Fashion Designer Garment Construction & Tailoring 2

Question 1

What is 'grading' in pattern making and why is it necessary for commercial garment production?

Accepted Answer

The process of proportionally increasing or decreasing a base size pattern to create a complete range of sizes while maintaining the garment's design proportions

Answer

Pattern grading scales a single size base pattern up and down across a size range by applying standardized grade rules at specific points, enabling production of a garment design in multiple sizes without redesigning each separately.

Question 2

What is an 'invisible zipper' and which technique ensures it remains truly invisible when installed correctly?

Accepted Answer

A zipper with the coil folded to the back of the tape so the coil is hidden in the seam; proper installation requires pressing the coil open before stitching and using a specialized presser foot to sew directly beside the coil

Answer

Invisible zippers are designed with the spiral coil rolled to the back of the tape. Installing them correctly requires unrolling the coil by pressing with a warm iron, then sewing with an invisible zipper foot that feeds the unrolled coil through a channel that allows stitching right at the base of the coil.

Question 3

What is 'boning' in couture and structured garment construction, and what materials are used?

Accepted Answer

Rigid or semi-rigid strips inserted into channels in bodices, corsets, and strapless garments to provide structural support, maintain silhouette, and prevent garment collapse

Answer

Boning consists of rigid or flexible strips (historically whalebone, now typically steel, nylon monofilament, or polyester spiral boning) encased in sewn channels that give structured garments (corsets, strapless gowns, bustiers) their shape and support.

Question 4

What is a 'flat-felled seam' and where is it most commonly used?

Accepted Answer

A fully enclosed seam where one allowance wraps around and encloses the other, then topstitched flat, creating a strong, durable, and neat-finished seam used in denim jeans and work shirts

Answer

The flat-felled seam (or felled seam) encases both raw edges by wrapping one seam allowance over the other and topstitching flat, producing the characteristic double-stitch line on the exterior with no exposed raw edges on the interior: essential in denim construction.

Question 5

What is 'underlining' in couture construction and how does it differ from interlining and lining?

Accepted Answer

Underlining is a backing fabric cut identically to each garment piece and basted to it before construction, adding body and hiding construction details; interlining adds warmth or structure between lining and outer; lining is the interior finishing fabric

Answer

These three distinct construction layers each serve different purposes: underlining adds body/opacity to fashion fabric and conceals interior seams; interlining provides insulation or additional stiffness between lining and shell; lining provides a clean interior finish and improves wearability.

Fashion Designer Practice Test

Fashion Designer Practice Test

Fashion Designer Garment Construction & Tailoring 2