Ready for some geometry? Of course I wasn’t going to skip my favorite, the polyhedrons! This is a technique you can find in Pattern Magic 3.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never really liked mathematics, so it took me some time to understand how to calculate the pattern. I’ve put together a tutorial, trying to explain everything in the easiest way possible, using lots of drawings. Never mind the terms, not sure I used the official ones!
In addition to the usual tools ruler and pencil, you’ll also need a compass.
The pattern
1. Let’s get started by drawing any kind of polygon, regular or irregular, with as many angles as you want. Mine is an irregular triangle. Then you’ll choose where you want the highest point to be (see the orange dot).
2. Draw lines from each angle to the central dot. As a result, you now have many triangles. In my case three. Name or number each of them.
3. Now you’ll measure all the sides of your triangles. I separated the triangles to make it easier to understand, but you can do this in your original drawing. Only the outer edge is a final measurement (in black). The other ones still need another passage.
4. With the measurements you have now you can’t get a 3-dimensional result. You still have to consider the height of your polyhedron. So decide how high you want the highest point to be. I decided 5cm. Draw a 90 degree angle and mark the height at the vertical axis. All the other (=grey) measurements from your triangles go to the horizontal axis. Draw a line from each of them to your height-point and measure the lines to get the final measurements.
5. Almost done! Now you have all the measurements you need. You just have to put together the triangles again, using these measurements. First draw a line using the only measurement that remained the same from the beginning, namely the outer edge. Then pick up the new measurements with the compass from the previous drawing and find the point where the two measurements align to get a triangle.
6. The last thing to do, is to copy all the triangles together in right order. This is why you must name the pieces. Copy also the original flat polygon. You’ll need it as a base. The pattern is ready!
Sewing
Just some quick notes about sewing. And btw, you’ll get better results by using a fusible interfacing, which I didn’t use here.
1. First close the polyhedron, leaving the amount of seam allowance open at the edge. Snip the other angle-tips, too. This will make it easier to attach the piece to its base.
2. Turn around and press all the facets. Be careful not to go over the tip of the polyhedron. Attach it on the base. Done!
Adding polyhedrons to a garment-pattern
With these instructions you can make all kinds of polyhedrons. When adding them to your pattern, just draw the shape where you want it to be. Then copy it/them from the pattern and make all the calculations as usual. Only thing to add, if you have many of them in one garment, are marks between the different pieces and giving a number or name to each so you’ll know which one goes where. Sometimes you can also absorb darts by placing the polyhedrons strategically.
To finish, here are two examples of patterns I’ve done. See http://theshapesoffabric.com/2018/02/06/pattern-magic-as…spiration-part-2/ for the finished pieces. The skirt was admittedly kind of crazy and it took me ages to calculate all the bits!
17 Comments
I’m really glad you made this tutorial because it was very hard for me to learn from the book. Unfortunately, I am still a bit confused. I am making a sleeve with polyhedrons towards the end of the sleeve and I am working on the pattern. I get to the end where I am putting my pieces back together and when I do I get the same shape as the base and not the odd shape with the space in the middle. Can you clarify how this part is to be done?
Hi! Maybe you resolved this already, but in case you didn’t: from what you tell me, it seems that the error lies in the calculation of the polyhedron height. So points 4 and 5 of the tutorial. Maybe you forgot to change the initial measurements into the ones that have the height calculated in.? That would result in a flat shape. I hope this helps.
Again and again excellent keep up the good work I love it stax
Thanks so much! 🙂
Thank you so much, the tutorial is so understandable,I will definitely be making this as my fabric manipulation for my final year project
You’re welcome. 🙂 Wonderful! You’ll find several other polyhedron projects here at my blog, too. So check those out as well. 😉
Hi1. So I have been using this book and technique for years. I am starting to use it in different applications that are too large for a compass- Is there a mathematical formula or calculator or computer program that can apply what you are looking for in a large scale?
This is actually an urgent question as I am working on something that is time sensitive and desperate for some help here.
Thank you!
Kristy
Hi Kristy, I’m not aware of a formula or computer program, but I often use ruler or measuring tape when the compass is not enough (for example when drafting the circle skirt pattern). In this case it should be quite doable. In fact, sometimes when I’m feeling lazy I use ruler for the polyhedrons even if the compass would be good. I just don’t feel like fetching it. 😀 You just rotate the ruler and draw your guideline.
Thank you! I actually just purchased a ruler that holes in it that can be used like a compass- I did not realize you could do that all these years until I bought this one.
Wow I really loved the explanation thanks so much
You’re welcome. 🙂
Hi, I had a question in the last step after markin where will the triangles be placed , how do we attach all of them so close to each other will the machine run
Hello. I think you should be able to sew them, but it also depends on the type of fabric and your machine. I have sewn polyhedrons in a relatively thick faux leather with a non-industrial Bernina but it’s the 1008 so it’s not very picky on materials. 😀
Saludos, excelente! felicitarlos.
Me gustaría saber dónde encuentro otros tutoriales así de todas estas bellezas.
Muchas gracias. 🙂 These type of designs are hiding inside other tutorials, such as the ones I dedicated to geometric designs.
Very cool pattern. One question I have is do you have to top stitch all the lines which make up the triangle or will pressing be enough for it to stay in shape and not be rounded when making a garment. Thanks.
For heavy weight materials and those you can’t press (like the cork and faux leather) it’s better to top stitch. For linen, cotton, and such you can also press. But it’ll be a high-maintenance garment. 😀 I find that top stitching for light-weight materials tends to become wobbly.