The first time I sketched a fashion figure, it was a complete disaster. But knowing the importance of croquis drawing, I chose to improve my skills using 9 Heads: A Guide to Drawing Fashion by Nancy Riegelman.
As I progressed, I realized I couldn’t always draw a nine-head figure as quickly as I had imagined. Well, many questionable croquis sketches later, I decided to print my croquis templates on A4 sheets and store them in a folder. For me, this meant faster and more professional sketches with added convenience.
In theory, this solution seemed smart–and for a while, it worked. But over time, the frustration of printing and accumulating stacks of templates grew with each sketch. More importantly, the bold lines of the printed croquis often overpowered my designs, making it difficult to achieve the subtle details I preferred while sketching with a pencil.
One day, it clicked– croquis stencils. This is exactly how I have maintained my bodice sloper all along. How could it be that I didn’t figure this out sooner? Keep scrolling, and you may find a solution to a problem you didn’t know you had.
Materials Needed to Create Your Croquis Stencil
- One printed croquis template of your choice
- Sketchbook
- A thick paper or brown carton paper
- Markers (optional)
- Scissors and Blade to get corners
- A pencil
My Simple Hack —Turning Croquis Template Into Stencil
Fashion figure stencils are nothing new. I came across an ad for them about a year ago, but since they couldn’t ship to my location, I quickly forgot about it. Plus, I knew I’d need multiple stencils to achieve a variety of poses. Here’s how you can achieve yours, too:
The First Attempt:
- Step 1: Find a croquis template you love (digital or hand-drawn).
- Step 2: Print it one last time—this is the last time you’ll ever need to.
- Step 3: Carefully cut out the croquis using scissors.
- Step 4: Trace the croquis onto sturdy material such as carton paper or cereal boxes.
At this point, you have two options:
- Cut out the croquis from the sturdy material and keep it for future use.
- Retrace the pencil lines on the sturdy material with a pen or marker. You can then place it beneath a page in your sketchbook to guide your drawings.
I opted for the first since my hands aren’t the steadiest, and I preferred the slight thickness of the paper to guide my lines. For the sturdy material, I used a thick paper I had picked up from the same place where I buy my pattern papers—a paper store, perhaps? It is much sturdier than cardboard, likely similar in GSM to the kind used for making complementary cards.
Making Your Own Croquis Stencils —The Lazy Way
- Step 1: Find a croquis template you love (digital or hand-drawn).
- Step 2: Print it one last time—this is the last time you’ll ever need to.
- Step 3: Laminate it.
- Step 4: Cut it out carefully—just enough to be functional.
- Step 5: Test it—trace, adjust, and tweak if necessary.
This method may work better if your sturdy material isn’t too thick. You may also put it a page beneath your sketchbook to guide your drawings. However, it does have some drawbacks. It’s not as precise and may slightly scale up your figure. Additionally, working around more complex poses can be challenging. That said, it’s still a decent option.
The Joy of Never Printing Croquis Template Again
The satisfaction of simply grabbing a stencil and sketching instantly is unmatched. It has made my design process much faster and has kept me from getting distracted. An unexpected bonus? My sketches have become a lot more consistent.
Conclusion: Try It and Thank Yourself Later
In summary, no more endless printing. Simply grab your stencil and start sketching! It’s a simple, effective way to speed up your design process using materials you already have at home. Give it a try with whatever sturdy paper or cardboard you can find, and see how it works for you.
I’d love to hear about your experience! Have you tried making your own stencils? This article only covered one pose, but there are endless possibilities. Experiment with different poses, and let’s see what you come up with!