Pattern Cutting Foundations (6-weeks)
About this Event
Professional Foundation Pattern-Making Workshop (6 Weeks): Basic Block & Shirt Development
"Have you always wanted to design your own clothes?" Perhaps life got in the way, or pattern making felt too technical. With the right guidance, you can learn these basic pattern-making skills.
Whether you're a complete beginner, an aspiring designer or someone returning to fashion after time away, this six-week studio workshop will give you the technical foundations to confidently draft your own professional patterns.
Sawrap Studio – In-Person Technical Workshop
Unlike pre-recorded “watch-and-follow” courses, Sawrap’s in-person studio sessions are built around direct guidance and active correction. Students receive real-time support throughout the learning process, with the opportunity to ask questions, troubleshoot technical issues, and receive professional feedback as they develop their patterns.
"Imagine wearing a garment you've drafted yourself, knowing you created it from your own measurements. "
Why I Teach Pattern-Making?"
When I studied pattern-making at university, I found that some of the traditional teaching methods were difficult to follow. As someone with dyslexia, I often needed to see the process differently before it truly made sense.
Rather than giving up, I began developing my own visual approach to pattern cutting, breaking each stage into simple, logical steps that helped me understand not only how to draft a pattern, but why each step mattered.
As I shared this approach with fellow students, many found they understood pattern-making more clearly, too. Their encouragement inspired me to carry this teaching method into my professional career.
Today, after years of teaching fashion and pattern cutting, I continue to use this approach because I have seen how it builds confidence, removes the fear from technical drafting, and helps students create their own patterns with understanding rather than simply copying instructions.
My aim is not just to teach you how to draft a pattern, but to help you understand the principles behind it, so you leave with skills you can use independently in your own creative practice.
Led by a qualified fashion educator, each session provides hands-on instruction in a focused studio environment designed to strengthen both technical understanding and practical skills in pattern cutting and garment development.
Date & Time
18 September 2026 – 23 October 2026
Fridays | 11:00 – 15:00
What You Will Learn
Module 1 — Basic Block Development from Measurements
This module introduces the foundations of professional pattern cutting. Students will learn how to draft a basic garment block directly from body measurements, developing an understanding of proportion, balance, and construction principles.
You will learn to:
- Take and interpret body measurements accurately
- Draft a basic garment block from scratch
- Understand fit, balance, and structural alignment
- Develop awareness of ease and movement in pattern construction
- Refine and correct patterns through guided feedback
Module 2 — Skirt or Shirt Development & Pattern Adaptation
Building on the basic block, students will learn how to adapt their foundation pattern into a skirt or shirt design. This module focuses on applying technical knowledge to a wearable garment and introduces key design and construction elements used in industry practice.
You will learn to:
- Transform a basic block into a skirt or shirt pattern
- Understand garment construction and design principles
- Develop key details such as collars, cuffs, plackets, and seam construction
- Adjust fit and proportion for a shirt silhouette
- Apply professional pattern refinement techniques
Who This Course Is For
- Fashion students
- Independent designers
- Small fashion brands
- Beginners wanting strong technical foundations
Course Format
Duration: 6 Weeks
Class: Small Group Studio Sessions
Class Size: Maximum 8–10 students
Level: Foundation / Beginner to Intermediate
And finally, the outcome
By the end of the workshop, you'll have drafted your own foundation pattern and gained the confidence to develop future designs with understanding rather than guesswork.
For more information on the program, visit our website @ https://www.sawrap.co.uk/patternmaking
Booking & Enquiries
To request further information: Email: [email protected]
Or book on sawrap.co.uk/patternmaking
Places may be limited depending on the course format.
Agenda
🕑: 11:00 AM - 03:00 AM
Course Overview
Info: Professional Pattern Cutting Foundations
"Master the essential architecture of the female form by drafting bespoke bodice or skirt blocks using the industry-standard curriculum."
Learn the foundations of pattern-making through a practical, step-by-step approach designed for complete beginners. Over this 6-week course, you’ll build the core skills needed to draft, develop, and understand patterns, setting you up for further study or entry into the fashion industry.
What you’ll learn
Manual pattern drafting: bodice or skirt blocks
Body measurement.
Block construction for an accurate fit.
Garment construction techniques to bring patterns to life.
Portfolio development to support further education and employment.
Ongoing access: Choose our membership plan to keep access to course resources after you complete the 6-week program.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 214.68 to GBP 428.65
