Patternmaking + Design: The Pants Sloper (DVD + Streaming)

Learn to draft a custom pant sloper and use it to create two on-trend pattern variations alongside Apparel Arts founder Suzy Furrer. Start simple with how to take accurate measurements and transform them into the waist shaping, dart placement, crotch curve and seam lines for your sloper. Suzy will also guide you through truing up your sloper and making a muslin to refine it for a perfect fit. Then, you’ll see how to transfer your sloper onto more durable paper, and add all the markings you need to create patterns you’ll wear again and again. Plus, put your sloper to use as Suzy teaches you how to make a pants pattern for timeless trousers or on-trend cigarette pants.

NOTE: If you’d like to purchase only the DVD for this class, you may do so through this link. (Please note, any class PDF materials are not on the DVD itself. You must have streaming access to download those materials associated with the class.)

Introduction & Measuring (38:14)
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 (24:05)
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 (20:18)
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 (30:27)
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 (30:30)
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 (12:23)
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 (22:32)
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 (23:23)
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!

Suzy Furrer
Suzy Furrer has over 35 years’ experience in the fashion industry. She began her career as a freelance patternmaker and directed the development of capsule collections for small fashion companies. Suzy is the Founder and Director of Apparel Arts (established 1996) and Apparel Arts Productions (www.ApparelArtsProductions.com), an online fashion design school established in 2020. Suzy developed a comprehensive curriculum to give students in-depth training to be strong candidates to enter the workforce in apparel or costume design or to simply build strong sewing and drafting skills for one’s own personal use. Apparel Arts has graduated hundreds of students who currently work in the apparel or costuming industries. In addition, she has been an instructor for GAP Inc.’s Product Development Immersion Program. Suzy teaches and speaks at sewing and craft conferences, sewing guilds, and art schools and has taught classes for the employees of entertainment giants Pixar and Lucas Films. She is the author of Building Patterns, The Architecture of Women’s Clothing. Last, but not least, Suzy has taught online pattern drafting classes for Craftsy.com since 2011.

How will I receive my DVD class?
Your DVD will be shipped in the mail using the address you provide at checkout. Your purchase also includes access to a streaming version of the class and downloadable PDF class materials. After your purchase, you can find your streaming class and your PDF class materials by logging into your Craftsy account using the user name and password you established.

How do I access the companion materials for my DVD class?
Come to Craftsy.com and log into your account using the username and password you set up when establishing your Craftsy account or purchasing your DVD. In your “My Account” area, select the “Classes” content. On this page, you’ll see all classes you’ve purchased from Craftsy. Simply select the desired class from your content list, and you’ll be presented with your selected class page. From the class page you can easily view, download or print the companion class materials, which are in the “Bonus Materials” tab on the class page. You can log in any time, and download or print the companion materials as many times as you like. Companion class materials are not shipped in the mail with your DVD, and must be accessed on Craftsy.com.

How do I stream my class on Craftsy.com?
Come to Craftsy.com and log into your account using the username and password you set up when establishing your Craftsy account or purchasing your DVD. In your “My Account” content, select the desired class. Stream the video on-demand from the class page any time you like; your viewing access is unlimited. You can stream your class from any computer, tablet or mobile device with Internet access.

Do I have to purchase a Craftsy Membership to get my class?
No, you do not. Every DVD purchased on Craftsy.com includes both the physical DVD in the mail and unlimited on-demand streaming access at Craftsy.com. These benefits are yours with or without a Craftsy membership.

Are DVDs included in a Craftsy Membership?
No, they are not. DVDs can only be purchased on an individual basis and are not included in Craftsy memberships. For non-members, DVDs are a flexible way to purchase only the classes you love best. For members, DVDs are a great choice to build an at-home library you can keep forever and enjoy any time, with or without Internet access.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we do ship most physical products, including DVDs, to several International destinations. In addition to the USA and Canada, we ship to Australia, Brazil, India, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, and most Western European countries. If you live outside these countries, you can still purchase digital items including memberships, individual streaming classes, and pattern downloads.

Do your DVDs work on international players?
Yes, our DVDs should be compatible with any DVD player in use today. All our videos have been created with all current Region Codes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8). If you have trouble viewing a DVD purchased from Craftsy.com, please contact Customer Service.

What is your return policy?
We want to be sure you’re satisfied. If you have trouble playing your DVD, if the content is not correctly presented on the DVD, or you are dissatisfied with the content of your class, we will work with you. Contact Craftsy customer service via email or phone. Upon your request, and upon your return of the DVD to us, we will refund your purchase price or send you another DVD to replace a damaged or incorrect DVD, whichever is your preference. If you do receive a full refund, your streaming video class will also be removed from your Craftsy account, so on-demand video access will no longer be available to you.