Pattern Cutting: Drafting Your Perfect Trouser (6 Weeks)

 Friday Mornings - 10am - 12pm 

This six-week course is ideal for anyone ready to take their garment-making skills to the next level. Whether you’re a confident beginner or an experienced home sewer keen to deepen your understanding of fit and pattern development, this course will guide you through the process of creating a made-to-measure trouser block from scratch.

Working in a a small class of a maximum 6 learners, you’ll receive plenty of individual guidance and feedback as you explore the pattern cutting process — from accurate measurement and drafting to toile fitting and pattern refinement.

By the end of the course, you’ll have your own personalised trouser pattern and a deeper understanding of how to adjust and adapt patterns for a professional fit

 Throughout the six weeks, you’ll gain hands-on experience with:

• Measuring techniques and body balance considerations.
• Drafting a basic trouser block to your own body measurements.
• Understanding pattern terminology, symbols, and construction logic.
• Trueing, adding seam allowances, and preparing working patterns.
• Creating and sewing a toile (mock-up) to check fit and proportion.
• Fitting adjustments and refining your pattern for accuracy.
• Exploring style adaptations — such as changing leg width, adding pockets, or altering the waistband.

 Weeks 1–2: Measurement & Drafting the Trouser Block

• Take accurate body measurements.
• Draft a basic trouser block using standard pattern-cutting methods.
• Learn how to true seams, mark notches, and check balance.
   

Weeks 3–4: Creating & Fitting the Toile

• Cut and sew a calico toile (sample garment).
• Assess fit, proportion, and movement.
• Make adjustments directly on the toile and transfer changes back to your paper pattern.
   

Weeks 5–6: Refinement & Style Development

• Finalise your corrected trouser block into a working pattern.
• Explore simple style variations — such as pleats, pockets, or different leg shapes.
• Prepare your pattern for future projects and take home your completed block

• Notebook, pencil, eraser, sharpener, and fine marker pens.
• Calico fabric (you will be advised when needed).
• Basic sewing kit: fabric scissors, pins, tape measure, unpicker, and chalk.
•  Pattern master (recommended).
   

Sewing machines and specialist tools are provided for classroom use

• A personal trouser block drafted to your own measurements.
• A fitted toile to reference for future projects. 
• A working pattern ready to develop into new styles.
• Confidence and insight into how pattern cutting brings creativity and fit together