Basics of Constructing Patterns on a Body
A course by Jum Nakao, Designer and Creative Director

Learn to create patterns directly on a body to make bespoke clothing items that are fitted to anyone's shape and proportions
¨A piece of clothing should dress each body with precision and comfort, as if it were a second skin. Modeling done directly on the person allows us to understand natural curves and cutting needs, thus making impeccable molds.¨, says designer and creative director Jum Nakao.
With more than 40 years of experience in the world of fashion, Jum has collaborated with the London Olympic Games and the Oscar ceremony and has designed collections for brands such as Nike, Zoomp and Carmim. In addition, her fashion show A Coutura do Invisível was considered one of the greatest of the 21st century by the Paris Fashion Museum.
In this online course, Jum will teach you how to develop custom patterns for dresses and t-shirts that adjust to everyone's shape. From the fundamentals of modeling on the body and creping, you will be able to produce tailor-made pieces with freedom, without numbers or formulas. Learn to create gifts that will dress every body like a glove!
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 21 downloads
What's included in this course?
First, Jum Nakao will tell you a little about his career and how he got into the fashion industry. Afterwards, he will share the references and works that inspire him.
Later, the teacher will show material options and explain the particularities of each one. He will also talk about the importance of getting to know different biotypes in depth so that a piece of clothing works perfectly. Directly on a model, the teacher will teach you how to model the shape of the body with masking tape and will show you how to trace the contours of the torso, bust, waist and back.
After removing the creping and dividing it into parts, you'll learn how to adapt this base model for a party dress. You will plan the front, sides and back and then finish the pattern and cut the fabric. Then it will be time to try the part on the model and analyze possible developments.
Jum will also tell you step-by-step how to create the basics for a sports tank top and a 60s-style tube dress.
- 100% positive reviews (88)
- 7,684 students
- 14 lessons (2h 16m)
- 21 additional resources (6 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Portuguese, English, Spanish (Latam), French, Indonesian, Italian, Romanian, Turkish
- Portuguese · Spanish · English · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
You will develop patterns that can be transformed into different pieces, such as dresses and t-shirts.

Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
To all people interested in fashion, sewing and modeling.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is required to take the course, neither sewing nor pattern making.
Separate fabrics to carry out tests — such as calico or raw cotton — and thicker fabrics for the garments — such as helanca and viscose knit. You will also need kraft paper, masking tape, scissors and a live model.

Reviews

Jum Nakao
A course by Jum Nakao
Internationally known, Jum Nakao is a Brazilian creative director dedicated to the universe of fashion, design and art for over four decades. His fashion show A Costura do Invisível, at the São Paulo Fashion Week in 2004, was elected one of the greatest of the 21st century by the Paris Fashion Museum.
Jum has already collaborated with international shows and events, such as the Closing of the London Olympic Games and the Oscar ceremony. It also entered into partnerships with Chevrolet, Nespresso, Vans, TV Cultura, Carmim, Viva Vida, Isetan Mitsukoshi, DuPont, among other companies. In addition, he was the first designer in the world to have a collection signed with Nike.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Second skin and mold preparation
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Materials
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Clothing is a second skin
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Second skin with masking tape
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Contour stroke on the body
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Bust, waist and back patch darts
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Fragmentation of parts
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U3
Development of the pilot base and piece "Glamour"
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Skin planning
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Trim the pattern and cut the fabric
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Pilot base test
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"Glamour" clothing test
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U4
Other developments
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Regatta
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Mod dress
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FP
Final project
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Basics of Constructing Patterns on a Body
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
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Watch professionally produced courses
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FAQs
This is an intermediate-level course, recommended for those with basic patternmaking and sewing knowledge. You don’t need to be an expert, but some practical experience will help you follow the techniques presented.
You’ll need a dress form or model, masking tape, kraft paper, fabric and paper scissors, a permanent marker, muslin, ruler, elastic bands, and a sewing table. Having proper lingerie for fittings is also important.
You’ll learn original techniques like direct body draping, creping, flattening patterns, custom mold creation, adjustments for different body types, fabric and finishing choices, plus how to develop your creative process for collections.
The creping technique uses masking tape applied directly to the body or dress form to create precise patterns, allowing for anatomical tracing and personalized adjustments on dresses and other haute couture pieces.
Ideally, use a custom dress form to ensure a perfect fit, but you can adapt the techniques with standard mannequins by making adjustments as needed for various body types.
Yes, you’ll learn how to flatten patterns created on the body, transfer them to kraft paper, and adapt them for fabric cutting, ensuring accuracy and stability in your pieces.
Yes, the course covers technical criteria for fabric selection, using muslin for prototypes, and tips on optimizing material usage during cutting.


Excelente o curso com Jun Nakão , execelente didática, compreendi tudo , as bases bem feitas e as transformações simples muito boa para os iniciantes. Parabéns!
Muito feliz e satisfeita com essa experiência.
Experiência incrível
para mim esse curso foi perfeito profesor perfeito agora nao vou ter mais do de cabeca com moelagem
es un curso excelente, muy didáctico y muy muy detallado