In The Sketchbook- June 2017

Welcome to In the Sketchbook, a monthly look at fashion design sketches that we are working on for ourselves. Sketching garments on a personal croquis is a great way for the individual couture enthusiast to move beyond the use of commercial patterns and into a world of personalized design! It can be intimidating at first, but with a little bit of practice it becomes something you look forward to. Join us for a look of what we have going on In the Sketchbook! Brought to you by Wendy Grossman of Couture Counsellor and Steph King from Siouxzeegirl Designs.


Feels good to be getting back to a normal routine!

This month I have played with sketching both pants and colors.  In real life I am working on perfecting my master pants pattern. Sarah Veblen has been working with me on this and let me tell you, it has been one heck of a process! I have been learning so much about fit and crotch length and depth and how to make flat fabric mold around my body and look good. As well as how to not ignore the wrinkles!


I had a very good fitting master pants pattern back before all of the health issues. Fast Forward a year and a half, give or take a couple months, and a very big weight loss and now I am starting from scratch again.

As I look at these sketches, I realize that I need to adjust my croquis a bit for the hip size. I just need to take them in a bit in the width. 

I have been playing with pants ideas and with colors. My goal is to come up with a solid set of Master Patterns for pants. 

•  Regular woven pants master. to be used for both work and casual use.
•  Regular woven- stretch pants master for wovens with lycra.
•  A knit pants master.

From those I can come with any number of great styles and shapes!

Cotton sateen or lighter weight denim in summer wider leg cuffed cropped look.

Long flowy pants, out of a drapey crepe fabric or a soft washed linen.

Shorts. I realize in this sketch they look unproportionately large! Mostly due to me just trying to draw in the details and such. My intent is not to actually look that way!!

Slim fit capri's out of a stretch woven. denim/lycra or cotton sateen/lycra. 

Slim fitting pants with fun pockets. Can be any woven bottoms fabric. A great basic!!

Make sure to stop by Wendy Grossman of Couture Counsellor to see what lovely sketches and ideas she is working on. Please feel free to share your sketches and ideas, leave either of us a comment or just link back to one of our posts.

Happy Sketching!