The Haslam System of Dresscutting Sewing Patterns

The Haslam System is a very simple to use sewing pattern drafting method that doesn't require any previous drafting experience (though strong reading comprehension and the ability to follow written instructions are a must). It is composed of a special chart tool, a basic foundation instruction book, and seasonal supplemental books which include new styles.  

The chart design is very clever and includes a perfect right angle at one end to act as a tailor's square, curved edges at the other end to take the place of french curve and waist curve tools, and small punched holes to help you quickly draft by bust size. It also includes several printed notations that act as landmarks to help you use the foundation instructions.

The Chart and foundation are sold as a set here.

The foundation book includes all of the instructions and diagrams you need to draft a Foundation or sloper pattern. This is a basic pattern drafted to your measurements consisting of a dress front, dress back, and sleeve. Once the foundation has been drafted to your measurements, you test this pattern in tissue or muslin and adjust the fit as desired.

This pattern then becomes your master foundation pattern which you copy and alter to make any number of different patterns.

(Note that the foundation shapes changed a little bit over each decade so it's important to use the correct foundation instructions for the decade you are drafting for).

The supplemental books contain around 2 dozen different pattern designs and diagrams that show you how to alter your foundation pattern into the illustrated fashions. At the time of publication, these supplemental books featured all of the current fashions created by the best fashion houses in Paris and the U.K. Miss Haslam traveled extensively to both research current fashion trends, and to teach her system. Many of her supplemental fashion designs are near-exact copies of garments created by Vionnet, Lanvin, Chanel, Worth, Hartnel, and more.

If you need help using the system, want to know even more, or just want to chat about all things sewing and Haslam, join our Facebook group!

1920s 

(AT THIS TIME, THE FOUNDATION DRAFT WAS INCLUDED IN EACH BOOK.)

1924 CHART

1924 - No. 1 Book of Draftings

1925 - No. 2 Book of Draftings

Circa 1920s Dresscutting Practical Guide to Dressmaking & Tailoring

Circa 1926 - No. 3A Book of Draftings

1926 - No. 3 Book of Draftings

1927 - No. 4 Book of Draftings

1928 - No. 5 Book of Draftings

1929 - No. 6 Book of Draftings

1930 - No. 7 Book of Draftings

1931 - No. 8 Book of Draftings

1931 - No. 1 Spring Supplement Book of Draftings

1932 - No. 9 Book of Draftings

1932 - No. 2 Spring Supplement Book of Draftings

1933 - No. 10 Book of Draftings

1933 - No. 3 Spring Supplement Book of Draftings

1934 - No. 11 Book of Draftings

1934 - No. 4 Spring Supplement Book of Draftings

1935 - No. 12 Book of Draftings

1935- No. 5 Spring Supplement Book of Draftings

1936 - No. 13 Book of Draftings

1936 - No. 6 Spring Supplement Book of Draftings

1937 - No. (0)1 Illustrated Book of Draftings for Lingerie

1937 - No. 14 Book of Draftings

1937 - No. 7 Coronation Number- Spring/ Summer Supplement

Circa 1937 No. 1 Children's Wear Illustrated Book of Draftings

Circa 1937-1938  - No. 1 Book of Fuller Figure Draftings

1938 - No. 15 Book of Draftings

1938 - No. 8 Spring Supplement Book of Draftings

1939 - No. 2 Illustrated Book of Draftings for Lingerie

1939 - No. 16 Book of Draftings

1939 - No. 9 Spring Supplement Book of Draftings

Circa 1939 No. 2 Children's Wear Illustrated Book of Draftings

1940 CHART AND BOOK OF FOUNDATION DRAFTINGS

1940 - No. 17 Book of Draftings

1940 - No. 10 Spring Supplement Book of Draftings

1941 - No. 18 Book of Draftings

1941 - No. 11 Spring Supplement Book of Draftings

1941 - No. 3 Illustrated Book of Draftings for Lingerie

Circa 1941 No. 3 Children's Wear Illustrated Book of Draftings

1942 - No. 19 Book of Draftings

1942 - No. 12 Spring Supplement Book of Draftings

1943 - No. 4 Illustrated Book of Draftings for Lingerie

1943 - No. 20 Book of Draftings

1943 - No. 13 Spring Supplement Book of Draftings

1944 - No. 21 Book of Draftings

1944 - No. 14 Spring Summer Supplement Book of Draftings

Circa 1945 No. 4 Children's Wear Illustrated Book of Draftings

1945 - No. 5 Illustrated Book of Draftings for Lingerie

1945 - No. 22 Book of Draftings

1945 - No. 15 Spring Supplement Book of Draftings

Circa 1945 No. 5 Children's Wear Illustrated Book of Draftings

1946 - No. 23 Book of Draftings

1946 - No. 16 Spring/ Summer Book of Draftings

1947 - No. 6 Illustrated Book of Draftings for Lingerie

1947 - No. 24 Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1947 - No. 17 Spring/ Summer Book of Draftings

Circa 1947 No. 6 Children's Wear Illustrated Book of Draftings

1948 - No. 18 Spring/ Summer Book of Draftings

1948 - No. 25 Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1949 - No. 19 Spring/ Summer Book of Draftings

1949 - No. 26 Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1949 - No. 7 Illustrated Book of Draftings for Lingerie

Circa 1949 No. 7 Children's Wear Illustrated Book of Draftings

1950 - No. 20 Spring/ Summer Book of Draftings

1950 - No. 27 Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1951 - No. 21 Spring/ Summer Book of Draftings

1951 - No. 28 Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1951  - Book of Fuller Figure Draftings

Circa 1951 No. 8 Children's Wear Illustrated Book of Draftings

1952 - No. 22 Spring/ Summer Book of Draftings

1952 - No. 29 Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1952 - No. 8 Illustrated Book of Draftings for Lingerie

1953 - No. 23 Coronation -Spring/ Summer Book of Draftings

1953 - No. 30 Spring/ Summer/Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

Circa 1953 No. 9 Children's Wear Illustrated Book of Draftings

1954 - No. 31 Spring/ Summer/Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1955 - No. 9 Illustrated Book of Draftings for Lingerie

1955 - No. 32 Spring/ Summer/Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

Circa 1955 Book of Draftings for Teen and Junior Miss

Circa 1955 No. 10 Children's Wear Illustrated Book of Draftings

1956 - No. 33 Spring/ Summer/Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

Circa 1956  - No. 3 Book of Fuller Figure Draftings

1957 - No. 34 Spring/ Summer/Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

Circa 1957 No. 11 Children's Wear Illustrated Book of Draftings

1958 - No. 35 Spring/ Summer/Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1958 - No. 10 Illustrated Book of Draftings for Lingerie

1958  - No. 4 Book of Draftings for Fuller Figures

1959 - No. 36 Spring/ Summer/Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1960s

1960 - No. 37 Spring/ Summer/Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1961 - No. 38 Spring/ Summer/Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1961 - No. 11 Illustrated Book of Draftings for Lingerie

1962 - No. 39 Spring/ Summer/Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1963 - No. 40 Spring/ Summer/Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1964 - No. 41 Spring/ Summer/Autumn/ Winter Book of Draftings

1965 - No. 1 Book of Specialties

1966 - No. 2 Book of Specialties