Make Sense Out of Repeats

By: Andrea Schuch
I noticed a comment on our blog a month or so ago from Patricia Wendell, who operates her own work room, regarding repeats and drop matches. I had already been thinking that I should do a post on this so the timing couldn't have been better. I asked Patricia to help us out and she did! She spells it all out for us bellow, she also tells us how to visualize these repeats better which will help us all calculate our yardage a little better. Thanks Patricia for all the help!

By: Patricia Wendell

STRAIGHT MATCH, AND DROP MATCH REPEAT


A pattern repeat is the measurement from the top of one whole pattern motif to the top of the next, or from the middle to the middle, i.e. vertical or horizontal repeats. If you don’t know how to correctly plan the repeats, you will end up with too much fabric, or worse—not enough to do the job. Figuring exact yardage calculations is a job best done by your workroom expert, but it is good for designers to get the gist of it.

A drop match repeat, aka half match, is when a pattern does not match itself at the selvages when cut straight across. The fabric repeat has been dropped by one half at the other side of the width. Every other cut will be the same. (See example drop match.)




Drop matches aren’t always indicated on the swatch, but you will see it in a virtual view. Figuring yardage for a drop match is just like figuring yardage for a straight across match, except there is an extra step. After you have multiplied the repeat size by the number of repeats needed, you always have to add or subtract ½ of a repeat. If subtracting ½ a repeat results in less inches than you need for your cut lengths you would have to add the ½ repeat instead.

A pattern repeat with a straight match is when a pattern matches itself at the selvages when cut straight across. This is way more common than a drop match. (See example straight match.)




VIRTUAL PATTERN REPEATS

Ever wish you could see a full width and long length of a patterned fabric, instead of just one repeat? Being able to do that makes it easier to determine whether the repeat will be a straight match, or a drop match.

Here is an easy way to make a virtual cut & paste mockup using an accessory program called Paint in Microsoft office suite.

1. From vendor website, find the screen showing the particular fabric’s photo of the repeat, width and horizontal and vertical repeat info. Notice how many times the repeat divides evenly into the width—that’s how many copies of the repeat you’ll need to virtually make a whole width. Notice whether the fabric is railroaded (run sideways off the bolt) or cut upright.

At the same time Press Ctrl + Prt Scr to copy the screen. It disappears to the clipboard temporarily until the next step.

2. Open the Paint program and Paste the image by pressing Ctrl + V. Save it and Print a copy for your workroom. See #1 (Specs). Don’t clear the screen yet—we will be manipulating it in the next step.

3. Click on the dotted box tool (select) which will allow you to isolate the photo of the repeat including the inch indicators. Copy the repeat (Ctrl + C). Open up a new Paint screen and Paste (Ctrl + V). Copies pop up in the upper left corner of the work area. Click and drag it to middle for now. See #2 (PR Grid).

4. Click on the dotted box tool again to isolate the fabric without the inch indicators and Copy (Ctrl + C). Click, drag, and pattern match. Keep copying and pasting until it’s a full width (usually 54”) and longer than the cut length of your project. To move the copies, click and drag them into position, making sure the pattern matches. See #3 (Entirety).

By attaching this info to quote requests, your workroom pro can more accurately figure yardages, and also provide valuable technical advice and input for your custom designs.

You can contact Patricia at Patricia A. Wendell Workroom, 630-910-9752, http://www.patriciaworkroom.com/ or email at: patwendell@aol.com.