Elements and Performance Criteria
- Make and grade patterns for costumes
- Confirm and discuss costume making requirements and facilities with relevant personnel and with reference to production documentation
- Select appropriate grade plans or grade rule tables
- Produce or adjust patterns to required specifications
- Grade patterns manually or by computer, adjusting design, maintaining accuracy and shape, notches and other design requirements
- Check patterns for accuracy and make adjustments as required
- Store patterns according to workplace procedures
- Lay up and cut work
- Establish the required quantity of fabrics and other materials to minimise wastage
- Check materials for quality, faults, width, selvedges, dye lot and marking requirements
- Identify and assemble base and outer fabrics
- Lay up base and self fabrics and check alignment as necessary to ensure conformance with specifications
- Cut materials to meet requirements of patterns
- Prepare fabric base and mount fabrics, as necessary, to achieve required stiffening or support effect
- Sew costumes
- Pin or sew fabric pieces and linings and hang, as appropriate, in readiness for assembly
- Make adjustments and alterations to meet performers' requirements and construction specifications
- Use appropriate techniques and equipment to sew costume pieces together to form whole costumes and attach required trimmings, fasteners and decorations
- Press finished costumes according to requirements
- Seek feedback from relevant personnel on costumes and participate in costume fittings with performers as required
- Finish costumes
- Make final adjustments to costumes after fitting sessions with performers
- Press and finish costumes according to production requirements
- Correctly label and code costumes for identification during productions
- During productions, make alterations as required to ensure performers are comfortable and the correct costume look is maintained
- Complete relevant documentation according to workplace procedures
- Participate in evaluation sessions about costume aspects of productions and note areas for future improvement