Fashion Designer Garment Construction & Tailoring

Question 1

What is a 'seam allowance' and what is the most common standard width in industrial garment production?

Accepted Answer

The extra fabric beyond the seam line included to allow for stitching and finishing; typically 1 cm (3/8 inch) in industrial production, 5/8 inch (1.5 cm) in home sewing patterns

Answer

Seam allowance is the fabric between the stitch line and the cut edge, necessary for stitching without compromising the garment's structural integrity. Industrial standards typically use 1 cm (3/8 inch); home sewing patterns generally use 5/8 inch (1.5 cm).

Question 2

What is a 'French seam' and in what garment applications is it most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A double-stitched seam where the raw edges are enclosed within the seam itself, creating a neat finish on both sides appropriate for sheer fabrics and fine lingerie

Answer

A French seam encloses raw edges by stitching first with wrong sides together (narrow seam), then turning and stitching again with right sides together, trapping the raw edges inside. It produces a clean finish visible from both sides without any serging.

Question 3

What is 'staystitching' and why is it essential in garment construction?

Accepted Answer

A line of straight stitching sewn in the seam allowance on curved or bias edges immediately after cutting to prevent those edges from stretching out of shape during construction

Answer

Staystitching stabilizes curved and bias-cut edges (necklines, armholes, waistlines) by stitching within the seam allowance before handling. Without it, these edges stretch irreversibly during the sewing process, distorting the garment.

Question 4

What is the difference between a 'lockstitch' and a 'chain stitch' in industrial sewing?

Accepted Answer

A lockstitch interlocks upper thread with a bobbin thread from below, creating a secure stitch; a chain stitch uses only upper thread looped through itself from below, which is faster but unravels from the end

Answer

The lockstitch interlocks two thread sources mid-fabric, creating a secure stitch that cannot unravel from the end. The chain stitch loops upper thread through itself, creating fast seams but a looped structure that can unravel rapidly if the end thread is pulled.

Question 5

In tailoring, what is the purpose of 'pad stitching' in a jacket lapel?

Accepted Answer

To permanently set the roll of the lapel and interface the canvas to the fashion fabric through small hand stitches, creating the lapel's characteristic soft yet structured roll

Answer

Pad stitching in tailoring is the technique of making small herringbone hand stitches through the interfacing canvas and fashion fabric that simultaneously bonds the layers and sets the lapel's natural roll over the pad-stitching hand.

Fashion Designer Practice Test

Fashion Designer Practice Test

Fashion Designer Garment Construction & Tailoring