NEW course / presale
This course is for you if…
✓ you want to create designer-level, complex silhouettes
✓ you are tired of guessing their way through fitting adjustments
✓ your body doesn’t match standard sizing
✓ you want to take an idea all the way to a finished garment
✓ you want to go beyond commercial patterns
✓ you sew for clients with a variety of body shapes
✓ you are tired of guessing their way through fitting adjustments
✓ your body doesn’t match standard sizing
✓ you want to take an idea all the way to a finished garment
✓ you want to go beyond commercial patterns
✓ you sew for clients with a variety of body shapes
How fashion designers turn ideas into garments using draping
Bring the garment to life
Transfer a pattern onto paper
Shape the design on the dress form
Adjust your dress form
BUILD DESIGNER SILHOUETTES AROUND REAL BODIES
AND ORIGINAL IDEAS
What’s inside the course?
✓ How to choose a dress form, pad it, and customize it to match your body perfectly
✓ How to sew your draped design: convert your toile into paper patterns
✓ How to create darts, style lines, princess seams, cups + other core techniques
✓ How to create complex shapes, silhouettes, drapes, and asymmetry
✓ Draping practice: analyze and recreate runway designs
✓ How to improvise in draping: turn ideas into shape
15 GARMENTS TO PRACTICE DRAPING
Skills you'll develop
Thinking like a fashion designer
Developing patterns from draped forms
Achieving precise, professional fit
Working with complex silhouettes and volume
Designing original garments from scratch
Course Instructor
• Fashion designer and pattern maker with 15+ years of experience
• Instructor in patternmaking and draping in sewing schools for over 5 years
• Works with a wide range of shapes and garments, from headwear to elaborate, unconventional dance costumes
• Instructor in patternmaking and draping in sewing schools for over 5 years
• Works with a wide range of shapes and garments, from headwear to elaborate, unconventional dance costumes
• 25+ years of experience in fashion design
• 16 years teaching professional draping
• Instructor at Beijing Institute of Technology
• Three degrees in Fashion Design (London, Canada, Australia)
• Designer of bespoke bridal and evening gowns
• 16 years teaching professional draping
• Instructor at Beijing Institute of Technology
• Three degrees in Fashion Design (London, Canada, Australia)
• Designer of bespoke bridal and evening gowns
Olga Alekseeva
Svetlana Tcheremnykh
How the course works
YOUR MENTORS
✦ Available 7 days a week from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. (UTC+3) and ready to help you from the very first day of the course
✦ You can ask them to assist you with any task—from client orders to sewing for yourself and your family
✦ You will never have to face sewing challenges alone
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. Trousers with a peplum waistband
5.10. Blouse with vertical pleats, accent shoulders, and a tie scarf
5.11. Skirt with godet inserts and decorative fasteners
5.12. Pleated blouse with fancy sleeves
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. Trousers with a peplum waistband
5.10. Blouse with vertical pleats, accent shoulders, and a tie scarf
5.11. Skirt with godet inserts and decorative fasteners
5.12. Pleated blouse with fancy sleeves
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
PRESALE
Solo Sailing
- - 19 detailed lessons on draping theory
- - 14 lessons of core draping techniques
- - 15 garments for practice
- - 2 years access
- Ultimate bonus until July 16: UNLIMITED ACCESS to the course materials
$350
Guided by mentors
- 19 detailed lessons on draping theory
- 14 lessons of core draping techniques
- 14 lessons of core draping techniques
- - 15 garments for practice
- - 6 months of mentor support
- - 5 years access
- Ultimate bonus until July 16: UNLIMITED ACCESS to the course materials
$390
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.
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Student Works
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.
NEW course / presale
create your own
When the perfect pattern doesn’t exist
Start to make garments around your idea and body in our new Draping course