Draping Level 1: Evening Dress Draping

What you will learn

• How draping works: grain lines, balance and preparing calico for the dress form
• Draping a fitted bodice from scratch and shaping it to the body
• Creating soft folds, gathers and volume for evening wear
• Designing necklines and silhouettes directly on the stand
• Marking, truing and transferring your drape to a paper pattern
• Making a toile to check fit and proportion before cutting fabric

Who it is for

Students and makers with some sewing experience who want to move beyond flat patterns and design on the form. It is the first step before Draping Level 2.

Your tutor

A fashion designer and pattern maker working professionally since 1992, with couture and evening-wear experience.

Recognised training

Run by Anna Stella London Ltd, an approved CPD provider (no. 786956) listed on the UK Register of Learning Providers (UKPRN 10101185).

What is draping?

Draping, also called moulage, is the couture technique of designing a garment by pinning and shaping fabric directly on a dress form instead of drafting it flat on paper. It lets you see the silhouette, the folds and the proportions in three dimensions while you design, which is why couture houses still use it for evening and bridal wear.

How is Level 1 different from the next levels?

Level 1 gives you the foundations: preparing calico, keeping the grain balanced and draping a bodice with confidence. Draping Level 2 builds on this with more complex folds and full evening dresses, and the professional level focuses on finished couture pieces. Every level is a separate course, so you can progress at your own pace.

What do I take home?

You leave our draping course in Manchester with your own draped bodice, the paper pattern you transferred from it and a toile you can use to make the finished garment. You also keep your notes so you can repeat the method at home on your own dress form.