How to sketch | Tips for beginners

This Fashion Sketching Course (7-videos-modules) is for beginners: young and old, with an interest and passion for designing fashion.  In this Course you will learn how the body moves, body movement, and  balancing the body using the Plumb Line.  You will learn the industry standard “9-Heads Croquis”.

We start with a simple exercise using a pencil and learn how to achieve different “shading” effects depending on how you are holding the pencil.  Using the pencil correctly is the foundation of good sketching, whether it’s fashion design or not.

You will also look at inspiration as a way to influence sketching: fashion inspiration, using a “fashion diary/journal” – creating a “pool” from which to draw ideas from will definitely affect your ability to draw new fashion designs.

You will learn garment closure: difference between womenswear and menswear button closure.

In this Course students will learn:

• How to draw a “9-Head Croquis”
• How to use a Croquis as a template to start sketching fashion ideas.
• Body movement and creating an “S-shaped” silhouette.
• Balancing the body and use of the Plumb Line.
• Pencil techniques to create “shirring/gathers”, and shading, and coloring.
• Creating a “fashion diary-journal” to use as source of inspiration to influence ideas for designing.
• Differentiate garment closure between men’s wear and women’s wear
• Create your own style.
• And some inspiring words of wisdom…

Sketching ideas swirling in your imagination onto paper is the first step in developing a fashion portfolio and a fashion collection/line.  Being able to share ideas that can eventually be translated into an actual garment is so important.

You will learn that the body moves in a certain way and stays balanced at all times. That’s when learning how to use the Plumb Line correctly will enable you to create your sketches so they look professional and exciting. Learning how the torso and the hips work together in-sync with each other will enable you to sketch dramatic and impressive figures and illustrations.

As a fashion designer the pencil will become your best friend: learning techniques on how to hold the pencil and apply pressure unto paper in order to achieve different “thickness”, applying different weight of the pencil unto paper.

Whether you are a beginner designer or a professional, sketching plays an important role when delegation responsibilities to your assistant or team.  They have to understand what you are trying to achieve in your design and sketching it correctly is necessary.

Your seamstress and/or pattern-maker have to be able to look at your sketches and understand what you’re communicating. The sketch will eventually become the garment thus needs to be accurate and clear.

You will learn how the industry uses a Template known as the Croquis as a way to sketch ideas.  A Croquis is “taller/longer” than the normal body thus elongating the body/figure and appearing taller than the average human body.

You will learn how to create a “fashion journal” which will help you develop your own unique style as a fashion designer. Knowing what you like (and don’t like) empowers your designing abilities and will support you in developing your unique “voice”.

Developing your own unique fashion design style is very important: what makes you different than the next designer. Establishing your own style is key in creating a successful brand. Fashion brands come and go therefore you must build a strong foundation with a strong particular and different style that you can call your own.  Practicing your fashion sketching consistently will enable you to achieve that goal.

Learning how to sketch fashion designs, and the practice of it, will give you confidence and certainty; it will boost your morale, and the ability to communicate your ideas. Having the power to tell your story through your ability to sketch, will solidify your brand identity.

Sketching enables you and empowers you to express on paper your ideas and possibilities that come across your imagination.

Enjoy the course!