The importance of a lay plan

The purpose of a lay plan is to use fabric efficiently. A lay plan shows how the pattern pieces should be placed on the fabric in the most cost effective manner.

In the clothing manufacturing industry, it is essential that the manufacturer uses fabric as efficiently as possible to keep manufacturing costs down to enable them to have a profitable business.

I placed my pattern pieces on my fabric so that I would not have seams in the skirt section. This, however, wasn't cost effective. If I had placed the pattern piece so that I had seams, then I would have reduced my costs quite significantly. This is what I would have had to do had I been making this outfit for the high street.