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Sewing And Garment Construction Classes
For those who wish to make or alter clothes for themselves, their family or friends, we have a range of Clothes Making workshops and courses. Starting with simple items for Beginner’s and moving onto more Intermediate styles, you can make a wide variety of garments in a fun and social atmosphere.
For those who wish to become an expert seamstress or achieve a higher level we have our Garment Construction Skills Training programme.
Fabric knowledge - Choosing Fabrics
The success of garment making depends a great deal on choosing the right fabric.When garment making it is important to choose materials that are fit for their purpose. The fibre content, fabric construction and finishing processes determine the fabric's aesthetic and functional properties. Choosing a fabric with right weight and “handle” and the appropriate quality will ensure that a product will suit the style of the garment and do the job it is intended to do.
In this fun and informative course our fabric expert will cover fabric knowledge and show you how to identify and select the right fabrics for your sewing projects. We will also carry out tests on the fabric so you can identify the fibre content. You will a learn how to prepare fabrics for cutting and about the aftercare requirements of the fabrics once the garments are made and worn. There will be lots of fabric samples provided so you will be able to get your hands on a variety of different materials and get a feel of how they work.
This workshop will cover:
• Fibre content - Natural or manmade
• Fabric construction - Woven, knitted or non-woven?
• Manufacturing processes
• End-use
• Maintenance
Make a dress for summer
Chase away the rainy weather by making a dress perfect for summer. This workshop is for those with intermediate sewing skills who have already made at least 2 other garments previously. Using a commercial pattern, you will lay, mark and pin pattern to fabric and cut out.
You will sew seams and darts, make tucks, insert a concealed zip, attach a lining, hem, press and finish your dress ready to wear. You will be given a pattern to use and go home with you, There are 2 silhouettes to choose from either with a full skirt or a straight skirt, with or without sleeves. You just need to bring fabric.
How To Take Body Measurements, Adapt and Use a Commercial Pattern For Personal Fit
This course is aimed at those wanting to make clothes from a commercial pattern and adapt the pattern to fit their own shape and size.
You will be shown how to measure the body and be a given a size chart to record your size. You will then be shown how to select and use a commercial pattern such a Vogue, McCall’s, New Look, Burda, Butterick etc.
The tutor will then demonstrate how to make simple alterations and adaptations to the patterns to fit you own body shape.
Clothing Alterations And Customising
A great way to save money and prolong the life of your clothing, this course will give you all the basic skills to alter or repair your clothes. Learn how to how to take up or let down hems to lengthen or shorten a garment and how let out or take in seams to fit.
You will also learn how to replace broken zips in skirts, trousers or jeans. You can also use this class to remake and restyle a favourite garment or vintage piece. Bring your alterations with you to the class to work on.
You should be able to wind a bobbin, thread the machine and sew simple seams.
How to Alter Jeans and Trousers
In this workshop you will be learn how to carry out a number of alterations to your trousers or jeans. You’ll be shown how to lengthen or shorten trousers and how to taper or reshape the trouser legs as well as how to make the waist line larger or smaller. You can also discover how to shorten jeans yet still keep the characteristic faded hemline. Bring 1 or 2 pairs of jeans or trousers with you to work on. You will need basic sewing skills to enrol onto this course. You should be able to wind a bobbin, thread the machine and sew simple seams.
Make a Simple A-line Skirt
This workshop is a good follow on from our learn to sew courses and enables you to put your newly learnt skills into practice. Learn how to use a commercial pattern, lay, mark and pin pattern to fabric and cut out.
You will sew seams and darts, insert a concealed zip, attach a facing, make and attach a lining ,hem and press and finish your skirt ready to wear. You will be given a pattern to use and go home with you.
You just need to bring fabric.
Make a Pencil Skirt
This workshop is a good follow on from our learn to sew courses and enables you to put your newly learnt skills into practice.
Learn how to use a commercial pattern, lay, mark and pin pattern to fabric and cut out.
You will sew seams and darts insert a lapped zip, attach a waistband, make and attach a lining ,hem and press and finish your skirt ready to wear.
You will be given a pattern to use and go home with you. You just need to bring fabric.
Make A Simple Dress
This workshop is for those with basic sewing skills or those who have completed our learn to sew course. Learn how to use a commercial pattern, lay, mark and pin pattern to fabric and cut out. You will sew seams, make tucks, attach pockets and a facing, make and set in sleeves, hem, press and finish your dress ready to wear. You will be given a pattern to use and go home with you, you just need to bring fabric.
