This project is an attempt to use code to plot patterns for draping. Overall, this project seeks to use Excel, Python, and Inkscape to make this accessible to a wide variety of people, and also able to be edited. These software choices are mainly comfort based, and these may limit execution; there are possible extensions to this idea to a SQL database for patterns, and a package with a graphical user interface that incorporates all of the above into a binary package to be used on windows / mac. I am also interested in software that factors in common fitter measurement deviations (per fitter), and error correction to adjust the equations that drive the geometry. But I digress.

The goal is to start at men's coats, jackets, and pants, and then slowly expand software capabilities. The intent is to provide a framework and robust subcomponents that can be reused in order to automate most of the math involved in patterning, in order to increase the likelihood of first drafts of patterns fitting, allow older systems to be produced en masse, and to allow corrected patterns to be printed.

Intended hardware and software required: Laptop running Windows or Mac Python 3.

Intended License: GPLv2 Only

Definitions: System -- A collection of patterns, typically based on one set of measurements, and often drafted using the same construction lines. Measurements -- Distances that define the person to costumers. They consist of many Standard Figure -- Also labeled ideal figure, these are the range over which the system works Variations -- These tend to be different figures with significant variation compared to the standard figure, and as such have offsets to measurements that are significant enough to require special adjustments. Common ones in older books are corpulent, stout, and slim. Also referred to as figure. Construction Lines -- Lines drawn based on measurements that do not often directly translate to the pattern, but provide useful relative points for the pattern draft.

Software to be used: Microsoft Excel -- The versatility and wide knowledge base of Excel means that many people can learn the specialty formulas used in this project. Some specialty excel functions / tricks are used in this project. Excel will house the pattern book specific math, and the user interface for selecting which pattern to load. Python -- This will be the hidden part of the code, mainly being a bridge between the Excel document and Inkscape tool. The main goals of the python side of the project will be a) transferring the data over to visualization tools (inkscape, previews in Excel), and not having to be directly interacted with for most people using the program. Modules being considered -- py2exe -- packaging into executable pyinstaller -- packaging into executable openpyxl -- Excel visualization xlwings -- Excel visualization matplotlib -- Excel visualization pandas -- Interacting with Excel custom python -- Get it to talk with inkscape Inkscape -- Inkscape enables a user to then edit the pattern output, and for the initial versions allow the user to connect curves. Inkscape has been chosen, despite quirks, for being relatively straightforward to use.

Additional documentation can be found in the documentation folder.