CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

PATTERN DRAFTING CLASSES

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​I'm excited to share the details of our comprehensive Pattern Drafting series. These courses are designed to help you build essential skills, from foundational pattern drafting to advanced garment construction.

 

Here's a breakdown of each course:

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Pattern Drafting 1 – Skirts/Intro (8 sessions)

This introductory course builds a strong foundation in pattern drafting language, tools, and skills. You will learn to draft, sew, and fit a custom skirt sloper and apply it to create various skirt styles, including flared and pleated designs. We will cover both fashion industry practices and standards for personal sewing.

 

• Prerequisite: none

• Expect three hours of homework between classes

• Required Textbook: Building Patterns, by Suzy Furrer

 

Pattern Drafting 2 – Drafting the Basic Bodice (8 sessions)

The focus of this course is on drafting and sewing a moulage, a fabric mold of the torso, which is a precursor to drafting a basic bodice sloper. This sloper serves as a starting template for any upper body garment. While the focus is on drafting for the female form, instruction for menswear slopers is also included.

 

• Expect three hours of homework between classes

• Prerequisite: Pattern Drafting 2 - Moulage/Bodice Sloper (or have a bodice sloper to work with). An advanced beginner or higher sewing skill level is required

• Required Textbook: Building Patterns, by Suzy Furrer

 

Pattern Drafting 3 – Dart Manipulation (8 sessions)

Learn to manipulate darts and style lines on a bodice to create various designs. You will transfer bodice darts into French darts, Y-darts, double and triple darts, and learn how to change dart bulk into gathers or pleats. The course also covers manipulating back shoulder and waist darts, pivoting darts, and dart manipulation on pants, skirts, and sleeve patterns. We will explore various sewing, pressing, and fitting techniques for darts.

 

• Expect three hours of homework between classes

• Prerequisite: Pattern Drafting 2 - Moulage/Bodice Sloper (or have a bodice sloper to work with). An advanced beginner or higher sewing skill level is required

• Required Textbook: Building Patterns, by Suzy Furrer

 

Pattern Drafting 4 – Lines (8 classes)

This course explores both interior seam lines and garment silhouettes. You will use your basic bodice sloper to draft a variety of princess line styles, along with empire line, A-line, trapeze, and chemise silhouettes.

 

• Expect three hours of homework between classes

• Prerequisite: Pattern Drafting 2 - Moulage/Bodice Sloper (or have a bodice sloper to work with). An advanced beginner or higher sewing skill level is required

• Required Textbook: Building Patterns, by Suzy Furrer

 

Pattern Drafting 5 – Necklines (8 sessions)

In Necklines, the focus will be on drafting flattering necklines that do not gape or fall off the shoulders. Exercises include boat, strapless, funnel, opera, V-necklines, sweetheart, scoop, and surplice necklines. You will also practice different finishing methods like facings, linings, and bias-taped edges.

 

• Expect three hours of homework between classes

• Prerequisite: Pattern Drafting 2 - Moulage/Bodice Sloper (or have a bodice sloper to work with). An advanced beginner or higher sewing skill level is required

• Required Textbook: Building Patterns, by Suzy Furrer

 

Pattern Drafting 6 – Collars (8 sessions)

Learn to draft button plackets and facings before moving on to drafting various collar styles, including camp, button-down, shawl, roll, and notched collars. Both drafting and sewing techniques for these collar styles will be taught.

 

• Expect three hours of homework between classes

• Prerequisite: Pattern Drafting 2 - Moulage/Bodice Sloper (or have a bodice sloper to work with). An advanced beginner or higher sewing skill level is required

• Required Textbook: Building Patterns, by Suzy Furrer

 

Pattern Drafting 7 – Sleeves (8 sessions)

Draft and fit a basic sleeve sloper, then use it to create a variety of sleeve styles such as tailor, two-piece with a vent, sleeve with placket, pleats and cuff, short, puff, bell, and cap sleeves. You will also learn how to properly ease and set in a sleeve.

 

• Expect three hours of homework between classes

• Prerequisite: Pattern Drafting 2 - Moulage/Bodice Sloper (or have a bodice sloper to work with). An advanced beginner or higher sewing skill level is required

• Required Textbook: Building Patterns, by Suzy Furrer

 

Pattern Drafting 8 – Pants (8 sessions)

This course focuses on drafting and fitting a pant sloper. You will learn to draft, sew, and fit a basic pant sloper as a starting point for various pant exercises, and then move on to drafting trouser and jean foundations. How to draft details like zipper fly and a button fly, as well as yokes and waistbands will be addressed.

 

• Expect three hours of homework between classes

• Prerequisite: An advanced beginner or higher sewing skill level is required

• Required Textbook: Building Patterns, by Suzy Furrer

 

Pattern Drafting 9 – Pockets (8 sessions)

Learn to draft and sew pockets to add style and comfort to commercial or drafted patterns. Exercises include both drafting and sewing techniques for patch pockets, in-seam pockets, and welt pockets.

 

• Expect three hours of homework between classes

• Prerequisite: An advanced beginner or higher sewing skill level is required

• Required Textbook: Building Patterns, by Suzy Furrer

 

Coping Ready to Wear (8 sessions)

This course teaches you to copy existing garments, a necessary skill for careers in costuming, patternmaking, or for home sewers looking to update or re-size favorite garments. You will copy three garments (a button-down shirt, pants, and a jacket) using three different copying methods.

 

• Expect three hours of homework between classes

• Prerequisite: An advanced beginner pattern drafting skill level or higher is required

• Required Textbook: Building Patterns, by Suzy Furrer

 

Design Lab (6 sessions)

This small group class is perfect for students who want to further their pattern drafting or sewing practice on a project of their choice. We will have lectures and demos tailored to student projects. Consider Design Lab if you need help starting a project, finishing a project, fitting a project, would benefit from weekly accountability, or are looking for community and support.

• Expect three hours of homework between classes

• Prerequisite: An advanced beginner pattern drafting skill level or higher is required

 

Principles of Grading (Sizing) Patterns (4 sessions)

Learn to hand grade (size) patterns up one size and down one size, gaining an understanding of industry pattern grading. You will grade a skirt, pants, short bodice, long torso, sleeve, collar, and pocket. Detailed information on working with a grader and developing size charts will also be covered.

 

• Expect one to two hours of homework between classes

• Prerequisite: An advanced beginner pattern drafting skill level or higher is required

• Materials fee: $15 (includes shipping within the US; additional fees apply for international deliveries)