In this lesson, I taught how to create multiple darts, gathers, or tucks instead of a single large dart to shape fabric around the body. I demonstrated various techniques for distributing excess fabric creatively, including closed darts, open darts, gathers, and pleats.
Lesson Steps:
- Lay muslin on dress form, aligning with center front and bust line
- Pin at key points: bust line, waistline, bust apex, neck, shoulder, armhole
- Smooth fabric over the body, taking excess towards the waistline
- Decide on placement for multiple darts, gathers, or tucks
- Pin and fold fabric to create desired effect (e.g., three small tucks instead of one large dart)
- Experiment with different styles: closed darts, open darts, gathers, or combinations
- Clean up and mark the drape, using different colors for each tuck/dart for clarity
- Prepare the draped muslin for pattern-making
Remember, this technique allows for creative design elements while still shaping the fabric to the body. You can play with various combinations and placements to achieve different looks and fit.
