Choose Your Course
You can enroll in the draping course—training covers everything from fundamental techniques to complex shapes and unconventional constructions.
If you want to master pattern making to the fullest and learn to create patterns both flat (on paper) and on the dress form, you can choose a special course bundle: Pattern Making through Hacking Techniques + Draping at a special price.
If you want to master pattern making to the fullest and learn to create patterns both flat (on paper) and on the dress form, you can choose a special course bundle: Pattern Making through Hacking Techniques + Draping at a special price.
✦ you want to take custom orders but worry a client might bring an idea you can’t recreate
✦ you want to launch your own brand and create collections without the extra cost of hiring a pattern maker
✦ you dream of understanding how to create patterns even for complex designs
✦ you have tried pattern hacking, but only felt confident combining pattern pieces or slightly adjusting a neckline
These courses are for you if
Course Instructor
Svetlana Tcheremnykh
→ Fashion designer with 25+ years of experience
→ Fashion design instructor
→ Taught draping at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology for 16 years
→ Regular participant in fashion shows in Russia and China
→ Fashion design instructor
→ Taught draping at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology for 16 years
→ Regular participant in fashion shows in Russia and China
Course program
1.1. Draping on the dress form and its possibilities
1.2. What you’ll learn in the course
1.2. What you’ll learn in the course
2.1. Professional terminology
2.2. Tools and materials for toile making
2.3. Types of toile fabric and how to choose the right one
2.4. How to choose a dress form and adjust it to your measurements
2.5. How to create an arm for your dress form
2.6. Preparing fabric for draping
2.7. Pinning techniques: placement, shape control, and tension
2.8. Transferring the draped toile to paper patterns
2.9. Lining construction principles
2.2. Tools and materials for toile making
2.3. Types of toile fabric and how to choose the right one
2.4. How to choose a dress form and adjust it to your measurements
2.5. How to create an arm for your dress form
2.6. Preparing fabric for draping
2.7. Pinning techniques: placement, shape control, and tension
2.8. Transferring the draped toile to paper patterns
2.9. Lining construction principles
3.1. How to analyze a design: breaking it down into squares
3.2. Ease in draping
3.3. Garment balance and fit control
3.2. Ease in draping
3.3. Garment balance and fit control
4.1. Shaping elements
- Darts: bust, waist, side, French
- Princess seams: from shoulder, from armscye
- Necklines
- Collars
- Yokes
- Pleats
- Tucks
- Draped folds
- Set-in
- Raglan
- Grown-on
- Shirt sleeve
- Dartless base
- Bias draping
- Cups for corsetry
5.1. Coat with voluminous sleeves and grown-on stand collar
5.2. Coat with gusset and grown-on turn-down collar (inspired by Jacquemus)
5.3. Blazer with asymmetric closure (inspired by Mugler)
5.4. Bustier top (inspired by Giuseppe Di Morabito)
5.5. Trousers with free-hanging panel (inspired by Giuseppe Di Morabito)
5.6. Blazer with asymmetric collar and peplum
5.7. Blazer with statement collar and pleated peplum
5.8. Draped dress (inspired by Versace)
5.9. Design 9
5.10. Design 10
5.11. Design 11
5.12. Design 12
5.13. Design 13
5.14. Design 14
5.15. Design 15
5.2. Coat with gusset and grown-on turn-down collar (inspired by Jacquemus)
5.3. Blazer with asymmetric closure (inspired by Mugler)
5.4. Bustier top (inspired by Giuseppe Di Morabito)
5.5. Trousers with free-hanging panel (inspired by Giuseppe Di Morabito)
5.6. Blazer with asymmetric collar and peplum
5.7. Blazer with statement collar and pleated peplum
5.8. Draped dress (inspired by Versace)
5.9. Design 9
5.10. Design 10
5.11. Design 11
5.12. Design 12
5.13. Design 13
5.14. Design 14
5.15. Design 15
6.1. Principles of complex shaping
6.2. Asymmetry and unconventional constructions
6.3. How to improvise in draping: turning an idea into shaping
6.2. Asymmetry and unconventional constructions
6.3. How to improvise in draping: turning an idea into shaping
Lesson 1. Pattern hacking algorithm: 6 steps
Lesson 2. Tools and supplies needed
Lesson 3. Patterns for study
Lesson 2. Tools and supplies needed
Lesson 3. Patterns for study
Lesson 1. Silhouette and construction lines
Lesson 2. Silhouette shapes and ease allowances
Lesson 3. Construction types
Lesson 4. Construction and decorative elements that affect the basic pattern choice
Lesson 5. How fabric properties affect pattern hacking results
Lesson 2. Silhouette shapes and ease allowances
Lesson 3. Construction types
Lesson 4. Construction and decorative elements that affect the basic pattern choice
Lesson 5. How fabric properties affect pattern hacking results
Lesson 1. Garment design analysis
Lesson 2. Creating a flat sketch with no drawing skills
Lesson 3. Choosing the right basic pattern for hacking
Lesson 2. Creating a flat sketch with no drawing skills
Lesson 3. Choosing the right basic pattern for hacking
Lesson 1. Making pattern pieces narrower and wider
Lesson 2. Dart manipulation
Lesson 3. Princess seams
Lesson 4. Design lines
Lesson 5. Yokes and peplums
Lesson 6. Drafting pleats and tucks
Lesson 7. Closure types. Drafting closures
Lesson 8. Modifying necklines
Lesson 9. Designing asymmetrical pieces
Lesson 10. Drafting and hacking collars
Lesson 11. Hacking a set-in sleeve
Lesson 12. Modifying various sleeve designs
Lesson 13. Adjusting the fit
Lesson 14. Drafting pockets
Lesson 15. Rules for drafting lining pieces
Lesson 16. Altering the length of pieces
