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Clothing Patterns 101 Home Page

• Clothing Patterns 101 blog  - keep up with the latest news and updates
  

Getting Started

• FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions, and their answers
  
• How to Take Body Measurements - The Key to Good Fit
  
• Padding the Body Form  - Turn a Garage Sale Form into a Duplicate of YOU
  
• Drafting Tools You'll Need - Not as Many as You'd Think (most of these are "wants", not "needs")
  

         - Basic Dress/Fitting Pattern

         - Craft Paper, Tape, and Other Supplies

         - Scissors and Cutting Tools

         - Rulers and Measuring Tools

         - Muslin or Inexpensive Fabric

         - Marking Tools

         - Dress or Body Form

• Upgrade Your Sewing Skills - online sewing classes 
  

Making and Fitting Your Block

• Making Clothes That FitYou Perfectly
  
• Making Fit Alterations to Your Fitting Pattern- This is Where You'll Perfect the Fit of Your Block
  

          - Fitting the Bodice Pattern

           - Full Bust Adjustment (FBA)

          - Fitting the Sleeve Pattern

          - Fitting the Skirt Pattern

          - Fitting the Pant - Initial Fitting

          - Fitting the Pant - Final Fitting

•  Using Your Fitted Muslin to Make Your Personal Pattern Block - Transfer Your Alterations and Trace onto Cardstock
  

          - Making a Torso or Blouse/Top Block

          - The Importance of Sewing Darts (and how to use them well!)

          - Pattern Grading and Sizing

Garment Design and Making Your Patterns

• Elements of Clothing Design  - How to design your own clothing
  
• Basic Pattern Drafting Techniques and how to use them in design

         - How to Use Quarter Scale Patterns to Practice Pattern Drafting Techniques

         - Drafting a Princess seam

         - Drafting a Bodice with Shoulder Yoke

         - Drafting a Full Skirt

         - Drafting a Full Sleeve

• Blouse Body Styles

         - Drafting the Basic Blouse Block

         - Drafting a Fitted Blouse or Shirt

         - Drafting a Tunic Top

         - Drafting a Flared or Swing Top

• Necklines and Collars

         - Drafting a Sweetheart Neckline

         - Drafting a Peter Pan Collar

         - Drafting a Bateau or Boatneck

         - Drafting a Convertible Collar

         - Drafting a V-Neck or Notched Neckline

         - Bell Sleeve

         - Bishop's Sleeve

         - Cap Sleeve

         - Flutter Sleeve

         - Flat Front Pleated Skirt

         - Yoked Skirt

         - Circle or Handkerchief Hem

         - High Waist Sheath Dress

         - Drop Waist Dress

          - Flared Pant

          - Flared Short

          - Tapered Pant

          - Pleated Pant

• Putting it All Together - using the design elements above to create many different styles
• Adding the Finishing Touches - adding seam allowances and markings and finalizing your pattern
  
• Make a Kindness Day Beanie - a free pattern for a simple hat to donate to those who need warmth

Pattern Courses

Design Books

• Design and Reference Books - Recommended reading to better understand the design process, begin sketching your ideas, and improve the fit of your clothing.

Videos

• Tips and Techniques - Find newsletter videos and all of the videos that appear on site, with tips to make your patterns easier and more professional

          - Why do I need a Dress Block? Can't I just re-design a purchased pattern?

          - Why do I need Darts?  They're so UGLY!!

          - Using Your Quarter Scale Patterns

          - Turning Your Darts into Styling Details

          - Slashing and Spreading your Pattern to Add Fullness

          - Customizing your Body Form

          - Using Basic Pattern Techniques

          - What does it mean to "true" your pattern?

          - Don't Make MY Mistakes!

          - Fit Ease vs Style Ease

          - Flat Pattern vs Draping

          - What are Style Lines?

          - Do You Have Trouble Fitting the Bust?

          - Where Do You Find Design Inspiration?

          - Even the Greatest Styles Falls Flat if it's Out of Proportion

          - Do You Speak the "Language" of Patterns?

          - The Difference Between Sewing Ease and Style or Fit Ease

          - Sewing Gifts for Your Friends - or For You!

          - How Collars Work

          - Patternmaking Tools to Get You Started

          - Style vs Fashion - Do You Know the Difference?

          - More on How to Use Quarter Scale Patterns

          - More on Pattern Manipulations to Move Darts and Add Fullness

Site Info - Contact, Privacy, and other General Info

• About Me
• Privacy Policy
• Advertising Policy
  
• Contact Us

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ClothingPatterns101.com does not sell the personal information of its users to anyone, ever. 

What's New - The Latest News in Sewing and Recent Articles on ClothingPatterns101

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1. How to Create a Design Sketch

   
   Creating a design sketch is one of the first, and most important steps in design. Get your ideas on paper!

   Read More

2. Pattern Making Basics: Slopers and Blocks

   Pattern making begins with drafting a basic dress sloper or block. This bland, simple garment is the key to how to draft a dress.

   Read More

3. More Pattern Manipulations for Fullness and Darts

   There's more than one way to do pattern manipulations. In this video, I show you multiple methods to add fullness or move a dart on your pattern.

   Read More

Tips and Techniques!

Watch videos that demonstrate the techniques you will use to design your patterns. And get tips to make the process easier!

Videos are added periodically, so keep checking back!

• More on Pattern Manipulations to Move Darts and Add Fullness
• More on Using Quarter Scale Patterns
• Style vs Fashion - Do You Know the Difference?
• Patternmaking Tools to Get You Started
• How Collars Work
• Sewing Gifts for Your Friends - or for You!
• The Difference Between Sewing Ease and Style or Fit Ease
  
• Do You Speak the "Language of Patterns"?
• Even the Greatest Style Falls Flat if it's Out of Proportion
• Where Do You Find Design Inspiration?
• Do You Have Trouble Fitting The Bust?
• What are Style Lines?
• Flat Pattern vs. draping
• The Difference Between Fit Ease and Style Ease
• Don't Make MY Mistakes! Do a Proper Muslin Fitting
  
• What Does It Mean to "True Your Pattern?"
• Using Basic Pattern Techniques 
• Customize your Body Form
• Slashing and Spreading your Pattern to add Fullness
• Turning your Darts into Styling Details
• Using your Quarter Scale Patterns
• Why Do I Need Darts? They're so UGLY!
• Why Do I Need a Dress Block? Can't I just re-design a purchased pattern?