Hello sewists, Jenny here! As you may know, we recently ran our first session of Cashmerette Sloper School, a 9 week interactive fitting course with me, where I took hundreds (!) of sewists through the process of creating a custom-fit sloper, using our Cashmerette Wyman Dress Sloper pattern. Creating a sloper that fits your body really well is an amazing fitting tool, as it allows you to then adjust other patterns or create totally new garments incredibly quickly – and to actually know they’ll fit, rather than going through endless rounds of fitting.

If you didn’t get the chance to join, you might be wondering why exactly you’d want to make a sloper – and what being in Sloper School is like – so we invited a few students to share their experiences. Each student started with our curve-friendly Wyman Dress pattern in sizes 0 – 32 and cup sizes C – H, which gave them a big head start on traditional “draft-your-own” slopers which typically aren’t created with curvy (and especially very busty) figures in mind. And from there, they watched weekly lessons on fitting each part of the sloper, were able to attend live events, and get personal feedback – all working towards creating a beautifully fitting sloper.

I hope you’re inspired – and perhaps are even interested in signing up the next time Sloper School runs! If you want to be the first to hear when the next enrollment session opens, you can sign up to be notified here.

Now, it’s over to Linda, an alum of Sloper School session 1, and one of our first students to start using her sloper to create fabulous new garments! Read on for more, including some gorgeous tropical pics…

Linda’s Sloper School Experience

Linda’s final Wyman Sloper

What were you hoping to achieve by joining Cashmerette Sloper School?

I really wanted to start sewing for myself again but I knew fitting myself was going to be a challenge and I didn’t know where to start.  I already owned many Cashmerette patterns but as soon as I saw the Sloper School advertised, I signed up for it.  I knew it would get me moving in the right direction!  I thought a class with an expert instructor, videos I could watch repeatedly until I “got it” and other students going through the same process would help me learn how to make clothes that really fit me.  I was not disappointed!

How did you find the process of creating and refining your stwloper?

The process was challenging, a bit frustrating and incredibly rewarding all at the same time. There was always someone to offer advice or encouragement when something didn’t go as it should.  Even though I didn’t participate in the live Fit Clinics, they were a great resource and incredibly helpful to me for refining my sloper.

I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to accomplish making something that would ever fit when I put on that first sloper!  I knew my biggest challenge was going to be fitting my very rounded back.  I went through the process and ended up making ten different bodice fronts, eight different bodice backs, three sleeves and two skirts from first sloper to final sloper. Some of the changes were big but many times they were small but the cumulative results of the changes were quite noticeable.  I’m so glad I persevered and made it to the end of the class.

Linda’s very first sloper:

And Linda’s final sloper

Linda made a 14 E/F bust graded to an 18 waist and 12 hip. Her key measurements are high bust 39.5″ (100 cm), full bust 44.5″ (113 cm), waist 38″ (96 cm), hip 41.5″ (105 cm), bicep 13″ (33 cm) and height 61″ (154 cm).

Did anything surprise you about the process of going through Sloper School?

I was pleasantly surprised that Sloper School helped me identify and accept the changes my body has gone through over the years and that I could look good in something stylish with a bit more fit.  I loved seeing examples of what a difference there is in a garment that actually fits and one that doesn’t. I now realize that when I’m wearing something made for me that fits me properly, my very rounded back no longer looks as prominent as it did before.

What would you advise anyone thinking of participating in Sloper School?

Sign up immediately as soon as it is offered again!  If you truly want to sew beautiful, well-fitted clothes for yourself, you will not regret it. Don’t rush through the classes, take time to watch and re-watch the videos as you go along, don’t be afraid to ask questions but most of all follow the advice and suggestions Jenny and her team members offer, they are the experts!  Now that I have a finished sloper, I’m using it to save time fitting other Cashmerette patterns and I’m actually sewing for myself again!

Linda’s gorgeous dress the she made by pattern hacking her sloper pattern:

Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Linda! Do you have any questions about sloper school? I’d be happy to answer below!