Lesson 17. Circle pieces and garments
Lesson 18. Bias cut and drapings
Lesson 19. Combining garments (jumpsuits, skirt trousers)
Lesson 2. Dart manipulation
Lesson 3. Princess seams
Lesson 4. Design lines
Lesson 5. Yokes and peplums
Lesson 6. Drafting pleats and tucks
Lesson 7. Closure types. Drafting closures
Lesson 8. Modifying necklines
Lesson 9. Designing asymmetrical pieces
Lesson 10. Drafting and hacking collars
Lesson 11. Hacking a set-in sleeve
Lesson 12. Modifying various sleeve designs
Lesson 13. Adjusting the fit
Lesson 14. Drafting pockets
Lesson 15. Rules for drafting lining pieces
Lesson 16. Altering the length of pieces
Lesson 17. Circle pieces and garments
Lesson 18. Bias cut and drapings
Lesson 19. Combining garments (jumpsuits, skirt trousers)
1. Skirts
2. Trousers
3. Tops
4. Dresses
5. Blazers
6. Sets
7. Outerwear
2. Trousers
3. Tops
4. Dresses
5. Blazers
6. Sets
7. Outerwear
What You’ll Create in the Course
Additional options
- Installment paymentsYou can purchase the course in two payments: one payment now and one in a month, with no additional fees or interest.
More → - Freeze periodIf you need to make a pause, you can put the course and access to the lessons on hold for 90 days.
Resume learning at any convenient time and keep going at your own pace. - Loyalty programIf you have already taken Vikisews courses, you are eligible for an additional discount on the current price.
You can learn more about the conditions from a manager after leaving your request.
More →
The course is unlocked gradually, and the bonuses become available after the entire payment is made.
If it’s your first Vikisews course, you automatically become a member of the loyalty program, which grants you a discount on all courses you decide to take in the future.
Student Works
The Vikisews Signature Approach
For 10 years, the VIKISEWS team has been creating patterns for over 530,000 customers worldwide. We’ve developed more than 1,000 designs—from evening gowns to trend-driven puffer jackets. Now, all of that experience is distilled into one comprehensive course so you can create any design you can imagine.
110 000
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social media followers
530 000
customers in 150 countries
FAQ
Flat pattern hacking involves creating patterns on paper. Lines and shapes are calculated using formulas, and design elements like seams and pleats are drafted graphically. The result is a finished pattern used to cut fabric.
Draping, on the other hand, is used to create patterns directly on the dress form — without paper or formulas. Instead of a drawing, you work with fabric similar to the main one (e.g., calico for blazers, artificial silk for dresses). The fabric is pinned onto the form, and shapes are created in three dimensions based on design analysis and a structured workflow. Once the shape is achieved, the toile is taken apart, markings are transferred to paper, and only then is the final fabric cut.
Key difference: flat pattern hacking starts on paper and is tested in fabric. Draping starts directly in fabric on the dress form, and only later is transferred to paper.
You can enroll in the draping course (covers everything from basics to advanced techniques), or choose the bundle to master both methods.
Draping, on the other hand, is used to create patterns directly on the dress form — without paper or formulas. Instead of a drawing, you work with fabric similar to the main one (e.g., calico for blazers, artificial silk for dresses). The fabric is pinned onto the form, and shapes are created in three dimensions based on design analysis and a structured workflow. Once the shape is achieved, the toile is taken apart, markings are transferred to paper, and only then is the final fabric cut.
Key difference: flat pattern hacking starts on paper and is tested in fabric. Draping starts directly in fabric on the dress form, and only later is transferred to paper.
You can enroll in the draping course (covers everything from basics to advanced techniques), or choose the bundle to master both methods.
Required tools:
- Dress form in your size (you’ll learn how to choose and pad it to match your body)
- Straight ruler
- French curve
- Fabric scissors
- Pins
- Narrow tape or elastic
- Removable arm (pattern included in the course)
- Measuring tape
- Pen or marker
- Dress form in your size (you’ll learn how to choose and pad it to match your body)
- Straight ruler
- French curve
- Fabric scissors
- Pins
- Narrow tape or elastic
- Removable arm (pattern included in the course)
- Measuring tape
- Pen or marker
Unfortunately, absolute beginners may find them challenging. You’ll need basic sewing skills, as construction techniques are not covered. If you’ve already sewn a few garments using our patterns, you’ll be able to follow along.
If you have no prior experience in sewing, we recommend starting with our Fundamental Sewing Course. It will help you master all the basic sewing techniques, which will allow you to learn pattern hacking after.
If you have no prior experience in sewing, we recommend starting with our Fundamental Sewing Course. It will help you master all the basic sewing techniques, which will allow you to learn pattern hacking after.
The course is fully flexible—you can study anytime, from any device. Plan for a couple of hours per day. Access duration depends on your chosen plan.
You can also pause your course for up to 90 days.
You can also pause your course for up to 90 days.
Yes. The pattern hacking course includes 6 basic patterns (dress, trousers, skirt, jacket, coat) in all sizes and heights. In the draping course, you’ll receive patterns for creating a dress form arm, and you can also use any patterns you already own.