Pattern Drafting & Alterations

Make clothes that actually fit you.

Learning to sew your own clothes is a commitment, but one that pays off. If you’re ready to move beyond just following a commercial pattern, in hopes that it turns out, and start fitting garments to your body, this series is for you.

We’ll guide you through the essentials of adjusting patterns and creating your own basic pattern blocks using your measurements. Whether you're fitting a pattern or drafting one from scratch, these workshops will help you get there.

Each workshop is taught in a 7 week series where you will learn how to draft a specific pattern block (bodice/sleeve or pant/skirt), fit it to your body, and make alterations to suit your intended design . The course will focus on three areas of skill building.

  • Pattern Drafting: Draft a custom-fit pattern block using your own measurements. We’ll walk you through the process, step by step, including how to properly take your measurements. This is a body-positive space, so expect a little vulnerability and a lot of support.

  • Mockup & Fittings: Make a mockup of your blocks to check the fit, then learn to tweak the pattern until it fits perfectly

  • Pattern Manipulation: Learn some common pattern manipulation techniques to get the design you want. Think style lines, dart placement, princess seams, collars, sleeves styles, and more. We’ll shape the discussion based on what participants want to focus on.

Workshop Dates

Women’s Bodice & Sleeve Blocks: Thursdays 7-9pm Feb 5th - March 26th (no class March 5th)

Pant & Circle Skirt Blocks: Thursdays 7-9pm April 9th - May 21st

Cost: $282.60+hst

*Students will need to supply their own muslin for their mockups, but all other materials will be provided.

**This series is intended for designs based on woven fabrics, not knits

Register

What is a Pattern Block?

Think of a pattern block as a blueprint: a simple outline of your body on paper. Once it’s been adjusted and fitted, it becomes the base for all your future sewing projects.

Note: In pattern drafting you may see the terms “woman’s bodice” or “man’s bodice”. These are industry terms and only refer to the shape of the garment and not your gender identity. We respect each student’s pronouns and identity, always.