Dressmaking:
Intensive Weekend Course

The skills you learn on this two day course are totally transferrable when working with commercial patterns.  Helen will be offering many professional tips along the way to help you pattern cutting and sewing your toile.  You can then take those skills and your new patterns, and create your final garment at home, or you could book onto a Sewcial Session to make it with Helen’s help.

As the course is run over two days, it will be comprehensive and will move swiftly through the content to make sure it is all covered.  If you would prefer to work at a slower pace, the 8 Week Course may be more suited.  It does depend on your personal experience as to how much you can do. To leave with a finished block to fit you is the main objective and whatever you achieve on top of that is a bonus!  We will work at your individual pace.

Accommodation
If you are travelling far to attend the course, please let me know as I can help with travel or accommodation.  There are lots of lovely places to stay in Swansea and on the Gower.  I am working with local businesses to offer a discount for those attending the course.

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Duration of course: 7.5 hours both days (including a lunch break). 9:30am – 5pm.

Number of places: 6 max.

Cost: £265.  A freshly prepared lunch by Dragonfruit Catering will be provided each day, along with coffee, tea and cake.

Where: The workshop will be held in Three Crosses Community Centre, Swansea.

What to bring: You will need to have a copy of ‘Dressmaking. The Easy Guide’.  This can be purchased at the start of the course.  You should bring your own sewing machine but you can borrow one if you need. You will also need pattern paper and calico for each week.    A full tools list will be sent once the course is booked.  Helen will have everything available to use, but it will help to have your own kit.

Cancellation and refund policy: If you are unable to attend a 2 or 3 day course, Helen can offer the course to the waiting list to be filled.  If the position is filled, you can be transferred to the next suitable date.  See full T&C’s.

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The breakdown of the course: –

Day One
Morning
* Introduction to dressmaking and the processes you will learn over the course.
* How to measure yourself accurately.
* How to trace off a block.
* Labelling a pattern correctly.
* Minor block alterations.
* Adding seam allowance.
* Cutting paper patterns.

Afternoon
* ‘Layplan’ and cutting sample out in calico.
* Preparing and sewing darts.
* Preparing to sew seams and pressing.
* Trying on the sample and pin to fit, if time.

Day two
* Trying on the sample and pin to fit, continued.
* Drawing on the alteration lines.
* Transferring alteration lines to the patterns and amending the patterns to complete your well fitted block.

During the remaining time, you will have a choice to complete one or more of the following tasks.  It will be very dependent on time and what you personally want to try.

1. Cut out a new bodice and skirt to try on after alterations.

2. Drafting a neckline and facings. Then, cut out a new bodice and learn how to sew the neckline and facings.

3.  Drafting a sleeve pattern and creating a sample.  Then, sew a sleeve onto the bodice.

4. Drafting the skirt pattern. Cutting out the skirt and attaching it to a new bodice to complete.

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All photos from the book are by Mark Davison.

Please email me at helen@allsewnupwales.co.uk with any questions about the course.