Learn pattern cutting and draping for fashion design with a short course: Petra's story

Short course student Petra took two summer courses to pursue her dream of working in fashion: Patternmaking Level 1 followed by 3D Draping on The Stand Summer School.

We caught up with her to hear about her experience. "I’m Petra, I’m from Romania, I’m 25 and I have a background in international economics and management," she tells us. "I was super interested in doing the draping course because my dream ever since I can remember is having a fashion company".

The Patternmaking Level 1 Short Course is a beginner's course that teaches students pattern cutting techniques that enable them to create their own designs. Petra says, "It was a good course to do first because it gave me a lot of intro information, like what a gauge is, or how far the waist should be compared to the hip." Held at Central Saint Martins in King’s Cross, the course focuses on how to use specialist equipment, how to draw with accuracy and create finished patterns.

The 3D Draping on the Stand Summer School is an intensive short course that teaches students techniques of draping fabric on a mannequin, how to make a pattern reflecting this, and how to make a toile (practice garment). Petra says, "It’s a complete three-week-long course. I would recommend the draping course if you want to get your hands on to some fabric and understand what goes into making a garment".

The 3D Draping on the Stand Summer School Short Course takes place at London College of Fashion’s East Bank campus in Stratford. "It was useful because you learn all the basics. I didn’t know anything about fashion design, and it was a slow introduction in the beginning, but we learned a lot throughout the three weeks".

As the course progresses, students learn about styling their designs and how to elevate their ideas using different shapes. Petra shares, "I got to use my imagination a lot, especially in the final week". During her last week on the course, Petra made a bustier with boning inside it. She explains, "We got to drape on top of it, I made some pleats and 3D roses. That was the most challenging but most exciting part". Petra also made a fitted jersey dress and learnt how to create collars and sleeves on a jacket.

The 3D Draping on the Stand Summer School and the Patternmaking Level 1 Short Course are taught by Belgin Vehbi, who is also an Associate Lecturer on the MA Fashion Design and the BA Fashion Design: Print courses at Central Saint Martins. She has worked in the fashion industry as a creative pattern cutter with clients including Hussein Chalayan.

"Belgin is an amazing teacher. She gave us a lot of great information that only a professional in the industry can give you. And she was amazing at giving us small tricks to make a garment really beautiful". On her teaching style, Petra "loved that it was relaxed, but also strict. We had a list of things that we needed to be able to do by the end of the course, and Belgin kept us on track".

Petra shares, "There’s a lot of things that I had no idea about before coming to do these courses. Both courses I did are interconnected and after you learn more, it flows and clicks".

Petra feels one step closer to her goal of starting a fashion company after taking the courses. "It’s helped because I had a lot of ideas in my head, but I’d never worked with fabric before or on a mannequin; I now know what is achievable and what isn’t." She concludes, "You’ll learn a lot and can understand your style as a designer. It gives you the basic skills that you can take and nourish and then use on your own".