Pattern Making Workshops
CraftChic's pattern making workshops will equip you with the skill to use your personal body measurements to draft a pattern and we even go a step further, making a test garment of the pattern and doing a fitting to make adjustments to the pattern where necessary.
Finding retail clothes that fit well is a challenging task…we’ve all been there!
Our goal is to provide you with a pattern that you can take home and use as a basis for any other garments that you might want to make for yourself!
Foundation Blocks
Draft a basic foundation block pattern set that fits your body. Students should be 16 years and older and should have experience in general sewing and working with sewing patterns.
PART 1: Bodice & Skirt
No prerequisites
In this workshop, we will draft a Bodice and Skirt pattern using your own personal body measurements. We will then make a sloper (test garment) for fitting, and make any necessary adjustments to your paper pattern draft to ensure a good fit.
- 1 Day workshop (9-hour session)
- R 500 Registration fee (payable immediately to secure booking)
- R 1450 Course Fee (Includes: supplies & pattern drafting ruler kit)
PART 2: Dress, Sleeve & Contour Guide
Prerequisite: Foundation Blocks Part 1
In this workshop, we will use the bodice and skirt blocks created in the Bodice & Skirt workshop to draft a dress pattern as well as a sleeve pattern using your own personal body measurements. We will also discuss and indicate contour guides on your existing blocks and create a dartless pattern ideal for loose fitted tops. We will then make a sloper (test garment) for fitting, and make any necessary adjustments to your paper pattern draft to ensure a good fit.
- 1 Day workshop (8-hour session)
- R 500 Registration fee (payable immediately to secure booking)
- R 1200 Course Fee (Includes: supplies)
PART 3: Pants
Prerequisite: Foundation Blocks Part 1
In this workshop we will draft a pants pattern using your own personal body measurements. We will then make a sloper (test garment) for fitting, and make any necessary adjustments to your paper pattern draft to ensure a good fit.
- Half day workshop (4,5-hour session)
- R 300 Registration fee (payable immediately to secure booking)
- R 650 Course Fee (Includes: supplies)
PART 4: Men's Shirt
No prerequisites
In this workshop we will draft a Men’s shirt pattern with collar, long sleeves and cuffs, using personal body measurements. We will then make a muslin sloper for fitting, and make any necessary adjustments to your paper pattern draft to ensure a good fit.
- 1 Day workshop (9 hour session)
- R 500 Registration fee (payable immediately to secure booking)
- R 1450 Course Fee (Includes: supplies & pattern drafting ruler kit)
PART 5: Men's Pants
Prerequisite: Foundation Blocks Part 4
In this workshop we will draft a Men’s pants pattern using personal body measurements. We will then make a sloper (test garment) for fitting, and make any necessary adjustments to your paper pattern draft to ensure a good fit.
- Half day workshop (4.5 hour session)
- R 300 Registration fee (payable immediately to secure booking)
- R 650 Course Fee (Includes: supplies)
Pattern Manipulation
Manipulate pattern foundation blocks to create different patterns. Students should be 16 years and older and should have experience in general sewing and working with sewing patterns.
Stretch Fabrics
Prerequisites: Foundation Blocks Part 1, 2 & 3
In this workshop, we will modify our foundation pattern drafts to create new patterns that are suitable for knit/stretch fabric. We will draft a pair of leggings, a pant and a t-shirt with a sleeve.
- Half day workshop (3-hour session)
- R 200 Registration fee (payable immediately to secure booking)
- R 400 Course Fee (Includes: supplies)
Stylelines
Prerequisites: Foundation Blocks Part 1 & 2
In this workshop, we will modify our foundation pattern drafts to create popular styles like the armhole princess, the classic princess, the empire style and the wrap style.
- Half day workshop (4.5-hour session)
- R 300 Registration fee (payable immediately to secure booking)
- R 600 Course fee (Includes: supplies)
Ladies Shirt
Prerequisites: Foundation Blocks Part 1 & 2
In this workshop, we will modify our foundation pattern drafts to create a ladies shirt with two different closure options, your classic buttons and then a placket. We will also drat two different sleeves, a basic shirt sleeve and the bishop sleeve, and two different collars, the basic collar and a mandarin collar.
- Half day workshop (4-hour session)
- R 300 Registration fee (payable immediately to secure booking)
- R 500 Course Fee (Includes: supplies)
Jeans
Prerequisites: Foundation Blocks Part 1 & 3
In this workshop, we will modify our pants foundation pattern draft to create a pair of jeans with a fly zipper in front, the classic v-yolk in the back, side pockets in front and patch pockets in the back.
- Half day workshop (3-hour session)
- R 200 Registration fee (payable immediately to secure booking)
- R 400 Course Fee (Includes: supplies)
Jacket
Prerequisites: Foundation Blocks Part 1 & 2
In this workshop, we will modify our foundation pattern draft to create a ladies jacket with lapel, collar, patch pocket, a tailored sleeve and a tailored two-piece sleeve. We will also draft the lining & facing.
- Full day workshop (7-hour session)
- R 500 Registration fee (payable immediately to secure booking)
- R 800 Course fee (Includes: supplies)
Corset
Prerequisite: Manipulation Stylelines
In this workshop, we will modify our foundation pattern drafts to create a princess style corset with three different front variations, that is the basis of evening wear and wedding dresses.
- Half day workshop (3.5-hour session)
- R 300 Registration fee (payable immediately to secure booking)
- R 400 Course Fee (Includes: supplies)
Swimwear
Prerequisites: Foundation Blocks Part 1 & 2
In this workshop, we will modify our foundation pattern drafts to create new patterns that are suitable for swimwear. We draft a basic swimsuit with regular & high-cut leglines, a tank swimsuit with a basic and gathered front, a halter tankini, a bikini, regular & high-waisted bottoms.
- Half day workshop (5-hour session)
- R 300 Registration fee (payable immediately to secure booking)
- R 700 Course fee (Includes: supplies
Dancewear
Prerequisites: Foundation Blocks Part 1 & 2
In this workshop, we will modify our foundation pattern drafts to create patterns suitable for dancewear.
- Half day workshop coming soon
What You Need To Bring
- Previous experience in sewing & working with a clothing pattern
- Sewing Machine
- Standard sewing kit (measuring tape, pins, needles, thread, seam ripper, tailor’s chalk, fabric scissors)
- Standard stationery kit (2 colored felt tip markers, pen, pencil, eraser, pencil sharpener, paper scissors)
- All CraftChic pattern drafts/blocks you’ve made in any previous workshops
Enrolment
Not Ready to Enrol?
If you would like to be notified about further dates and workshops, you can sign up below and we’ll keep you posted.
Contact Us
Lizelle de Carvalho | lizelle@craftchic.co.za | CraftChic is based in Wierda Park, Centurion, Gauteng
The pattern making workshops will be presented by me, Lizelle and my husband Francisco. We have a big passion for making clothes and together have more than 10 years experience in designing our own patterns and making our own clothes. Above that, we also understand the challenge of finding clothes in the clothing stores that fit well for the unique body types we all have. This has inspired us to create a course for other sewers to learn the craft of designing and creating a pattern according to your own measurements.
We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to feel fabulous in clothes that look great and compliment their unique body, personality and style.
We made these winter coats we’re wearing in the photo from patterns we drafted using our block patterns.
