Trouser block
fitting workshop
Trouser Block Fitting Masterclass
Two days. One perfectly fitting pair of trousers. A lifetime of sewing freedom.
If you’ve ever tried on a pair of handmade trousers and thought, “Why is this bit doing… that?” — you’re in exactly the right place. Fit issues can be sneaky, stubborn, and wildly personal, but once you understand how to adjust patterns for your body, everything changes.
In this two‑day deep‑dive, we’ll arm you with a personalised set of alterations you can use to make almost any trouser pattern fit beautifully. Drafting and adapting your own patterns is the natural next step for confident dressmakers ready to up‑skill, take control of fit, and unleash their creative genius.
You’ll learn how to adapt a standard trouser block to your measurements and body shape, creating a perfectly fitted base you can use again and again. We’ll explore the mysterious world of dart take‑up, the magic of crotch‑curve shaping, and how these tiny tweaks transform the way trousers sit, move, and feel. You’ll also discover how to use your block to adjust commercial patterns — and even begin designing your own dream trousers.
Guiding you through all of this is professional pattern cutter Sarah Laws, who brings over 20 years of industry experience, a wealth of technical knowledge, and the kind of calm, joyful teaching style that makes even the trickiest adjustments feel achievable. Sarah designs for indie brands (including her own, My Handmade Wardrobe Patterns), runs retreats, and is a passionate dressmaker herself — so she knows exactly what makes a garment feel good to wear.
This workshop is ideal for anyone who has sewn a few garments from commercial patterns and is comfortable using a sewing machine independently. It’s not suitable for complete beginners. All genders are welcome — if you’d prefer not to work with a traditionally “female‑style” block, just let us know and we’ll have the right block ready for you.
What You’ll Learn
📏 How to take accurate body measurements and choose the right starting size
✂️ How to adapt a multi‑size trouser block to create your own bespoke pattern template
🧵 Pattern alteration techniques, complete with demos
🪡 How to toile accurately for a clean, professional fit
🔄 How to manipulate darts and shape the crotch curve to suit your body
🧠 Hands‑on pattern cutting theory using mini blocks
👖 How a flat 2D pattern becomes a beautifully shaped 3D garment
👁️ How to diagnose fit issues — drag lines, tightness, excess volume — and correct them
📐 How to trace off your block, add seam allowances, and prepare it for patternmaking
🧺 How to draft a slant or curved front pocket
🔧 How to add a fly zip or invisible zip opening
What You’ll Leave With
A beautifully fitted trouser toile
A personalised paper/card trouser block
The skills and confidence to adjust commercial patterns
The foundations to start designing your own trousers
If you’re ready to conquer trouser fitting once and for all — and finally sew trousers that feel as good as they look — this masterclass is your next sewing obsession.
Two days. One perfectly fitting pair of trousers. A lifetime of sewing freedom.
Thursday 2nd July 2026 to Friday 03rd July 2026
If you’ve ever tried on a pair of handmade trousers and thought, “Why is this bit doing… that?” — you’re in exactly the right place. Fit issues can be sneaky, stubborn, and wildly personal, but once you understand how to adjust patterns for your body, everything changes.
In this two‑day deep‑dive, we’ll arm you with a personalised set of alterations you can use to make almost any trouser pattern fit beautifully. Drafting and adapting your own patterns is the natural next step for confident dressmakers ready to up‑skill, take control of fit, and unleash their creative genius.
You’ll learn how to adapt a standard trouser block to your measurements and body shape, creating a perfectly fitted base you can use again and again. We’ll explore the mysterious world of dart take‑up, the magic of crotch‑curve shaping, and how these tiny tweaks transform the way trousers sit, move, and feel. You’ll also discover how to use your block to adjust commercial patterns — and even begin designing your own dream trousers.
Guiding you through all of this is professional pattern cutter Sarah Laws, who brings over 20 years of industry experience, a wealth of technical knowledge, and the kind of calm, joyful teaching style that makes even the trickiest adjustments feel achievable. Sarah designs for indie brands (including her own, My Handmade Wardrobe Patterns), runs retreats, and is a passionate dressmaker herself — so she knows exactly what makes a garment feel good to wear.
This workshop is ideal for anyone who has sewn a few garments from commercial patterns and is comfortable using a sewing machine independently. It’s not suitable for complete beginners. All genders are welcome — if you’d prefer not to work with a traditionally “female‑style” block, just let us know and we’ll have the right block ready for you.
What You’ll Learn
📏 How to take accurate body measurements and choose the right starting size
✂️ How to adapt a multi‑size trouser block to create your own bespoke pattern template
🧵 Pattern alteration techniques, complete with demos
🪡 How to toile accurately for a clean, professional fit
🔄 How to manipulate darts and shape the crotch curve to suit your body
🧠 Hands‑on pattern cutting theory using mini blocks
👖 How a flat 2D pattern becomes a beautifully shaped 3D garment
👁️ How to diagnose fit issues — drag lines, tightness, excess volume — and correct them
📐 How to trace off your block, add seam allowances, and prepare it for patternmaking
🧺 How to draft a slant or curved front pocket
🔧 How to add a fly zip or invisible zip opening
What You’ll Leave With
A beautifully fitted trouser toile
A personalised paper/card trouser block
The skills and confidence to adjust commercial patterns
The foundations to start designing your own trousers
If you’re ready to conquer trouser fitting once and for all — and finally sew trousers that feel as good as they look — this masterclass is your next sewing 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