Pattern Drafting| Off the Wall | Winter Course
Pattern Drafting
ARTIST INSTRUCTOR: LELA STAIRS
January 13 -15 and January 20-22
(Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays.)
Participants learn how to interpret a two-dimensional design and render it into a three-dimensional costume pattern in this double-weekend workshop. Stratford Festival Cutter Lela Stairs teaches the skills of interpreting sketches, drafting patterns, mocking up blocks and cutting a costume. This course is ideal for those working in costume or wardrobe departments, and those who build costumes for community theatre.
Lesson Outline
1. Friday (1/2 day) - What is cutting? Introduce block development/custom patterns for actors; examine sketches and discuss sketch interpretation; practice taking proper measurements (which measurements and why); look at body types and discover how patterns work.
Skills Learned: what is a cutter? the importance of measuring properly; the differences in body types; sketch interpretation
2. Saturday - Finish up with measurements and pattern drafting all day. Establish size and ease, dart manipulation; examine different sketches and see how they translate to a bodice; begin to establish style lines and period features within your basic block; begin cutting out and mocking up the loose-fitting bodice in muslin.
Skills Learned: drafting, dart manipulation, style lines that are period specific, translating a sketch to a pattern
3. Sunday - Continue cutting out mockups and completing pattern drafting. Sew mock ups and begin fitting them (this is establishing a base for size and shape); discuss fittings and the importance of them, and learn what to look for in fittings (drag lines, placement of seams and darts).
Skills Learned: drafting, cutting out a mock up and why, discussing fit
Home work during the week (not compulsory): Finish sewing mock up, if incomplete. Complete drafting to bring to class for the next weekend.
1. Friday (1/2 day) - Complete fittings. Continue to sew and fit any bodices that were not complete. Return to patterns for pattern alterations and adjustments; talk about fitting room etiquette.
Skills Learned: fitting, fitting etiquette, pattern adjustments
2. Saturday - Return to blocks to start looking at how that basic block turns into a period bodice, corset, blouse. Start interpreting a sketch into the blocks and spend the day looking at different ways to manipulate the block; draft new patterns from the blocks; if time allows, begin cutting out mock up for costume bodice.
Skills Learned: changing style lines on your patterns to suit a period or design
3. Sunday - Continue drafting and mocking up costume bodice. Do fittings if time allows; wrap up and conclude; option: introduce draping, if time allows and participants are ready to advance.
Skills Learned: seeing the changes made to a basic bodice block to suit period/design; draping, if time allows
These will be included with the letter of welcome to participants in early January.


REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Cost: $595
Friday PM, Saturday and Sunday
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location:
Desmond Heeley Studio,
Factory163
163 King Street
Stratford N5A 4S2
Target enrolment: 6 students
For more information contact:
Susan Starkweather, Program Advisor