A method of fashion design of creating a garment without a paper pattern is known as "draping".
Artistic designers challenge themselves by making a garment using a dress form or a human figure and no patterns.
Draping helps a person who sews to see the relationship between the fabric, dress form or body, and fashion.
Designing by draping is making a garment without paper patterns.
The fabric is directly placed on the figure or dress form and is created by pinning, cutting, shaping, and sewing until the desired fit, look, and style has been accomplished.
Many fashion designers can design by draping using many fabrics and designs.
The inexperienced fashion designer should drape with muslin or light weight fabric first, before using the fabric of their choice for their garment.
A dress form is a useful piece of equipment and important to have if you are draping for yourself.
It's great for practicing and experimenting garment making and designing with.
If you are designing for someone else it is best to do so directly on the figure.
However, that can get tiresome for the model.
If you are to use a dress form make sure the measurements are exactly the same on the dress form as they are on the human figure.
Success in draping any garment depends largely on you starting with a definite center line.
Always make sure the center fold is accurate and the grain lines of the upper and lower sections of the fabric are identical.
It is important to mold the fabric on the dress form with your hands.
Do not pull to make wrinkles or bagginess where there should not be.
As you have fun and practice draping try easy garments without sleeves or severe tailored lines.
It is best that you know how flat patterns work before you try your hand at draping.
The more you use your dress form, and practice draping, the more you will understand and create beautiful clothes!