Six Basic Steps of Draping

Draping is the art of creating a garment by arranging the fabric around a dress. This is usually done by using the fabric’s natural fall. For the uninitiated, draping involves techniques like pleating and gathering to create a dramatic effect. However, to master this art one needs to understand the basics. To help you go through this process, here are six basic steps for draping to get you started:

Prepping: 

The first step is to have accurate measurements of the garment. Next, ensure to mark the centre line of the dress by using a tape. This helps to keep the draping even across the dress.

Sketch: 

Preparing a sketch of your garment always helps in designing. But, in this form it gives you a clear idea about how you need to go about the drape. Here, your sketch will help you understand how to best manipulate the fabric in order to get the dramatic effect.  

Muslin: 

This fabric is flexible in its thickness and volume. Thus, giving you a chance to experiment and play around as you desire.

Pinning: 

Pinning is a process in which you pull the folds of the fabric together to create the draping design. Pinning will give you a good idea of how the garment will look after completion.

Basting the Fabric: 

Once you are finished with draping and pinning, the next step is to baste the fabric. Here, you can either sew the fabric to the foundation piece or you can sew the fabric itself to complete the draping process.

Trimming: 

The last step is common across designing techniques. Trim off any excess fabrics that may remain after you are finished with draping. The raw edges of your draping should always be hidden neatly in the seams.

  

Each of the above steps are designed to help make the process of draping easier and develop your draping skills. Another thing that can help you refine your draping skills is a fashion school like Whistling Woods International- Neeta Lulla School of Fashion. Here you can explore various aspects of draping and many other crucial techniques used in fashion designing.

Knowledge Draped in Fashion

There are different facets to Fashion Designing that a young aspiring should be aware about. From the smallest stitch to the correct shade, every step has to be thoroughly thought through. Draping is another important aspect of fashion designing that a designer should be familiar with. Draping is used by haute couture designer to bring the best out of their creations on the runway.

Draping can be described as the art of creating a dress or garment simply by arranging fabrics around a dress form using the natural fall of the fabric and techniques like pleating and gathering. 

            

It is also the process of positioning and pinning fabrics on a dress in order to develop the structure of a garment design. Using a design sketch, a garment can be draped in a certain way or designers can create new designs by playing with the way a fabric falls.

The process of draping involves sewing loosely hanging material to a garment to create a flowing look. When done correctly, the drape gives a dramatic effect to the overall look.  

Muslin fabric is generally used and once the designer is satisfied, final marks are made on the fabrics to show where it should be cut or sewn. These pieces are then traced on paper to make patterns thus becoming a guide for the final garment.

Sari is the best example of Indian Draping  

A lot factors have to considered, specially the fabric. The type and weight of a fabric can affect the drape of the garment. The most frequently used fabrics are chiffons, satins and silks but fabrics with light and flowing feel can also be used, rigid fabrics should be avoided. 

Hand Pleating, Pleating Pattern, Machine Pleating are some of the common techniques that are used for draping which create different effects. Though designers are experimenting and constantly creating something new.

        

                               

Whistling Woods Neeta Lulla School of Fashion, through their fashion programs are training fashion aspirant in various aspects of designing. The students have had a lesson in draping and have created draperies of the Kush era.

By the students of Whistling Woods Neeta Lulla School of Fashion

The benefits a designer can reap through draping is that it teaches one how to put together before creating a sketch, as also the art of perfecting draft and seams that will prove helpful in the long run.