Learn How to Draft Patterns

Hello all! I hope you had a terrific holiday weekend! This last week of the year always finds me thinking about my New Year's resolutions - and this year is no exception. :-) But this year I'm going to share my resolutions with you and invite you along for the ride. I've also got a few new things planned for Shiny Happy World that will help you out if your resolutions involve sewing, embroidery, or quilting. More on that later. For now - my first resolution. . .

I will learn how to draft patterns the right way - not just by the seat of my pants. :-) And not kids clothes - those are easy because kids don't like their clothes to fit too snugly and they don't have many curves. I mean drafting patterns for a real grown-up woman with real curves. I'm making clothes for myself!

I spent the last few months doing some research and I've finally settled on the book Design-It-Yourself Clothes by Cal Patch. The clothing looks (mostly) like stuff I might wear myself and her approach makes sense to me. I'm going to make my way through the book from start to finish - with a rough goal of making one garment every month.

Want to join me? I'll share my progress every month and you all can share too! I'll be making the first pattern in the book - a basic A-line skirt - in January. A-line skirts are really easy. I actually already have a pattern I drafted for myself - one that I like a lot - but I want to see how her technique differs. If you want to play along, here's what you need to do. . .

1. Buy the book.
2. Take a look at the introduction and buy any tools you'll need. She doesn't call for much - another reason I like her approach. :-)
3. Check your stash or buy some fabric to make your skirt.
4. Check back in January for progress reports.

I'm so excited to make some clothes for myself! I hope you are too! Check back tomorrow for resolution #2. I think it's one most of us can get behind. :-)

Best,
Wendi