Pattern Drafting Basics: Creating Your Own Slopers
Learn to draft the foundation of a custom-fit wardrobe.
Every well-fitting garment begins with a great pattern. In this five-week, hands-on course, students will learn the fundamentals of flat pattern drafting by creating custom skirt, bodice, and sleeve slopers using their own body measurements.
Working with Jennifer Fairbanks' upcoming book, Pattern Design Slopers, students will explore the tools, measurements, and calculations used in professional pattern drafting. They'll learn how to transform measurements into accurate patterns, construct muslin samples, evaluate fit, and make adjustments to improve their designs.
By the end of the course, students will have developed a set of foundational slopers that can be used as the starting point for designing and creating their own garments.
What You'll Learn
Week 1: Measurements & Drafting Fundamentals
Learn about drafting tools, accurate body measurements, essential calculations, and the principles behind creating custom patterns.Week 2: Skirt Sloper Drafting
Draft a custom skirt sloper using your measurements. For homework, construct a muslin sample to prepare for fitting.Week 3: Skirt Fitting & Bodice Drafting
Evaluate the fit of your skirt muslin, learn how to make adjustments, and begin drafting your custom bodice sloper.Week 4: Bodice Completion & Sleeve Drafting
Complete the bodice draft and begin drafting the sleeve. For homework, prepare and sew a bodice muslin for fitting.Week 5: Sleeve Completion & Final Fitting
Complete the sleeve draft, assemble the bodice and sleeve samples, and evaluate the fit of the completed pieces.
Class Details
Duration: 5 weeks, 2 hours per week (10 hours total)
Included: Muslin fabric and pattern drafting paper
Additional Purchases: Drafting tools and Pattern Design Slopers by Jennifer Fairbanks are sold separately.
Students should have basic sewing skills and access to a sewing machine outside of class to complete the required homework.
Class Fee: $275