garmentcutting

Garment cutting is the manufacturing process in which fabric is converted into the pieces that will be sewn into a garment. It follows pattern making and grading, and it determines fabric utilization, piece geometry, and seam allowances. The process begins with the creation of markers, which are layouts showing the placement of all pattern pieces on the fabric with respect to grain, nap, and width. Markers are optimized to minimize waste and are used to guide cutting operations.

Fabric preparation includes conditioning and spreading: fabric may be unrolled in layers, aligned to grain, and checked for flaws. Spreading equipment ranges from manual stacks to automatic spreading machines that lay multiple layers evenly.

Cutting methods vary by production scale and fabric. Manual cutting uses scissors or rotary cutters for small runs or couture work. Mechanical cutting employs straight knives, circular knives, or die-cutting presses to slice through one or more layers. Computer-controlled cutters, laser cutters, and waterjet cutters offer higher precision and speed, especially for complex markers or delicate fabrics.

After cutting, pieces are inspected for accuracy and consistency, then bundled or tagged for assembly. Quality control checks include edge alignment, piece count, and notch placement.

Efficiency and sustainability considerations include marker optimization, fabric spread quality, and waste reduction through layout optimization and off-cut utilization. Garment cutting is critical to overall garment quality, cost control, and production throughput in both mass and bespoke fashion contexts.