Efemera, yes, but that implies buying, or at least owning some patterns
Do you make major fit adjustments or just design ones? I wouldn't mind making design alterations, but would find it too tedious to have to do the same fit adjustments every time and not being sure it fits properly in the end.
lakaribane for the jacket/coat you could use a different block, or you could use the basic sloper and just add extra ease at the sides. I think there's no golden rule and some adjustments fit some better than others. You could also use a block with princess lines (as in, alter your basic block and add princess lines to it) and then you could add ease along the princess lines as well. It really depends on what you are aming for. There are a few other changes when you make a jacket block, besides adding ease, like dropping the armhole a little, extending the shoulder and the cross back (cross back is usually half the amount you extended your shoulder) and drawing a new armhole.
I tend to favour clothes that are either very fitted or very loose. The in-betweens...not so much.
Regarding the french curve and/or the hip curve, they're very simple to use. When you draft a bodice for example, you have some guide points you need to reach. For the armhole that would be: shoulder point, across back and side seam. There is another point to help you with the more curved part that is in between the across back and side seam. Same for the neckline.
Here is an image taken from the internet:
Points I am talking about are U for the neckline and Y/L for the armhole. They are usually industry standard guidelines, but the block instructions you are using should mention.
You then take the french curve and do your best to make a smooth curve that goes through all the points. Sometimes, if you're not close to industry standard, you can't draw a nice shape, but there are a few work arounds for that (for example, move across back guideline higher/lower, but it really is a case by case situation). Also, don't expect to go through all the points in one go. It doesn't really matter which part of the curve you use, as long as you get a nice curve. You move it as much as you need
DaisyChain, Suzy's a great teacher, isn't she? I love that in her later classes she included instructions on how to draft almost anything (I think her Creative sleeves class has the most instructions on this).
Haven't tried indie patterns, mostly because I didn't want to pay for pattern + shipping and then not be able to use it.
I was also thinking of using my sloper to make changes to patterns, but that's probably only going to be on the Burda Style magazine ones
As I really can't be bothered to buy patterns. I'm confident enough to do most changes on my own sloper. I'm not sure, but I think the major challenge with making commercial patterns is being able to achieve a good enough fit for a majority of people of different sizes.
Having taken Suzy's other classes (Creative darts and seamlines, Collars and closures and Creative necklines), I've learned a lot how to recognize and replicate how different designs are made. I do like to make excercises using mini sloper blocks: I'll pick a design in Burda Style magazine and do my best to make the pattern for it. I then check the actual burda pattern to see what/where I've missed the mark.
I still have some trouble when it comes to truing and balancing patterns after I've made fit adjustments but I bought Fitting and Pattern alterations, hopefully that will shed some light.
No need to have loads of confidence to draft a blouse. You really do learn what works and what doesn't by doing (hence my numerous muslins). I buy fabric made for sheets, it's cheap and I really don't feel sorry for it.
Ohsewsimple you are my hero!
I'd love to reach a point where I can draft all my own clothes. Not because I can't find things that fit, but because most stores now sell utter garbage! I was on a trip about a month ago, and the weather suddenly got a lot warmer, so I needed to buy a blouse. I just couldn't believe the crappy fabrics that were everywhere. And when I actually did find something I liked, after looking at the price I scoffed and said "With this amount of money I could buy fabric and make 5 of these".
Maybe you could share a few pictures of your patterns?
Just wanted to add a picture of a sort-of cardigan I made. The fabric is a lovely suedette (that has been kind of a pain to work with) and I managed to cut it pretty well so I left the edges unfinished, I find it looks better like this.
If you look closely, you can see my back armhole is a little too big. I did see that before drafting and sewing the sleeve but thought it wouldn't be so noticeable after I put the sleeve in. Well, guess again!
https://1drv.ms/i/s!ApLXALbqtK6nlBZvPwFtjA9qk8ih