Review: Dress Shop Version 4 is finally here.
It’s colorful, friendly and FUN and I’m pleased to say the bodice fit is outstanding!!!
For those that have worked the Luz fix and the back arm hole fix in the past.. they ARE NOT needed any more!
The sleeves FIT!
The program drafts to the numbers very accurately.
The ease issue is much easier to control.
The princess dress nips in quite tightly around the waist using just the default
You can change jacket lengths to become full length coats
I will tell you all the goodies and a few things Id rather see slightly different
Sorry, there is NO way to save a pattern file and use it in CAD at this time but you CAN underlay your sloper (in red) under any garment!!! and there is a GRID.. oops promised myself I wouldn’t jump ahead...
First some notes on setting up both your computer and your browser and then your printer:
There’s so very much to write about Ill take this by steps and keep adding things as the days go by. We will do the necessary stuff first then to the fun stuff in the coming days.
Generally speaking these are one time set ups unless you change printers or upgrade browsers!!!
V4 will use what printer you have set up in" windows printers" without a separate selection in DS.. and yes you can use a printer that's USB connected.
NB*** These settings work for me using MSIE 5.5 they may be different if you are using MSIE 5.0 PLEASE check with [email protected] for other browsers after you have received and installed your program disks!!!
One your computer:
DESKTOP:
This program likes to have certain settings and the MSIE 5.+ version to function best. ( You can download MSIE 5.5 direct from Microsoft.com or it will be on the CD rom the program is on.)
On your PC: Go to FILE, then settings ,SET THE DPI: you will get a print out at 800 dpi which is on the first page but it likes 1028/766 dpi best.. make this setting change if you have a NEWER computer... think twice if your machine is over 3 years old.
BUT then under that particular setting you will find advanced: click that and change to LARGE FONTS. you will get print registration errors with small fonts.
click ok.. after making your settings. Your computer is going to flicker a bit with the desk top changes.. don’t PANIC.. in a moment it will either stop flickering or go back to it’s original settings.
Close down your computer and REBOOT.
BROWSER SETTINGS:
This is on MSIE... click the blue E on your tool bar if its there, OR under programs Internet Explorer OR when you open Dress shop for the first time the front page will see this is version V4.40 and have Bob and Annette’s name.. find the word FILE and click on it, then on page set up
First thing check your paper size.. letter 8 1/2 by 11
Yes.. it can work on wide bed printers.. I finally got mine to behave even using Windows Millenium!!!
then under headers and footers select what is shown there and delete it.. leave these boxes BLANK
now under margins.. top bottom left and right make these as very small as they will stay. ( you can sometimes change them and they pop back to a higher number.) WRITE DOWN what the left/right and top bottom margins say... we will be using that later when we get to the PRINT functions.
OOOOKKK.... Im sure you are more than ready...
First there is a user manual and its pretty good...it opens in ADOBE ACROBAT which is available for a free download at this site
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
The Question mark button will take you there automatically and most is sensitive to the area you are looking at.
You will find detailed instructions on the chart measurement page on how to measure. Of course there are a few tricks.
So I guess Ill start with those first.
Around the head dip the tape fairly low at the back of the head at the very widest part.. and bring it up over the ears to the front forehead.. this will give you the biggest “head “ measurement.
Ribbing: This is going to change dependant on what fabric stretch you are using!! You have to put a value in there so enter something 2 inches less than the head measurement. BUT when using the ribbing first figure the degree of stretch.
IF you cut out a length of ribbing 6 inches long by 6 inches wide and lay it down on your cutting mat or next to a ruler and it stretches to 12 inches.. you have 100% stretch
if it stretches to 9 inches you have 75% stretch
if it only stretches to 7.5 inches you have 25% stretch...
Figure your ribbing number according to the amount of stretch you have!
IF the ribbing doesn’t go back to exactly 6 inches it means the memory isn’t so good.. reconsider using it!! or expect it to “bag”.
The around neck is taken at the base of your neck.. and not toooo tight. ( This is going to be used later when we talk about tanks, tee,s and polo’s...)
The next new measurement is the high bust.. this is taken only on the front and is from the underarm seam to underarm seam over the upper portion of your bra cup. The tape will slide on the “slope” so an extra finger is helpful.. to keep it in place..
The underbust measurement is taken just below the bra band.. if you take it on the bra band you are getting “compressed” readings on some gals.. so take it just under.
Those are the new ones!
You may use the v2.5 chart with TRUE numbers... tweaked numbers should be replaced by current accurate measurements. So if you have a seperate jacket chart or polo chart or shell chart go to the actual base numbers not a specialty silhouette chart.
Then you need to look at the crotch split.. crotch front and back. What I have been finding to date is to make this come out close you need to shorten the front crotch and lengthen the back crotch.
Annette says she moved hers 2 inches forward.
I moved mine and most of the ladies I’ve been doing approximately 1 inch.
I am so in love with my 2.5 pant fit I will stick with it at the moment. Remember these programs are TOOLS.. and you wouldn’t throw out a perfectly good pair of scissors or a workhorse sewing machine just cause you got a new one.
This takes care of my preliminary set up and measurement notes for you as of today.
There will be tons more.... Go play with the demo version till you get your disks!
Ill be reviewing some of the neat features in the coming days.
Dont forget the chat room.. we are on MIRC or IRCLE the server is starlink.org and most of us sine in at Wichita Falls, Tx but choose one you like.
The room (channel) name is #dressshop
There is a free download and instructions to get there on the main home page. see the telephone button .
I will be in the room nightly for the next week or so to answer questions starting at 8:30PM Eastern Time till about 10PM eastern.