tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18642968.post114674409078608212..comments2024-03-27T23:02:05.646-05:00Comments on Sew Random: Pants Grainline Musings, part 1Lisa Lareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11516986664460840579noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18642968.post-1146841876300462812006-05-05T10:11:00.000-05:002006-05-05T10:11:00.000-05:00Ok, I edited my original post to hopefully be a li...Ok, I edited my original post to hopefully be a little clearer about what originially triggered my 'but you're not changing anything!' response. The PR chat was the first and most noteable place I encountered the 'redraw the grainline' instruction, but there have been others here and there. If the instruction had been to fold the leg in half, so there is a vertical crease down the center of the leg, and use that as the grainline I could see that that could change the grain placement. But that wasn't how the instructions to move the grainline were given...it was just 'draw a line parallel to the grainline'. If folding the pattern results in a line that is NOT parallel to the grainline printed on the pattern, then, yes, by all means redraw it. Parallel to the fold line.Lisa Lareehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11516986664460840579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18642968.post-1146839577217752702006-05-05T09:32:00.000-05:002006-05-05T09:32:00.000-05:00Yeah, I agree that the center of the leg needs to ...Yeah, I agree that the center of the leg needs to be on grain; and marking the C would certainly be the starting point for shaping, but that line is getting used for two things there...the 'balance point', if you will, of being the center, and the grain placement. It has to stay there in terms of balance point, but for the purposes of determining the grain of the pants, it doesn't matter where it's drawn so long as it's parallel to the center line. What I'm puzzled over is the instructions that I've seen (it was an Expert Chat on PR, but it's been a while and I don't remember who the Expert was) that, if the grainline is not drawn down the center of the leg, to redraw it by drawing a line parallel to the grainline drawn on the pattern. This was supposed to make the pants drape better. But in terms of how the grain relates to the center of the leg...that doesn't change anything....Lisa Lareehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11516986664460840579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18642968.post-1146829399859047092006-05-05T06:43:00.000-05:002006-05-05T06:43:00.000-05:00Lisa, I've lately been experimenting with differen...Lisa, I've lately been experimenting with different pants drafting methods. I've learned that there is reason for the position of the grainline in pants. In every method I've tested so far, the grainline is to fall midway between the full hip and the center front. This grainline marking also acts as a midpoint for any shaping that takes place on the leg of the pant later. <BR/>The position of the grainline is intended not only for the fabric orientation, but also as a balance point for the pants. Much the same as a bodice must hang properly from the shoulders, a pant leg needs to be balanced along the leg. <BR/>The likely reason that the Oxford pant hangs nicely is a combination of the straight grain at the side seam, the care you have taken in fitting the pants properly, and the shape of the wearer. Other pant patterns with the same straight grain at the side seams include the Kenenbi from Sewing Workshop and any one-seam pant. <BR/>If a pant leg is tapered toward the leg or flares away from the leg, that straight of grain line will be ended at some point near the knee. <BR/>I'm still experimenting....and learning a lot more about pants than I thought was possible to know:)<BR/>ShannonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com