FreeSewing: sewing patterns in the open source world (WHY2025)

FreeSewing is the leading open-source library for parametric sewing patterns and combines sewing patterns with code; instead of drafting patterns on paper (hardly an easy task!), you can now enter the measurements of your body into the platform to get a sewing pattern that fits YOU. In this talk, I will introduce you to FreeSewing, the sewing world as a whole and FreeSewing's role in it, and I will show a peek under the hood of a FreeSewing pattern. If you want to learn how to sew, you must first have a sewing pattern. You are left to either buy (or find) sewing patterns, which are commonly graded (resized) up and down (often based on some "ideal" body shape, which does not take variations into account well), or you have to learn a whole new skill of pattern drafting. Although that skill has become more accessible through the internet, it is still difficult to learn the more complex you go. With FreeSewing, sewing patterns are parametric: they adapt to the measurements you put in, which is a lot more comprehensive than the grading-up-and-down system, and more inclusive of "different" body types too. (We don't believe in an "average body type".) Plus, it's available for free to anyone with access to an internet browser. FreeSewing also includes documentation for both sewing and programming. FreeSewing is a baby born out of spite, as the founder Joost was (and still is) too tall for what clothing stores have to offer. The talk will not be given by him, but by an enthusiastic contributor (who is too short for what clothing stores have to offer ;)). Licensed to the public under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ about this event: https://program.why2025.org/why2025/talk/TYQMAS/