In this session, I shared both my personal journey with overcoming perfectionism and camera fears while teaching the fundamentals of draping versus pattern drafting.

I emphasized how directly working with fabric on a dress form creates a unique synergy between designer and material, transforming technical craft into true artistic expression.

Demonstration Steps:

1. Explained how to adapt draping techniques to create different garments, including showing how to separate a draped design into separate pieces (like turning a dress into a blazer)
2. Demonstrated proper lining techniques for different garment types, particularly for full circle skirts
3. Showed where to strategically add interfacing to maintain garment structure
4. Explained how to create appropriate ease in garments (generally adding 1/2 to 1 inch overall)
5. Covered techniques for adapting designs to different body types and creating flattering silhouettes

Questions & Answers:

• Q: Are you using lining on the skirt?
• A: Yes, for a finished garment I would add a full body lining, closed at the hem.

• Q: Can we use the muslin used to prep the dress form as a lining to the garment?
• A: It depends if your markings wash away, but yes, especially for your first practice garments – just try it!

• Q: I’m making a blazer for my uni project and would like to incorporate the draped bottom of the dress. Would this be hard?
• A: Not at all. When draping, place a seam at the waistline to separate pieces, and curve in the sides of the skirt to add a waistband.

• Q: When having skirt lining, should I draft a separate piece to connect the hem and lining?
• A: For wide circle skirts, I recommend cutting a facing in the same shape as the skirt, attaching at the bottom, then turning inside and connecting to the lining.

• Q: How do you know when to create a princess seam versus a dart in the bodice?
• A: It’s mostly about cup size, not body size. For C cup and larger, princess seams are more flattering. For larger busts with small shoulders, start princess seams from the armhole rather than shoulder.

• Q: How would you reinforce the bust area to be more supportive without a bra?
• A: I build bra cups and structure directly into my dresses – for 99% of my brides, they only need to wear underwear as everything else is built in.