Creative Design: Professional

Exploration of the Applicability of a Zero Waste Pattern Grading Method to Childrenswear

---

Abstract

The purpose of this creative scholarship was to test the narrow fabric sizing method for zero waste patterns (Carrico, 2019; 2020) on a childrenswear garment. The children's size range includes sizes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 6x (girls) /7 (boys) (Joseph-Armstrong, 2010). In this size range, grading proportions differ significantly from women's sizes, as there is proportionally greater length measurement growth between sizes than in women's wear (Joseph-Armstrong 2010). Research questions were: (1) could a zero waste childrenswear pattern be graded into all the sizes in the range using fabric strips? and (2) would the method be suitable for manufacturing? The strip grading method promotes mainstream fashion integration of zero waste patternmaking by providing a solution to the common problem that zero waste patterns only work for one size (McKinney et al, 2020). It also provides an avenue to reduce waste by only producing garments in sizes ordered.

Keywords: zero waste, grading, childrenswear, patternmaking, sustainability

How to Cite:

McKinney, E. C., (2022) “Exploration of the Applicability of a Zero Waste Pattern Grading Method to Childrenswear”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 78(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.13749