Hello - I have just joined this group but my interest in design started in high school back in the 60s. I became passionate about acting, directing, and all the different technical fields involved in working in theater. I was fortunate during my undergraduate work at the University of Texas in Austin to study costume design with Dr. Paul D. Reinhardt. He introduced me to pattern design which fascinated me.

After I completed my graduate work I had the opportunity to teach Costume History and Design at a local community college. As I was researching different approaches to pattern design I realized almost all of them focused on the needs of the fashion industry. They were theoretical based on technical systems using measurement charts.

What I needed as a costume designer was a system that was about fitting the specific body of a performer with a specific design from any period in time or even completely imaginary. I needed a system I could understand and easily modify to my specific requirements. So I developed my own approach.

When I was looking for a New York publisher for a book on costume design, one said if you make this for the home sewer I will publish it. I could not resist the thought of a larger audience for my work. It has turned out to be the correct decision as my [*How to Make Sewing Patterns*](https://how-to-make-sewing-patterns.com/) has been continuously in print for over 50 years now.

Fortunately for my latest book [*Fashion & Costume Design in Quarter Scale*](https://fashion-design-in-quarter-scale.com/) I have been able to share my passion for costume design. This book introduces a new system of pattern design by tracing photos. I deeply regret not having had access to this concept 50 years ago.

The underlying concept for this approach to bespoke pattern making is that measurements show how much fabric is required to cover a body but do not reveal the body's contours. Photographs show the contours of a body but not how much fabric is needed. By combining measurements and photographs, custom-fit bespoke patterns can be created. While full-scale photos would not be practical, quarter-scale photos can be done on a desktop.

This system based on 6 photos of a person and 10 measurements is incredibly accurate for determining the size and shape of any body. At 82 I no longer have the energy to pursue costume design. But I can just imagine having a session, maybe during a rehearsal, of taking photos and measurements of all the cast then not needing to see them again until a final fitting session before dress rehearsals.

In the book I even show how to make a custom scaled down dress form which I call a Mini-Me. In the past I have used the prototypes of a design on a Mini-Me to take to production meetings to share with the rest of the production team and get their input.

My classes showing this system are currently a work-in-progress. While the book shows how to do this type of pattern design with pencil and paper, my current classes show how to do it using a computer. I will be adding parallel classes showing how to do it with pencil and paper.

Apologies for this over-long post but I would love to get some pre release feedback from any of you costume designers who would like to give it a try. The classes are available through this link [Pattern Design by Tracing Photo](https://patternmaking-classes.com/Tracing-Photos/index.html)s.

Pattern Design by Tracing Photos