Make a Little Black Dress
The Little Black Dress never does out of fashion. You can choose from 2 silhouettes and make a dress suitable for day or evening wear. Using a commercial pattern, you will lay, mark and pin pattern to fabric and cut out. You will sew seams and darts, make tucks, insert a concealed zip, attach a lining, hem, press and finish your dress ready to wear. You will be given a pattern to use and go home with you, You just need to bring fabric. [ You can of course make little orange dress or a little floral dress or use whatever fabric you prefer ]
This workshop is for those with intermediate sewing skills who have already made at least 2 other garments previously.
Make A Pair Of Knickers
The course will cover an introduction to types of knickers possible to make. You’ll be shown examples of cuts and detailing and examples of suitable fabrics.
There will be a description of seams and elastics and demonstration of sewing techniques. You will cut and make the knickers and attach trimmings of your choice. You’ll be given a pattern that you can take home with you just bring fabric for the knickers with you.
Basic sewing skills needed, you must have handled a sewing machine minimum of 10 hours previously.
T-Shirt Making - How to sew stretch fabrics and make T-Shirts
This workshop is aimed at those with intermediate level sewing skills. You will learn how to how to adjust the sewing machine, select the correct tension, stitch length, needles and thread for sewing stretch fabrics. It will introduce you to the overlocker and and how to use it to get the best results when sewing stretch fabrics. You will practice sewing seams and attaching necklines and ribbing and then cut and make a simple T- shirt.
Make a Mans Shirt
This course will take you through all the stages of making a classic shirt.
You will learn how to make a double yoke, a button wrap, a cuff and placket opening and how to attach a 2 piece collar.
We will provide you with a pattern you just have to bring fabric. You will need to have intermediate sewing skills to join the class and to have made at least 2 other garments to enrol on this course.
Make A Pair Of Trousers
Working from a commercial pattern, you will learn how to cut out, construct and fit a pair of trousers in a fabric of your choice. You will make a fly fastener, make hip pocket, sew yoke, make and attach waistband and belt loops, hem, make button holes attach buttons. Press and finish. You will need to have intermediate sewing skills to join the class and to have made at least 2 other garments before.
Make a Fitted Jacket
Handmade Jackets need a high standard of workmanship if they are to look professional and be successful. In this 2 day course you will learn to construct a lined jacket in a suitable fabric of your choice. You will construct darts, make welt pockets, make a revere collar, attach a facing and set in a sleeve and make and attach lining, make button holes attach button. Press and finish. We will provide you with a pattern to take home, you just need to bring the fabric and lining.
This course requires you to have a good level of sewing skills and to have made at least 3 other garments, one with sleeves before.
Industry Level Skills - Shirt Making
This 2 day workshop will take you through all the stages of making a classic shirt.
You will learn how to make a double yoke, a button wrap, a cuff and placket opening and how to attach a collar. We will provide you with a cut out shirt in plain white poplin in a standard size. It is intended that by making the sample shirt and learning the construction techniques you will be able to go on to making a shirt of your own at a later date.
You will need to have intermediate sewing skills to join the class and to have made at least 2 other garments before.
Industry Level Skills - Trouser Making
We will provide you with a cut out pair of calico trousers in a standard size. It is intended that by making the trousers and learning the construction techniques you will be able to go on to making a pair of your own at a later date. You will learn how to construct fly fastener, create pleats, make hip pocket, sew yoke, seams, top stitch, make and attach belt loops, make and attach waistband, hem, make turn ups, make button holes attach buttons. Press and finish.
You will need to have intermediate sewing skills to join the class and to have made at least 2 other garments before.
Industry Level Skills - Jacket Making
Handmade Jackets need a high standard of workmanship if they are to look professional and be successful. In this 2 day course you will learn to construct a lined jacket. You will construct darts, make welt pockets, make a revere collar, attach a facing and set in sleeve and make and attach lining, make button holes attach button. Press and finish. We will provide you with a jacket and lining cut out in calico It is intended that by making the jacket and learning the construction techniques you will be able to go on to making a jacket of your own at a later date.
This course requires you to have a good level of sewing skills and to have made at least 3 other garments, one with sleeves before.
