Bodice block

fitting workshop

Bodice Block Fitting Masterclass

Two days. One perfectly fitting bodice. Endless creative possibilities.

If you’ve ever stood in front of the mirror thinking, “Why doesn’t this fit me the way it fits the pattern envelope lady?” — welcome, friend, you’ve found your people.

Achieving a beautifully tailored fit is the holy grail for many dressmakers, and drafting your own patterns is the natural next step when you’re ready to level up your sewing superpowers. This two‑day bodice block masterclass is your gateway to garments that fit you, your curves, your posture, your proportions, not some imaginary industry standard.

Over the weekend, you’ll learn how to adapt a classic bodice block with a set‑in sleeve to your exact measurements, creating a personalised template you can use again and again. We’ll dive into the sorcery of dart manipulation (yes, it is magical), explore how to tweak commercial patterns using your block, and even begin designing your own creations from scratch.

And guiding you through it all is professional pattern cutter Sarah Laws, industry expert, indie pattern designer, and all‑round pattern‑cutting wizard. With over 20 years in fashion industry and her own brand, My Handmade Wardrobe Patterns, Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge, a passion for teaching, and a deep love of a well‑placed dart.

This workshop is perfect for confident sewists who’ve made a few garments from commercial patterns and are ready to take control of fit. You’ll need to be comfortable using a sewing machine independently. (If you’re a total beginner, this one isn’t the best starting point — but we’ll welcome you with open arms when you’re ready.)

What You’ll Learn

• 📏 How to take accurate body measurements and choose the right starting size

• ✂️ How to adapt a multi‑size bodice block to create your own bespoke pattern template

• 🧵 Pattern alteration techniques, complete with demos

• 🪡 How to toile accurately for a polished, professional fit

• 🔄 Dart manipulation: moving shaping around the bodice like a pro

• 🧩 How a flat 2D pattern becomes a beautifully shaped 3D garment

• 🧠 Hands‑on pattern cutting theory using mini blocks

• 👗 How to fit your toile to your body, diagnose issues, and correct drag lines, tightness, or excess volume

• 📐 How to trace off your block, add seam allowances, and prepare it for patternmaking adventures

What You’ll Leave With

• A beautifully fitted bodice toile

• A personalised paper/card bodice block you can use to adjust commercial patterns

• The confidence and know‑how to start designing your own garments

If you’re ready to unlock the secret language of patterns, transform your sewing, and finally achieve that elusive perfect fit, this workshop is your next creative obsession.

About Sarah Laws

If you’ve ever wondered who’s behind the beautifully drafted My Handmade Wardrobe patterns, meet Sarah Laws, the pattern‑cutting powerhouse with a tape measure around her neck and creativity in her veins.

Sarah is a professional pattern designer, teacher, and all‑round sewing enabler. From her studio at The Makers Yard in Leicester, she designs the much‑loved MHW patterns, teaches pattern cutting and fitting workshops, hosts dreamy sewing retreats, and leads The Weekend Sewing Club membership, a cosy corner of the sewing world where inspiration and skill‑building go hand in hand.

She trained in Fashion Design at Westminster University before spending seven years in the fashion industry, honing her craft and developing the technical expertise she now shares so generously. Sarah’s passion is helping makers feel confident, capable, and completely at home in clothes that fit their bodies and express their style.

If you’re ready to understand patterns on a deeper level, unlock better fit, and sew garments that make you feel amazing, Sarah is exactly the guide you want by your side.

www.myhandmadewardrobepatterns.com‍ ‍@mhwpatterns