CD comprising a third end point D;
• tracing a first straight line r1 parallel to the first segment AB, distant from the latter by a length equal to said fourth value V₄, and comprising a first point E and a second point F, wherein the second point F is the intersection point between a second straight line r2 passing through the second end point B and perpendicular to the first segment AB, and wherein the first point E is the intersection point between the straight line r1 and the third segment CD, defining a fourth segment EF, a fifth segment ED and a second acute angle DEF;
• tracing a third straight line r3, parallel to the first straight line r1 and at a distance from the latter equal to said reference value V_ref,
• determining a third point L given by the intersection between a circumference centered in the second point F and passing through the first point E, and the third straight line r3, defining a sixth segment LF of length equal to the fourth segment EF.

From this geometric construction, it results that the first point E, the second point F and the third point L define the "V"-shaped zone of the first sector. Advantageously, the geometric shape of such a "V"-shaped sector is defined on the basis of M₂₀, which was previously measured with the "L"-square.

Preferably, the method also includes measuring the rear armhole level M₁₁ and calculating a fifth value V₅, obtained with the formula V₅ = M₁₁ + T₂ + V_ref - 6 cm, where T₂ is the second tolerance value; the following steps are included:

• tracing a seventh segment LM inclined with respect to the sixth segment LF by an acute angle MLF equal to the second acute angle DEF and of length equal to the fifth segment ED;
• determining a fifth point N which lays on the first segment AB at a distance from the first end point A equal to V₅;

• tracing a fourth straight line r4 perpendicular to the first segment AB and passing through the fifth point N;
• tracing a fifth straight line r5, parallel to the first segment AB, passing through the fourth point M, which intersects the fourth straight line r4 in the sixth point P, so that the fourth point M and the sixth point P define an eighth segment MP;
• determining the mid-point Q of the eighth segment MP and tracing a sixth line r6 perpendicular to the first segment AB and passing through point Q, so that the sixth straight line r6 intersects the sixth segment LF and the fourth segment EF at points R and S, respectively,
• measuring the length M₂₁ of the distance from point R to point S, which is named "chest dart width".

The rear armhole level M₁₁ can be measured, for example, as the distance between the upper part of the shoulder and the corresponding armpit.

Advantageously, the method allows determining the breast dart width, which is an important parameter for making the outerwear. Furthermore, the method advantageously includes using the chest dart width to make the sewing pattern, as will be described below.

Preferably, the method also includes calculating a sixth value V6, obtained by means of the formula V6 = (M₁₃/2) + T₁ + 0.5 cm -T₃, where T₃ is a third tolerance value from 0 to 2 cm, preferably equal to 1.2 cm.

The width L₁ of the third sector 3, or back sector, along a direction perpendicular to the first segment AB is equal to L₁ = V₆.

Preferably, the method also includes calculating a further value V₁₀ = V₆ - T₄ + T₈ is provided, where T₄ is a fourth tolerance value from 1 to 3 cm, preferably equal to 2.3 cm and T₈ is a further tolerance value,
and measuring the circumference of the chest at the breasts M₂ and calculating a seventh value V₇, obtained with the formula V₇ = (M₂/2) - (M₁/2). If the condition V₇> 2 cm occurs, which indicates that the person has large breasts, the step of calculating an eighth value V₈ is included, obtained with the formula V₈ = (V₇ - 2 cm)/2, and the fourth tolerance value T₈ is equal to V₈, otherwise T₈ = 0. Such a checking operation is advantageous because it is performed already during the creation of the sewing pattern, and thus allows to minimize any changes to the finished outerwear.

The invention further provides an optimal measurement of the width of the first sector 1. In particular, the width L₂ of the first sector 1 along a direction perpendicular to the first segment AB is expected to be equal to L₂ = V₁₀ + M₂₁ - 0.5 cm.

The invention further provides an optimal measurement for the width of the second sector 2. In particular, the circumference of the arm M₆ is measured in order to determine such a width, from which the width L₃ of the second sector 2 can be calculated along a direction perpendicular to the first segment AB; the width of the second sector is obtained with the formula according to which L₃ = (M₆ + T₅)/2 - 5 cm. The circumference of the arm M₆ is taken in a position between the elbow and the corresponding shoulder, preferably the most protruding part (or maximum circumference) in such a zone.

The invention also provides an optimal measurement of the width of the sewing pattern. Following the steps of the method, the total width L_tot of the sewing pattern along a direction perpendicular to the first segment AB, is equal to L_tot = L₁ + L₂ + L₃ + T₆, where T₆ is a variable value typically from 0 to 6 cm.

Preferably, a step of checking the total length Ltot of the sewing pattern is included. In particular, if condition L_tot ≠ M₂/2 + T₇ occurs, i.e. Ltot is different from (M₂/2 + T₇), the value T₆ is adjusted by means of the formula T₆ = Ltot- M₂/2 + T₇, where T₇ is a tolerance value.

In this case, the value of T₆, which may be positive or negative, is equally divided between L₁, L₂ and L₃.

Preferably, the back sector also has a "V"-shaped zone.

The tolerance values T₁, T₂, T₅ and T₇ refer to the fit of the half of the rear shoulder width, of the armhole level, of the arm circumference and of the half-circumference of the height of the breasts, respectively. Such tolerance values may preferably vary as follows:

• the first tolerance value T₁ is from 0 to 2 cm, preferably from 0.5 to 1.5 cm, the second tolerance value T₂ is from 0 to 4 cm, preferably from 0 to 3 cm, the fifth T₅ tolerance value is from 4 to 8 cm, and the tolerance value T₇ is from 0 to 5 cm.
• Preferably, the sewing pattern is made for half the outerwear, another sewing pattern being able to be used, which is identical to the previous one, for making a complete garment.

According to a variant, the value V₁ is determined by measuring the circumference of the neck M₃₀. In particular, V1 = M₃₀/5 + 1 cm. In this case, all the steps of the method are the same as those described above. Furthermore, according to this variant, for the measurement M₇, an end of the measuring tape is preferably arranged at a distance from the neck equal to (M₃₀/5) +1 cm, i.e. V₁.