Seam Allowance in PatternMaker 7.5

Seam Allowance Completes the Pattern

When you draft or edit patterns in PatternMaker 7.5, adding seam allowance is one of the important finishing steps. Seam allowance turns your pattern lines into cut-ready pattern pieces. In PatternMaker 7.5, there is more than one way to do this, and each method is useful in different situations.

Seam Allowance Methods:

 1. The Offset Method

The Offset tool is a quick way to add seam allowance around a pattern piece. It creates a new border at a set distance from the original pattern line. The seam allowance is the same amount all around. Its quick and works well for simple shapes. For example, if you want:  1/2 inch all around, or 1 cm all around, the Offset method is fast and convenient.

The Offset method is best when the entire pattern piece needs one uniform seam allowance and there is no need to treat one edge differently from another. For example:

•  a simple facing,
•  a collar piece,
•  a basic skirt section,
•  any pattern where all sides use the same seam value.

 2. Draw Menu > Seam Allowance

The Draw menu > Seam Allowance command gives you more control. This method allows you to apply seam allowance per segment. That means you can choose a different seam allowance for each edge of the pattern piece.

For example, you can set:

•  side seam = 1 inch,
•  shoulder seam = 1/2 inch,
• CB seam 1 inch,
• CF seam 0 inch
•  neckline = 1/4 – 1/2 inch,
• armhole = 1/2 inch
•  hem = 2 inches.

This is especially useful in garment production, where different parts of the same pattern piece often require different seam allowances.

 Why use Draw Menu > Seam Allowance?

•  It gives better control
•  It allows different values on different edges
•  It matches real garment construction needs
•  It is more professional for production patterns

 Choosing the Right Method

Both methods are useful. The best one depends on what you are trying to achieve.

• Use Offset when you want speed and uniformity.
• Use Draw menu > Seam Allowance when you want flexibility and accuracy per segment.