Assessor Resource

CUFCOS503A
Cut and drape complex period costumes

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Costume cutters working on productions in the film, television and live theatre/entertainment industries apply the skills and knowledge described in this unit. They are responsible for researching historical and cultural material to assist with the interpretation of costume designs, and for cutting and draping complex period costumes by developing patterns using advanced 2D and 3D techniques.

Even though they usually work to briefs provided by costume designers, there is scope for costume cutters to be creative as they work on the designs they are given. They need to be adept at researching scripts, films, plays, books and historical data as primary sources of information to assist with the interpretation of costume designs and to ensure that the final costumes are true to the costume designer's vision.

Costume cutters take performers' measurements and proportion costume designs accordingly. They develop and cut patterns through a combination of flat pattern making and construction, and pattern draping (moulage), of fabric onto a 3D dress form over corsetry and undergarments or underpinnings. Costume cutters also need to be skilled in a full range of complex sewing and finishing techniques.

Costume cutters at this level self-manage the costume cutting and draping process and liaise directly with costume designers and performers when conducting trials and seeking approvals.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to produce patterns for complex period costumes using 2D and 3D methods.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

CUFCOS404A Cut and drape costumes

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

ability to interpret costume designs

ability to conduct research and apply findings to assist with the interpretation of costume designs

application of cutting and draping techniques for complex period costumes that:

reflect costume design requirement

fit performers

meet production requirements

development of patterns that demonstrate an ability to:

use flat pattern cutting

use draping (moulage) methods

engineer and test patterns from both methods to produce the best result

ability to meet deadlines

ability to work within a budget

collaborative approach to work

attention to accuracy and detail.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

access to research material

practical demonstration of skills through the development of patterns for a variety of complex period costume designs using a range of cutting and draping methods

access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required

use of culturally appropriate processes and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct questioning combined with review of patterns and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance

evaluation of patterns and cutting made by the candidate to determine whether costume design requirements have been met and correct procedures followed

observation of the candidate during pattern draping, engineering and fitting sessions with performers to assess communication, analytical and problem solving skills

written or verbal questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

CUECOS10B Make period costumes.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

communication, literacy and teamwork skills sufficient to:

interpret production documentation, costume design specifications and instructions

conduct independent research to assist in interpretation of costume designs

work collaboratively with costume designers

communicate and negotiate with suppliers

communicate effectively with costume designers and performers during costume toile fitting sessions

write or communicate costume construction instructions to others

complete workplace documentation

initiative and flexibility in the context of:

contributing ideas about the most effective way to cut and drape patterns for period costumes to realise costume designs

making adjustments to costume toiles and patterns in response to trials

problem solving skills in the context of engineering complex period costume patterns that meet costume design requirements

planning and organising skills sufficient to combine various pattern making and pattern engineering techniques to produce the required costume designs

technical skills sufficient to:

combine complex principles of pattern development

use computer applications in the context of producing or adjusting patterns

drape fabrics on a dress form to produce patterns (moulage)

self-management skills sufficient to:

work under pressure and meet deadlines

follow costume designer's specifications and enterprise policies and procedures

seek expert advice

numeracy skills sufficient to:

work within a budget

measure materials and estimate quantities

Required knowledge

industry knowledge, including:

protocols between costume cutters, costume designers and performers

roles and responsibilities of personnel in the relevant industry sector

broad understanding of the artistic and technical elements of productions

relationship between costume designs and test toiles

well-developed understanding of the properties of different fabrics and their suitability to specific designs

principles and techniques of pattern cutting

pattern engineering

principles and techniques of costume construction

OHS procedures as they relate to the safe use of machinery, equipment and materials to make patterns.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Relevant personnel may include:

costume cutters

costume designer

costume makers

costume production staff

director

make-up and hair personnel

other specialist staff

performers

production manager

wardrobe department personnel

wardrobe supervisor/manager.

Preparing dress form may include:

adjusting height to match performer

covering the padded dress form with a two-way stretch 'sleeve'

labelling a dress form with performer's name and date

padding a dress form to replicate a performer's measurements

removing previously used additions to the surface of a dress form

selecting the nearest size to the performer

taping the main body control lines onto the dress form (using narrow tape), e.g.:

bust

waist

hip

centre front

centre back

side

high neckline

across back

armhole

chest line

bust separation.

Mapping costume design proportions may include:

mapping proportion lines of costume designs onto dress forms using narrow tape of a different colour to that used for main body control lines.

Underpinnings may include:

bustles

cage crinolines

other underpinnings that form a silhouette or illusion

pads and rolls

panniers

period or contemporary corsets

Spanish farthingales

wheel farthingales.

Parts may include:

parts to be draped, e.g.:

voluminous skirts over underpinnings

fitted skirts over underpinnings

fitted bodices and jackets over underpinnings

parts to be flat pattern made, e.g.:

fitted sleeve heads

fitted trousers

stand collars.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Confirm costume design requirements and materials to be used in consultation with relevant personnel 
Conduct research to assist with the interpretation of costume designs and the identification of design elements or components 
Record relevant historical aspects of costume designs 
Take, record and analyse performer's measurements as the basis for customising the proportioning of costume designs 
Identify special costume functional requirements of performers and performances and consider the most effective way to achieve creative requirements 
Document costume specifications 
Produce a plan of action for pattern development 
Prepare dress form or dressmaker's dummy for draping 
Map costume design proportions on a dress stand 
Select or construct the required underpinnings for the dress form 
Determine which parts of the costume design will be draped and which parts will be flat pattern made 
Check size and proportioning of prepared dress form in relation to performer's size and costume design 
Select draping fabrics that have similar characteristics to the costume fabrics to be used 
Cut and drape parts of the costume commencing from under-layers and working outwards 
Combine all parts of the costume into a test toile 
Conduct test toile trials and fittings on performers and make adjustments as required 
Seek approvals/concurrence from costume designer 
Engineer and finalise patterns 
Calculate and record accurate quantities of fabric and notions using test toile, patterns and design specifications 
Source requirements 
Lay fabrics 
Transfer markings and shapes of patterns or deconstructed toile onto fabrics and cut 
Compile cut pieces and components ready for construction 
Develop a sequence of operations for the construction of complex period costumes 
Provide instructions to relevant personnel on construction procedures and timelines as required 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CUFCOS503A - Cut and drape complex period costumes
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

CUFCOS503A - Cut and drape complex period costumes

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: