Flutter sleeves are so much fun, and stacking them into three tiers makes them even more dramatic. In this silent drafting video, I draft a 3-tier flutter sleeve in CLO3D from start to finish.
Watch along, then use the written steps below as your checklist while you draft your own.
How this sleeve is built
The sleeve has four parts:
- A base sleeve that the ruffle layers are sewn to
- A top flutter layer, cloned from the base sleeve
- A second ruffle tier, drafted from a rectangle
- A third ruffle tier, also drafted from a rectangle
Step 1: Divide the base sleeve
Start with your sleeve and divide it into the lengths you want for each ruffle tier. This is your base sleeve. It’s the foundation the top ruffle layers will be sewn onto.
Step 2: Draft the top flutter layer
- Trace the shape you want for the top layer from the base sleeve.
- Clone that piece.
- Add fullness to the clone to turn it into a flutter sleeve.
Step 3: Draft the second tier
- Draft a rectangle for the second layer down.
- Add as much fullness as you’d like.
- Sew it onto the base sleeve.
Step 4: Draft the third tier
- Draft another rectangle for the third layer down.
- Add the fullness you want.
- Cut off the bottom part of the base sleeve, below where the tiers are sewn on.
- Sew the third tier onto the base sleeve right where you cut it off.
Step 5: Simulate and check the fullness
Simulate and take a good look. Are you happy with how full each tier is? If not, adjust the fullness and simulate again until you love it.
Step 6: Copy it to the other side
Once you’re happy, copy the sleeve patterns over to the other side, and your 3-tier flutter sleeve is done!
Want to learn CLO3D drafting?
If you’re new to CLO3D and not sure where to start, grab my free CLO3D Beginner Roadmap. It walks you through what to learn first.
Have a question about this sleeve? Leave it in the comments on the YouTube video. And subscribe on YouTube for more digital pattern drafting videos.
Happy patterning!
