How to drape the skirt block from a mannequin

Welcome to your first draping class, in today’s class, you will learn how to make the skirt block from a mannequin.

Draping is a pattern-making technique that consists of drafting the pattern directly from the mannequin.

Unlike industrial pattern making where we create the patterns on flat paper, making patterns on a mannequin is a much more visual way of making our designs.

Today’s class is a perfect introduction to draping techniques where I will explain how to prepare the fabric before using it on the mannequin.

For today’s class, it would be ideal if you had a mannequin however you can reproduce these techniques on a human body, but instead of using pins, we will use masking tape.

Not all mannequins work to draw patterns or are marked with the necessary guides to make these patterns.

That is why today’s class begins by preparing the mannequin, we are going to put the necessary guides to make the skirt block.

Then we will start to draft the patterns of the skirt block from the mannequin, both the front and the back.

Class

I am also going to teach you how to put movement ease when we work on the mannequin, in my case I have added little ease but you can add as much ease as you or your client like.

To finish, I will teach you how to transfer these fabric patterns to paper so that you can make the first prototype and make sure that it is perfect.

As you will see in today’s class, I have made these patterns on the mannequin flat on the table but remember that it is only to be able to record it better, you have to use the mannequin standing up.

Remember that if you have any questions about today’s class, you can send me an email from your account in the support section.

Send your exercises

You already know that the best way to learn is by practising, so for today’s class, I’m going to ask you to make the patterns for the skirt block from your mannequin.

You can use a full-size or half-scale mannequin

Please send me clear photos where you can see the process, your fabric patterns and the final patterns so that I can send you better comments.