German teaches Vincentians ‘Golden Rule’ of creating custom clothing patterns

Vincentians are being given the opportunity to learn how to make custom clothing patterns.{{more}}

Frank Lutterloh, who is originally from Germany, is in St Vincent and the Grenadines for the second time, to share a skill with residents.

“I’m actually teaching a pattern making system that was invented in Germany in 1935. This pattern making system is very easy. Everybody can learn it within just one hour of time,” Lutterloh said.

Lutterloh told SEARCHLIGHT that the system, which is called “The Golden Rule”, is based on a mathematical formula that states that the human body is in proportion within itself.

“For instance, the distance of the outstretched arms from fingertip to fingertip is equal to the height of the body or eight times the length of the head equals the height of the body. The distance from the wrist to your elbow equals the foot length,” he explained.

As a result of these proportional relationships, custom patterns can be made using only two body measurements: the bust and hip.

Lutterloh stated that some persons often have problems finding clothes that fit because their body figure is not taken into consideration by clothing companies. Therefore, he is encouraging everyone to attend, whether they are beginners or experts at sewing.

“We took advantage of these well known proportional relationships in the anatomy of the human body and developed a pattern making system that allows even beginners to make a custom fit, made to measure patterns by using only two body measurements,” Lutterloh said.

“There is not so much sewing now going on in the world. Some people … they don’t have commercial sizes. The companies don’t offer commercial sized patterns and we show people a way of how they can make their own custom fit patterns very, very easy.”

Leroy Rock, the zonal coordinator in the Adult and Continuing Education Division, revealed that his division has partnered with Lutterloh, as they did in 2012, to train persons across the country.

Rock noted that St Vincent is a demand driven society and this training workshop will meet some of those demands.

“Every time that he (Lutterloh) comes, we will go to a different area, so different people will be exposed to this training. It’s actually a training workshop, teaching persons to make patterns, to sew. We in St Vincent are demand driven. There is a demand for sewing and food preparation, so we are actually focusing on those areas throughout the different zones,” Rock said.

The workshops began yesterday at Vinsave in Kingstown and will continue today at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Tomorrow, the workshop is scheduled to be in Chateaubelair at the Methodist Primary School at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. A session is also expected to be held in Barrouallie at 4 p.m.

On May 26, the workshop will travel to Union Island for the day, with sessions at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Learning Resource Centre, while on May 27, the workshop will take place in Bequia at 3 p.m. at the Bequia Anglican Primary School.

Each session is expected to last one hour.(BK)