In this session, I taught the concept of creative draping and geometric cutting to achieve the draped look for the Charlie cocktail dress.

Instead of just showing the steps, I explained the methodology behind this technique, which can be applied to create drapes on any garment like skirts, tops, or sleeves.

To make the process easier to understand, I demonstrated the method on a smaller scale using paper before applying it to the actual dress pattern. I explained how to control the placement and flow of the drapes without using gathers or darts on the side seams, resulting in a more flattering look.

Lesson Steps:

• Drew half the lower body measurements (underbust, waist, hip, and hem) on paper
• Connected the points to create the basic skirt shape
• Marked the desired drape locations on the skirt shape
• Drew angled lines from the marked points to create the drape folds
• Cut along the angled lines, spreading the pattern pieces to create the draped shape
• Taped the top edge of the pattern, leaving the bottom open for the drapes
• Adjusted the spacing between the cut lines to control the depth of each drape fold
• Straightened one side of the pattern while keeping the other side draped
• Drew darts at the taped points to transfer the draped shape to the pattern