Dart Manipulation Pattern Making Tutorial
PatternLab gives you a large variety of dart manipulations to choose from when it comes to designing your basic blocks & slopers, but sometimes that’s not enough. Perhaps you want your French dart to be slightly lower than the standard that we provide, or maybe you want a curved dart? There are so many options available. This tutorial will teach you the necessary tools you need to add your own custom dart placements and dart manipulations to your PatternLab basic block or sloper. It’s a simple yet powerful technique that is well worth learning.

Basic Block/ Sloper Elements
You can apply this tutorial’s techinque to any basic block that features darts, however, for this tutorial we recomend starting with something simpe such as a basic bodice block with “Classic” front darts.
To save time, click the button below. We’ll create a basic block (in the Lab) that already has this dart preselected for you. All you’ll need to do is select a profile or one of our standard sizes. Don’t forget to purchase your block as an ePattern and not a PDF! PDF patterns can’t be edited, they can only be printed on paper. ePatterns ar fully editable digital basic blocks.
Learn how to use Adobe Illustrator as a digital pattern making platform
Learn the step-by-step basics of digital pattern making in Adobe Illustrator in our short crash course. It’s your first step to producing digital sewing patterns like a pro.
Adding seam
Follow this simple and handy tutorial to learn how to add seam allowance to your finished pattern in Adobe Illustrator.
Multi-page PDF patterns
Transform your finished pattern into multi-page PDF patterns in a range of paper sizes. Then
Hey how do you add darts and points to your pattern on Adobe Illustrator?
Just wondering if there is any information on how to remove bust dart from torso block?
I cannot seem to open this tutorial – do you have to pay for this course? If so how?
Thanks – love your website have been following since Ralph Pink days x
Sorry Elizabeth, We had a little problem with our video player. It should be working now.