Thursday, July 3, 2008

Croquis Anyone?

Today I decided to remove old e-mails from my in-box because I had over 1,200 in there and I came across some pictures I had my friend take of me last year when we were working on a draping class assignment. I had thought that I would use them to make myself a croquis (pronounced kro-key), which is a sketch of the outline of a human body. There are instructions for making one in Fantastic Fit for Every Body by Gale Grigg Hazen. When I first looked at the pictures many months ago, I was so aghast at what my body shape looked like that I closed the e-mail and forgot about it. Fortunately I'm feeling better about myself and decided to make a croquis.

Kind of shocking when I first saw it, but that's me. If I wasn't already doing Weight Watchers, I'd be joining today after seeing this silhouette. I'm close to being as deep as I am wide. But that's another blog entry for another day. What's a croquis used for, you ask? Well, according to GGH, I use it to plan successful garments that will compliment my figure. I can check the proportions of any garment to my body shape. Lots of garments look great on the skinny model on the envelope, but what will it look like on me? Let's take New Look 6781 for example:


Right away I can see that it is too long. It would look better if it came to right above the crotch, not below. Also, the tie-back is a bad idea. The neckline could be lowered a bit as well. I still like the pattern, but I'm not as hot to sew it up as I once was. Orange wouldn't be my choice, but it was the only marker I could find at the time.

Another reason for making a croquis, according to GGH, is to make observations on how my body is different from the pattern companies' standard body form. She has you compare your croquis to a standard dress form size 12. I thought I'd share that with you, but please hold the laughing to a minimum.

If you can't tell, that's me on the outside and inside is the size 12 in blue. As if I didn't already know I have to add a ton of width and depth around the middle of my body. I certainly could have gone all day with out actually putting this down on paper. I only share it with you so that you know what you're in for if you try this at home. Of course, you could be one of the lucky ones that actually look like a size 12 dress form. If that's the case, I may hate you. I haven't decided yet.

15 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting your croquis, Sherril. I know this theoretically but had never seen it demo'd on a body with which I am familiar. Quite a cool tool!

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  2. Nope, no size 12 here. This is a brilliant tool. I've been debating making a Duct Tape Dummy but I want to make sure I have a cupboard to put it in before I do. It might be a bit of a shock for visitors otherwise, lol. A croquis is a bit less obtrusive.

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  3. You are a sweetie for being so upfront[in a manner of speaking
    ;-)) ],Sherril. I have been meaning to do this too for ages,for just the same reason as you. I just wish you hadn't put up croquis(pl?) of ME,though....
    :-)))) IOW...we are so similar in shape-I've often thought that I'm as wide as I am deep....Your comments on the orange top are spot-on.
    Aless

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  4. Thanks for the chuckle. I actually want to do one of these myself rather than guessing what styles work for me.

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  5. What an invaluable tool! I had completely forgotten that part of GGH's book. Thanks for sharing with us - I think I need one especially for checking lengths. Right now I am using my digital camera for that and this would be so much easier!

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  6. Sherril, this is awesome. Thanks for sharing and being transparent for us. No pun intended...or maybe...;)

    I very well may do this as it IS a helpful tool!
    Thanks.

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  7. I love the way you are so up front about your fit issues. It's what makes me check your blog day after day. I love that you attempted the croquis. What a wonderful tool. I love seeing how you work your different designs on the croquis and then make decisions from there. You go, girl!

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  8. How WONDERFUL for you to share "yourself", Sherril!!
    WHEN I can, I'm gonna "do" me, too!
    Thanks!
    Soft hug,
    Rhonda in Montreal (PR)

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  9. Happy Birthday to you!
    Happy Birthday to you!
    Happy Birthday dear Sherril!!!!
    Happy Birthday to you...and many more!!!!

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  10. Happy Birthday, DEAR Sherril!!
    Happy Birthday to Y-O-U!!
    Soft hug,
    Rhonda in Montreal (PR)

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  11. Happy Birthday, Sherril! Enjoy your day!

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  12. What a terrific tool. You've inspired me to try it. I hope you had a wonderful birthday.

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  13. Thank you so much for the croquis post. I've been dithering about different designs and panicking that they wouldn't look right after all that work and here is the answer! I haven't seen a croquis used before (self-taught/beginner sewer!) and I am the same shape as you. This has made so many things clearer to me!

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  14. You are an inspiration Sherril. I am a size twelve but I have lumps outside the line... thank you for showing how these things work.
    Val from Oz

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