Dressmaking – Beginners

We will teach you about the dressmaking stitching. This course will be delivered face-to-face on the Hills Road Sixth Form College site. If we are advised to stop face-to-face teaching due to COVID-19, courses will be delivered online where possible using Zoom.

A beginners dressmaking course that covers the core skills in garment construction, such as:

Introduction to the sewing machine

Dressmaking terminology and working from a commercial sewing pattern

Learning how to take correct measurements

Garment construction techniques

Depending in the progression and the learner’s pace, one or more basic garments may be produced.

What you will need to bring:

Students will need to bring their own sewing machine to each lesson, (and manual if there is one).
Note pad and pen
Sewing equipment and tools, eg, fabric scissors, needles, pins, seam ripper, tape measure, tailors chalk.
Scrap fabric for test pieces, (can be an old sheet etc)
Sewing machine advice

Mini sewing machines don’t have all the functions needed for the course, so they would need a full size machine. John Lewis sell a basic machines for around £89. They’re nothing fancy but they do everything they need to do.

The Hobbycraft machine wouldn’t be suitable, its designed more for patchwork. The basic functions that are needed are forward and backward stitch, zigzag stitch and a button hole function. A local sewing machine shop called Sew Creative on Kings St. sells second hand machines as well as new, they also offer advise and free trials for which sewing machines is best for what you want to do.

Other haberdashery items, such as zips or elastic etc, are required but will be advised by the tutor during the course.

Learning Outcomes
How to choose and read a paper sewing pattern, and choose suitable fabrics for their sewing projects.
How to set up and thread and competently use a sewing machine
To be familiar with certain fabrics and finishes
How to sew seams, hems and closures, pockets, elasticated waistbands, etc
Be able to confidently construct a basic item of clothing following a commercial paper sewing pattern instructions.
Please note: It is not possible for students to change booked sessions around in the event of non-attendence or arriving late to class. This imposes other students’ enjoyment in the class and it stretches the tutor further than necessary, impacting on the quality and structure of the teaching.

If we start to allow students to alternate the days in which they attend the course it becomes very difficult to keep track of. Please only come to the lessons you are booked on to. As the course is packed full of vital information, we would encourage students to attend all lessons to get the best out of the course.

Your Tutor
Tania Verdejo Tania Verdejo has completed her PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education at the Institution of Education, University of London. She has studied Art History/Fine Art and obtained her Masters in Children’s Book Illustration at Anglia Ruskin University. She is a versatile teacher interested in furthering her studies in education research and is a practising Printmaking artist.