Hello all,
it didn’t take long between signing up and whining for help
I am still in the learning phase with Seamly2D, but have run into issues with getting the curves fit my projected paths. In the (hopefully) attached image I have started to make the outline of a simple garment piece. There are several curves involved - I have probably not done the most economical job on this, this will come with time and practice. However, it works as far as it goes!.
The curves at the top: ‘A’ through ‘A3’ I got to fit, but the pattern outline points between ‘A26’ ⇾ ‘A25’, I was not able to get a nice even curve which follows the (eyeballed) points. I have connected these, pro tem, with straight lines just to show the track i need to get the curve(s) to fit to. even getting close would help, but I am stymied and would appreciate some pointers from the group.
Thanks for your patience (if you even got this far)
Here is my ‘little different’ effort to assist you:
I’ve put in 2 additional points between the main points (A1 to A5) which I used in creating the curve using the Spline - Fixed tool. I’ve tried to reference the lines between the main points to get an angle for these lines.
The reason why I used this method is because I don’t need to go into the curves properties to edit the length and angle of the curve handles, I can click on the label & edit them in the Property Editor. Which makes life much easier in this instance, and the extra points can be hidden in a group of their own later, if you don’t want to see them.
Here is my test pattern, have a look and see if it will help you:
Sorry for no responding sooner, but other projects at home have taken priority …
If I’m not mistaken, at first glance it would seem that you have drawn individual point, each one based (angle and length) relative to the previous point. Is that correct?
I was assuming that I could map out points on the curve I needed, and then connect the dots, allowing the Spline/Curve tool to draw the curve I needed.
Greetz,
David.
PS: should I have not ‘got’ that which you describe, please let me know.
No problem, we all have ‘other projects’ that infringe on our pattern making time
Yes, that’s correct. The idea is to get used to using references inside of the pattern (this makes the pattern resize smoothly when the measurements file is changed) and to keep the 180° angle on either side of a point - often these will be at 90° to something else, but this isn’t a hard & fast rule in this type of curve, so you can adjust them in small increments until you get the desired curve.
I found it much easier to be able to edit the points rather than to have to open the Properties of a curve each time I wanted to make a minor adjustment.
Yip! first you lay the game board & then you play the game. If you wish, you can delete the curve (you can always Undo the delete, or download the test file again) on the file that I sent you & see the points that I lay down before creating the curve.
The method is described in this topic, which could help you a lot to decide on the length & angle of you curve control points, won’t really work in your case, however, this can be solved if you don’t expect to change the size of the pattern.
I’ve added a new curve to this test file which you can have a look at:
Hi (to both)
I was, and am, aware that ‘everyone’ can see this topic chain. I only desired to let Grace know I appreciated her assist in this particular topic and not to start subverting the issue by asking other questions not directly linked to this specific case.
No problem. If they’re all to do with curves, then please do post them in this topic, however, if not, it would be better to start a new topic for a new subject. This way, people will be able to find what they’re looking for when they do a search.
OK! On the subject of curves (and other shapes as well):
Is it possible to copy (as an ‘Object’) a curve or portion of a garment ‘piece’ that would be useable as a mating edge for an adjoining piece of the same garment? Or even re-use it for a similar ‘Piece’?
Since I have not found a way of copying (e.g. Cntl+‘C’) or creating an object out of parts (Lines & Curves etc), I am assuming probably not!
If the above methods are not possible / feasable, I assume that I will have to recreate those element anew or copy the whole file and delete those elements - not having ‘children’ of course - and draw / create the mating piece on that structure.
Thanks for your patience and willingness to help, with best regards,
David D.
PS: I also have queries regarding grading & re-sizing, and creating a ‘Piece’ structure that I can programme to ‘automatically’ reposition ‘Points’ based on the dimensions of a particular baseline element.
I have already created a trial for this which will reposition points on a curve according to a baseline element - in my case the ‘X’ axis of a construction framework.
As long as it’s acceptable to have this as a direct duplicate on the same drafting block, you can “copy” a collection of objects (points/curves) by Mirroring or Moving them. All of these functions are found in the Operations toolbox. You can also call the Move tool with Alt+M. Mirroring will, of course, give an inverse copy. I should also note that since the “copy” isn’t re-using the original tools, & thus lacks the same connections, the construction lines won’t transfer; if you want them, you’ll have to add them back in with the Line tool.
Ok, let’s start at the beginning. Once you’ve created your curve or other object, it can be used in multiple different pattern pieces. I tend to draft my patterns using the existing nodes. Like in the case of pockets on trousers…
The draft:
The pattern:
So yes, you can draw on all your pattern pieces that match that area & create different pattern pieces.
As far as this bit is concerned… this is where the Mirror Object tool becomes really handy.
Here, I’ve used it to create the fly piece:
I find that using the Ctrl+C great in copying formulas from one place to another. It’s mate is Ctrl+V for paste. However, they don’t work in copying parts of the draft or the pattern pieces.
Ok, Seamly doesn’t really do grading, it rather does re-sizing and this happens automatically when you either change the size (if you’re using a multisize measurements file) or if you load a different individual’s measurements file into the pattern.
I normally work with a multisize measurements file so that I can change the size and check that everything resizes smoothly. Then I load personal measurements and check again.
YES! That helps a lot, you have cleared up some points for me and I thank you for the answers. As you can tell, I still have some way to go before I can consider myself proficient in this application.
Thank you for your detailed answer(s). I will need some time to read / study that which you explain here, and I will get back to you on this.
As it happens, you have touched on a couple of things regarding patterns, that I need clarification on, and I will post these in that categorie. Or would it be better, considering my ‘n00bieness’, to post into ‘Newbies’?
If you are confident of the proper category, by all means use it! But if you feel unsure due to a lack of experience on the board, the Newbies category is also quite acceptable. If you mis-assign it, a moderator will happily move it to a more appropriate category*.
(* within reason, if it’s completely out of place or habitual they’ll start getting a little grumpy)
And everyone can read, learn &/or respond to your questions here. It’s just that it seems that I’m the only one who has 
