1 - INTRO TO DRAPING: DRESS FORM & MUSLIN BASICS

Posted on November 5, 2019 by Stephanie Triplett

There’s no need to muddle through painfully long and technical slideshows and videos in order to
heighten your sewing skills. In this tutorial we will cover the fundamental, must-know draping basics,
which is the first in a series. Grab your dress form, style tape, and muslin—Let’s get started!

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Prep Your Work Space

PURCHASE TOOLS
WE USE:
Lance 24" French Curve
(for later steps)
Blue Dritz Mark-B-Gone
Muslin (choose a weight
closest to the fabric you
intend to work with)
Bias tape (for marking
the outline the fabric will
follow)
Draping Tape
White Mood Tape
Measure
Long Ball Pins
Tula Pink 8" Shears (also
available in Lefty!)
Transparent Ruler
Pressing Tools

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 What is Draping?
Draping is a technique used to make a 3-dimensional dress pattern with the aid of a dress form
figure by pinning and placing fabric against the form to create a garment. Typically designers use
muslin, which is cost-efficient and offered in a variety of weights.

Why is Draping

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 Useful?
Draping is used to achieve the desired pattern through the first-hand manipulation of fabric,
providing the opportunity to sculpt and create one-of-a-kind designs, which is why draping is a
technique used primarily when making couture and high-end pieces.

Draping Terms to Know

Mannequin marking terms:

1. SH-shoulder line
2. NB-neck band
3. Armhole/Armscye
4. PL-princess line
5. Apex/BP-bust point
6. BL-bust line
7. CF-center front
8. SS-side seam
9. WL-waistline
10. HBL-Horizontal balance
line

Apex: the highest point of the bust and a reference point for establishing the cross grain for the front
bodice
Center Front: vertical line that marks the middle front of the garment
Center back: vertical line that marks the middle back of a garment
Seam: two or more edges of fabric held together by stitches
Bias: A diagonal line across the grain of the fabric to showcasing maximum stretch
Cross grain: section of fabric that runs perpendicular to the lengthwise grain that runs from selvage

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to selvage
Dart: a design feature that aids in fitting garments around and to curves

Prep Your Dress Form

Mark all major points
and seams to create
guidelines for your
garment, using the
terminology we
learned earlier in the
post as a guide,
which will keep your
draping even.
Mimicking your
desired design and
other seams using
the bias tape will
provide a jump-start
in bringing your
garment to life.

Apply style tape to the fullest

point of the bust, starting at
the center front to the side
seam. Repeat with the
smallest part of the waist and
widest hip point.

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Along the backside,
style tape should be
placed horizontally at
shoulder blade level
(this should be ¼ the
distance between the
neckline and
waistline) reaching
from CB to the
armhole ridge.

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 Measure Your Dress
Form

Front Measurements:
1. To gather measurements for your front bodice muslin block width, measure the style tape
placed on the front of the dress form and add 4” *note that we are currently working with ½ of
the front bodice*
2. To gather measurements for your front bodice muslin block length, measure the distance
vertically from the top of the neckband to the waistline, then add 3”.

Back Measurements:
1. To gather measurements for your back bodice muslin block width, measure about 2” under
the arm plate, at the broadest point of the back, from the center back to the side seam, then
add 4”.

To gather measurements for your back bodice muslin block length, measure the distance vertically
from the top of the neckband to the waistline, then add 2”.

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 Prep Your Muslin

Grab your muslin that mimics the weight of the fabric you want to work with.
Iron your muslin to make handling and marking easy and accurate.
Notch your muslin block using your measuring tape and ruler and tear along the grain for
perfectly squared off block.
Use the cutting and marking tools that we gathered from above to mark grain line and other
important points of reference.
Tear your muslin to determine the grain and use the measurements from above to cut out your

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 front and back bodice blocks. **Note: grains should each form right angles creating the block
shape.**
Turn your muslin to its backside or “wrong side” and iron the lengthwise grain

When prepping your muslin keep in mind that there are different weights of muslin. Choose
muslin that is similar to the weight of your final project.

Note: Pictured on top is our basic, lightweight muslin, and the bottom is a stiffer heavyweight muslin.

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 Prep Your Muslin
Blocks

Front Block (lay bodice down lengthwise)

1. Measure from the top of the neck band to the bust line level and make your vertical guide line
here
2. Measure from the apex (fullest point of the bust) to the center front, then add ⅛” for seam
allowance
3. Go to bodice block and measure 1” from top lengthwise edge and make a horizontal line which
will represent your CF
4. Reference your neckline to apex measurement and drop down that amount making a
horizontal line there to represent your bust guideline
5. Reference your total apex to side seam measurement from step 2 and make a horizontal line to
represent your side seam
6. Divide the number above and draw a horizontal line which will represent your balance
guideline

Back block (lay bodice down lengthwise)

1. Use your center back to armhole ridge measurement and add 4” for ease to create a vertical
guideline to your block
2. At the bottom of your muslin block measure in 1” from the bottom edge to make your CB
guideline.
3. Measure 3” from the left side of the muslin block and place a small mark to represent your CB
neckline
4. From the CB neckline point measure down your down your shoulder blade level and make a
guideline
5. Make a make to represent your entire CB to armhole ridge measurement, including the ¼” for
added ease
6. Measure 1 1/4 “ from your CB to armhole ridge marking to make a guideline to represent your
back balance guideline
7. Fold your CB and CF guidelines

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 8. Iron the blocks
9. Fold the CB and CF guidelines using your fingers as a finger press (using an iron for this will
stretch the grain)

Now you know the purpose of draping and its meaning, you’ve got your materials gathered and
prepped, so give yourself a round of applause for getting to the end of this post. Stay tuned for our
next tutorial in this series where we map out how to drape a basic bodice. You’ll want to hang onto
your prepared muslin block and dress form and also gather a marking pen, sewing pins, and shears
to learn how to take your muslin block to a draped bodice.

For more in-depth courses, check out our Mood U classes available in NYC and
LA!

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