Karolyn Kiisel

Draping is the art of using cotton muslin to create a fashion design directly on a mannequin. It is an essential skill for fashion designers. In this book, Karolyn Kiisel presents a series of step-by-step projects, creating real garments in classic styles, that are designed to develop skills from the most basic to more advanced techniques. Starting with the basics of choosing and preparing the dress form for draping, the book advances through pinning, trimming and clipping, and creating shape using darts and tucks, to adding volume using pleats and gathers, and handling complex curves. Advanced skills include how to use support elements such as shoulder pads, under layers and petticoats and how to handle bias draping. The book culminates with a chapter on improvisational skills. Each skill and technique throughout the book is explained through specially commissioned step-by-step photographs and line drawings that bring the art of creating womens wear in three dimensions to life.

Draping - the art of using calico to design directly on a dress form - is an essential skill for fashion students. Covering the most basic to more advanced techniques, this series of master classes provides a complete course. Projects include dresses, skirts, trousers and jackets, highlighting key fashion garments such as Audrey Hepburn's dress from Breakfast at Tiffany's. Starting with the basics of preparing the dress form and fabric, the book advances through pinning, trimming and clipping, and creating shape using darts and tucks, to adding volume using pleats and gathers, and handling complex curves. Advanced skills include how to use support elements such as shoulder pads, under layers and petticoats, and how to handle bias draping. Each exercise and project throughout the book is explained with step-by-step photographs and line drawings that bring to life the art of creating womenswear in three dimensions.

Advanced Creative Draping teaches designers and students how to drape fashion-forward, conceptual designs that use elements of couture construction to elevate the work to the highest level of fashion. Five methods of draping are explored as well as draping using embellishments or particular surface designs. The final chapter demonstrates how to create a high-quality heirloom garment. Featuring specially commissioned step-by-step photography, the book includes tips from designers working with draping methods today. Essentially an advanced textbook for the serious fashion student, it also serves as a workroom reference book for professional fashion and costume designers.