Draping: Definition, History, Types, and Techniques
What draping is
Draping is the practice of arranging fabric directly on a dress form to work out the shape of a garment. The designer pins, folds and cuts the cloth in three dimensions, then transfers the result to paper as a pattern.
Why designers drape
A flat pattern starts from measurements. Draping starts from the cloth, so the designer sees how a fabric falls and where it pulls before anything is sewn. Muslin is the usual choice for a first drape because it is inexpensive and holds a pin well.
Reading about fashion is the first step. Making it is the rest.
Draping is taught in the second trimester of the Graduate Diploma.