PATTERNMAKING CLASSES

Adam Andreas teaches assymetric designs in Advanced Draping.

Advanced Draping

Tuesdays, May 28-July 2, 6-9 pm

Patternmaking 4 (Knits & Stretch)

with instructor Sharon Blair, BA, MA, PAA

$319 or $599 if combined with Pattern 3 (Garment Design). Includes pattern papers, handouts

Fridays, May 31- July 12, 10 am-1 pm OR 6-9 pm

No class Friday, July 5.

Everybody wears knits.  So try your hand at making patterns for knits. Use the slopers you made in Patternmaking 1 and create new ones. Make tops, dresses, sweaters, activewear — including raglan sleeve hoodies — bras and swimsuits.  Learn how to adjust your patterns for different kinds of knits.  Patterns can be used for stretch fabrics too.

If you’ve taken Intermediate Sewing: Knits & Performance Fabrics, you’ll find yourself making the the pattern, cutting and sewing then wearing that garment to class the next week!

Prerequisites: Patternmaking 1 & 2

Class policies

Learn the professional way to make patterns for commercial or personal use.

Introduction to Patternmaking Series (Pattern 1&2) 

Wednesdays, April 17-July 10, 10 am-1 pm OR 6-9 pm (Sorry, Pattern 1 is full.  Please click here to get on the wait list.)

After these classes, you will be ready to design clothes — for yourself or others.  You will have patterns that fit and you’ll be able to turn it into innumerable designs for skirts, shirts and blouses, dresses and pants.

Take the whole 13-week series  for $725 or $389 for Pattern 1, $359  for Pattern 2. Series includes pattern papers and textbook “Building Patterns” by Suzy Furrer and special handouts.

Patternmaking 1, Wednesdays, April 17-May 29, 10 am-1 pm OR 6-9 pm   (Sorry, Pattern 1 is full.  Please sign up for the morning session or click here to get on the wait list.)

Draft slopers made to your measurements.  Start with a torso sloper that you can use for dresses, jackets and coats.  Create a bodice sloper for blouses and shirts.  Go to sleeves.  Then create a skirt sloper.  Finish with pants.  Prerequisite: Beginning sewing, experience with commercial patterns.

Pattern Magic Patternmaking

with Terri Spaeth-Merrick

Tuesdays, June 11-July 16, 6-9 pm, $199

Using concepts from Tomoko
Nakamichi—"Pattern Magic", Shingo Sato—"Transformational Reconstruction" and
others we will explore experiments in pattern making and draping. Starting with
muslin samples you will try-out the various methods of these designers. You will then
move on to creating either finished samples, garment or other item using one or multiple versions of
the techniques. This class requires previous pattern making and draping experience and some work outside of class.

Class policies

Pattern grading by hand

Basic grading, June 29, 2-5 pm, $48

Use slopers to learn the basic principles of changing pattern sizes.  Learn the inside secrets of increasing and decreasing sizes and government standards for grade rules.  Apply these principles to pants, skirts, sleeves and bodices.

Advanced grading and marking, July 13, 2-5 pm, $48

Bring in your patterns and learn how to grade them to different sizes.  Create your own grade rules for cardinal points.  Apply to knits and wovens.  Learn how to set up a marker -- a layout of all you pattern pieces ready for cutting -- for best use of fabric.

Jason Bray (right) creates a costume for a performer at the Portland Opera

Make Your Body Double

Saturday, July 20, 10 am-1 pm, $48.

Bring your professional dress form and alter it to fit you the way the pros do.  Learn the tricks and materials from Portland Opera fit expert, Jason Bray.  In 3 hours, leave with your body double.