What program can I use to organize small rectangles on a larger rectangle?

September 24, 2007 4:28 PM

I'm looking for a program that will help me tech edit sewing patterns. Specifically, I want to be able to check that the pattern calls for the correct amount of fabric. This involves putting flat shapes together and seeing how big they are when they're combined. (It's all very SAT, with a touch of Tetris.)

I'll have directions saying that, for example, I need to cut out two 23" x 12 1/2" rectangles, two 3" x 27" rectangles, and an 18" x 48" rectangle. The instructions say that all this should fit on a 18" x 60" piece of fabric. I need to confirm that that is, in fact, enough fabric for the reader to bring home from the store.

As it is now, I just draw little sketches of all the shapes and see how I can mash them together. It seems that this would be better done on a computer, but I have no idea what sort of a program this would take.

I have a Mac.

Suggestions?

posted by The corpse in the library to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

I use software called Pattern Master Boutique that's basic, consumer oriented pattern drafting software. It has a yardage calculator built in. It does basically what you describe yourself as doing in reality, though. You still have to fiddle with the pieces and find a way to make them fit. Since you'd have to hand draw the pattern pieces into the software, I'm not sure it would help much. Plus, I have no idea if it works on a Mac.

So, not much of a recommendation, but at least something.
posted by jacquilynne at 4:55 PM on September 24, 2007

The products you are looking for are generally referred to as "pattern nesting" or "marker making" software, the latter term referring specifically to the process in the apparel and soft goods industries of making a long, optimized paper cutting pattern to be laid on top of thick piles of fabric laid out on long cutting tables, to guide cutting machine operators in cutting piece goods. These products are generally large commercial software systems, that contain user created libraries of 2D pattern information, which the computer can use, along with lists of rules for fitting the pattern shapes to fabric (such as when using striped or pattern goods, 54" or 60" widths, non-standard selvages, etc.), to optimize the material use.

But unless you have some way of scanning in the pattern shapes that is highly accurate, just the nesting or marker making software is pretty useless. But if you want some places to start, Gerber, PAD, and Lectra are leading vendors (among many) of such systems.
posted by paulsc at 4:56 PM on September 24, 2007

The special case you cite of all your pattern pieces being rectangles lead me to mention "nesting" software, which is a more general product class used in the wood products and metal industries. There are many "nesting" packages for PCs that work to layout parts on plywood or MDF, that might be suitable for your use, if you are not concerned about automatically forcing layout to conform to fabric specific layout rules.

By this, I mean that for many purposes, it is necessary to allow extra fabric than a minimal layout would indicate, because fabric must be cut in certain ways, so that in use, its weave or knit properties, or its appearance is appropriate for the use of the final product. Simple nesting programs won't have these rule lists built in, but if your application isn't sensitive, perhaps you could use such products.
posted by paulsc at 5:03 PM on September 24, 2007