Fashion Draping and Design Retreat: July 23-26 at the Raleigh Marriott City Center

Maybe you love to sew clothing but can’t find the patterns that fit your taste or lifestyle. Or maybe you have a collection of ideas, but are lost when it comes to creating them for yourself. Or, maybe you simply want to make clothes in your sewing room that actually fit you. If you see yourself in any of these sentences, take the next steps to being able to see or imagine a garment and create it for yourself with confidence.

Enjoy an infusion of garment design as never before, with Joe Vecchiarelli and Nick Coman in this unprecedented retreat experience, as you combine draping on your ‘body double’ with pattern manipulation. You’ll use both ½ scale patterns and your own personal fitting block, alongside fabric draping to achieve the looks, the patterns, and ultimately the clothes you dream of wearing. Because everything is based on a body form which exactly mirrors your own shape, these are the clothes that truly fit YOU.

Begin your experience by padding your full body form to accurately represent your own shape in preparation for draping your first bodice on the form. Your body measurements, Joe’s demonstration and assistance throughout the afternoon make this a priceless opportunity to create a full body form that truly mimics you. Once completed, your ‘body double’ will become the base upon which you’ll create, in fabric, what will become your pattern fitting blocks (upper body and pant sloper patterns).

Days 2 and 3 are all about creating the fitting blocks and learning to design for the upper body (Day 1) and pants (Day 2). You’ll use your ‘body double’ and your fitting blocks to begin creating new designs and their paper patterns, as you learn about and practice the art of draping with the creativity of flat pattern work. As you explore both design methods, you’ll learn which to use when, and how to use them in combination for the ultimate in design satisfaction.

Day 4 is when your creativity blooms … think about the clothes you’d love to make which will fit you automatically because they've been draped on .... well … you! Nick’s do’ and ‘don’t’ guidelines will help you get started on the right foot (and not stray) as you’re learning. Moreover, both his and Joe’s years of experience and great design sense will help you create flattering and wearable designs. Maybe you want to take a detail or feature from one garment idea and add it to the shape of another -- or take the silhouette of one garment and change it to be more flattering to your own figure -- exaggerate it a little in one place, and make it more body conscious in another. Lengths and the addition of design details…. these are the things you can really work out while draping on your own form, with professional advice available from both Joe and Nick when you need it. What could be more fun?!

You’ll be building your skills so you can design by:

• - draping right on your own ‘body double’ form (You must bring or order your own form - see supply list for details.);
• - manipulating design and fit details using your personal fitting blocks;
• - working out ideas in ½ scale patterns first, then transferring them to your own fitting block or body double for editing and tweaking; 
• - using a combination of the above, choosing by design and/or fabric which path suits your vision best. 

Regardless of how you do it, what you will always develop is a design that fits and suits YOU….

YOU’LL TAKE (OR SHIP) HOME:

• - Your own padded body double for continued use in your own studio (You must bring or order your own form - see supply list for details.);
• - A record of your exact body measurements;
• - A collection of fitting/draping/drafting equipment, including a 2” x 18” grid ruler, an industrial tracing wheel (not the wimpy home version), metal 24” Curve Vary Form ruler, #17 French Curve ruler, #24 straight pins for draping, pattern paper, draping tape, Berol pencil;
• - A collection of design ideas in ½ scale patterns, full size patterns and muslin.
• - The confidence and motivation to continue designing at home, sewing and wearing a personal collection of clothes that look and feel wonderful.

COST OF CLASS INCLUDES:

• - 4 nights hotel stay (single occupancy) at Raleigh Marriott City Center. Check in Monday July 23rd, Check out Friday, July 27th.  NOTE: If you'd like to share a room, call us at 800-699-6309 for a $300 discount (total retreat cost based on double occupancy is $1995).
• - Lunch all 3 days
• - Opening and Closing Receptions
• - Group dinner on Wednesday
• - Open lab Tuesday and Wednesday evenings 
• - Complete set of draping/pattern drafting tools
• - VIP General Admission 3-Day Pass to Original Sewing & Quilt Expo
• - Expo Shopping Bag
• - Discounted pricing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday Expo classes: Class sessions are regularly $19/session, but Retreat students pay only $10/session. (You must CALL US AT 800-699-6309 to place your order so we can apply this special discount.)
• - Plus surprises, treats, mini-lessons and fun!

ITINERARY

Monday July 23rd:

• - Opening Reception at 1:00pm
• - Create your ‘body double’ on a full body form (1:30 – 5:30pm) 

Tuesday July 24th:

• - Classroom opens 8:30am
• - Instruction 9:00am – 5:00pm (with a lunch break 12:30-1:30pm)
• - Prepare your muslin and drape your bodice sloper
• - Create both darted and princess flat patterns from your sloper (these are your fitting blocks)
• - Use ½ scale patterns as you learn to manipulate darts and create a variety of designs for tops
• - Create new designs by draping on your ‘body double’ and/or using your personal fitting blocks – as many as time allows
• - Open lab 6:30 – 8:30pm

Wednesday July 25th: 

• - Classroom opens 8:30am
• - Instruction 9:00am – 5:00pm (with a lunch break 12:30-1:30pm)
• - Prepare your muslin and drape your pant sloper
• - Create flat pattern from your sloper (this is your fitting block)
• - Use ½ scale patterns to design a collection of pant styles and design details
• - Create your choice of pant designs (palazzo, cigarette, pleated, yoked, etc.) by draping on your ‘body double’ and/or using your personal fitting block – as many as time allows
• - Dinner at 5:30pm
• - Open lab 6:30 – 8:30pm

Thursday July 26th: 

• - Classroom opens 8:30am
• - Instruction from 9:00am – 4:30pm (with a lunch break 12:30-1:30pm)
• - Continue designing garments using (your choice) ½ scale patterns, your fitting blocks and/or your body double
• - Copy photos, sketches, garments you already own or experiment as you wish. Joe and Nick are there to consult and advise along the way
• - Watch what’s going on around you and share with other students -- think “Project Runway workroom”
• - As time allows and interests dictate, additional demonstrations and mini-lessons for creating memorable garments will be shared
• - Graduation reception at 5:00 pm

(Note: Only Monday time is listed on ticket, but your registration is valid for the entire retreat Monday through Thursday.)