Patternmaking + Design: The Pants Sloper

Class Preview

Draft custom pant slopers with confidence. Create the foundation for designing all the perfectly fitting pants you can dream up!

Introduction & Measuring

Join fashion designer and veteran instructor Suzy Furrer in her seventh Craftsy class and learn more about what a pant sloper is and how to take measurements for one. Suzy walks you through the calculations you’ll make to build the pants block, the foundation for the sloper you’ll make for yourself or a client.

Drafting the Front

Learn good drafting habits as you begin drafting a pant front with Suzy’s guidance. You’ll see how to translate your measurements and calculations into waist shaping, dart placement, crotch extension and seam lines as Suzy works her way down the pant block.

Drafting the Back

Learn to draft the back pant, beginning by tracing the front and using it as the foundation for your drafting. You’ll add width to the seams and height to the waist, create a centered back dart and draft the crotch extension.

Truing Up the Pattern

It’s time to true up the front and back of your pants sloper. Suzy shows how to get a smooth curve on the crotch seam and make sure it’s the correct length. Then true your inseam, outseam and waistline and add markings. Finally, see how to add seam allowances and mark your fabric so you can sew up your muslin!

Fitting the Sloper

Learn how to evaluate and adjust your muslin with Suzy’s guidance, pinning out excess, altering or removing darts and noting whether the crotch curve needs to change. Then see how to transfer these changes to a second draft of your sloper and true it up again.

Finalizing the Sloper

Once you’re satisfied with your sloper’s fit, you’ll want to make a durable version on heavier paper such as oak tag. Suzy walks you through the transferral process, pointing out everything you’ll want to mark on your final sloper so you can use it again and again.

Drafting a Cigarette Pant

Now you can start playing with pant design options, using your sloper as the starting point. Suzy demonstrates by designing a slim, fitted pant with lowered, faced waistline and exposed side zipper. If you’re planning a design for production, Suzy shows how to prepare your pattern with seam allowances and necessary markings.

Drafting Trousers

Take your sloper in another direction by drafting trousers along with Suzy. Add a contoured waistband, slanted pockets, zipper fly and wide, straight legs, and mark it all on a production pattern. Gain confidence in drafting and soon you’ll be creating your own designs from start to finish!