Photo By Annabelle Collette

CFS 018-1-S24 | Introduction to Draping for Apparel Design

Course Overview:

This workshop will introduce you to the fashion design process by draping fabric directly on a dress form. You’ll learn how to take torso measurements; how to pad out a dress form to suit your individual shape; and how to drape fabric on a dress form to achieve 1) silhouette, 2) fit, and 3) style details. Experiment with stylistic features such as neckline, collar, and sleeves to make your design even more personalized. You will learn how to translate your design onto a paper pattern and will walk away with a pattern that fits YOU!

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course you will be able to

• Take proper torso measurements
• Pad out a dress form to your individual shape
• Drape fabric
• Fit a garment
• Add stylistic details to your design
• Make a paper pattern that fits you

Who is this course for?

This is a great course for students looking to make a personalized garment or anyone interested in diving deeper into fashion design.

6/15-6/16 (weekend workshop), 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday

Tuition: $250 + $20 studio fee

CEUs: 1.6

522 Congress Street Room 302

Faculty:

Susan Thomas is Costume Shop Manager at Portland Stage, where she has recently designed costumes for The Snow Queen, The Santaland Diaries, and A Christmas Carol. Susan has worked in the costume shops of a variety of regional theaters including Shakespeare & Company, The Theater at Monmouth, the Theatre department at University of Southern Maine, and Port Opera. She holds a BA in Theater from Smith College. She coaches interns and volunteers in design, patternmaking, and construction techniques.

Cheslye Ventimiglia has a dressmaking studio in Portland and specializes in the reconstruction of vintage clothing and costume design. She volunteers in the costume shop at Portland Stage and has taught sewing and pattern making at MECA since 2000 with an emphasis on quality garment construction. She has a collection of vintage clothing.
Bring a simple crewneck tee-shirt in your size, a dressmaker’s measuring tape, dressmaker’s glass-head pins, a pair of sharp scissors, sewing needles and thread, and a seam ripper.
Optional: a portable sewing machine and an extension cord, a quilter’s ruler. Please wear a close-fitting tank top to facilitate taking measurements and comfortable all-day-standing shoes.

Supplies:

Come with an idea and possibly a sketch of what you would like to make as well as practice fabric to work with: 2-3 yards of fabric for a shirt or jacket, 5 yards for a dress or coat. The fabric you choose to drape with should be woven, not knit, and of similar weight as the fabric that you will eventually use to construct your garment. You can choose to use muslin, which is inexpensive.

• Bring a simple crewneck tee-shirt in your size
• dressmaker’s measuring tape
• dressmaker’s glass-head pins
• a pair of sharp scissors
• sewing needles and thread
• a seam ripper

Optional: a portable sewing machine and an extension cord, a quilter’s ruler.

Please wear a close-fitting tank top to facilitate taking measurements and comfortable all-day-standing shoes.