page_title: French curve
section_title: Clothing design
hierarchical_section_title: French curve / Clothing design
context_page_description: A French curve is a template usually made from metal, wood or plastic composed of many different curves. It is used in manual drafting and in fashion design to draw smooth curves of varying radii. The shapes are segments of the Euler spiral or clothoid curve. The curve is placed on the drawing material, and a pencil, knife or other implement is traced around its curves to produce the desired result.
context_section_description: French curve physical templates are regularly used for original high fashion design and by home sewists (along with other types of artisans) most usefully in necklines, sleeve, bust and waist variations. The varied curve radii allow for smooth and stylish personalized adjustments of standard purchased clothing patterns for an excellent, personalized fit. Fashion designers and sewists may use a selection of french curves, hip curves, straight edges and L-shaped right angle rulers. They may be in metal or clear plastics, with measurements marked in metric or imperial.
caption: A complete Burmester set from the Lexikon der gesamten Technik (1904)
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