Garment Sewing for Beginners and Improvers
Course overview
Ready to create your own clothes and take your sewing skills to the next level?
This 5-week garment sewing course is perfect for anyone who knows how to use a sewing machine and wants to learn the art of dressmaking or refine their garment-making techniques.
Bring along a commercial pattern, fabric, and sewing tools, and let our expert tutor, Vee Tanner, guide you through every stage of the process.
Whether you’re sewing your very first garment or looking to improve your skills, this course will help you build confidence and develop techniques to achieve professional-quality finishes.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is ideal for anyone who:
- knows how to thread and use a sewing machine confidently.
- can sew basic seams and secure stitches.
- wants to learn how to make their own clothes or improve their garment-making skills.
Whether you’re a beginner creating your first garment or an improver tackling more advanced projects, this course will give you the skills and guidance you need to succeed.
Please note: This 5-week course is repeated, running on Tuesday evenings from 18.00-20.30.
Dates:
- Mar 6 to April 3
- April 24 to May 22
- June 5 to July 3
Fees: £160
- How to select the right pattern and fabric to suit your project and skill level
- How to choose the correct size and make basic pattern adjustments
- Cutting your fabric accurately and efficiently
- Sewing techniques to construct garments with precision and polished finishes
This is a very practical course and teaching methods include:
- formal instruction
- discussion
- individual help
- practical demonstration
- practise
- guidance notes
Furthermore, you will get the opportunity to develop your skills according to your own specific needs. Expert tutor Vee Tanner will be on hand to provide guidance
What to Bring:
- A commercial sewing pattern of your choice
- Fabric suitable for your pattern
- Matching thread for your fabric
- Notions required for your pattern, such as: buttons, zippers, Interfacing, Other specific items (refer to your pattern for details).
Basic sewing tools, including:
- Fabric scissors
- Paper scissors
- Needlework scissors or snips
- Pins (we recommend glass-headed pins)
- Tape measure
Equipment and Facilities:
We provide sewing machines and an overlocker for your use during the course. You are also welcome to bring your own sewing machine so you can practice with it and build confidence for using it at home.
Need Help Choosing a Pattern?
If you’re unsure whether your chosen pattern is suitable for your skill level, you can contact the tutor in advance of the course for advice and guidance. This will help you make the most of your time in the workshop.
Build Your Sewing Community:
This 5-week course is just the beginning!
As you progress, you’ll have the opportunity to continue developing your skills with the same group in the following term’s course.
By joining each term, you’ll become part of a supportive sewing community, building friendships as you grow your garment-making expertise.
By the end of this course, you’ll have a finished garment to be proud of, improved sewing skills, and the confidence to tackle more ambitious projects in the future!
After completing this course, you can continue to develop your skills by repeating the course in future terms, choosing more complex garments to work on and benefiting from the tutor’s expertise.
MEET THE TUTOR
Vee Tanner is a professional costume maker and sewing teacher with over 35 years’ experience of designing and sewing an array of garments and costumes from competition ballroom dance dresses, wedding gowns, as well as everyday wear.
She leads the costume team at the Chiltern Open Air Museum making historical costumes for the Inhabited Houses Project, and has costumed many theatre productions for award winning Rickmansworth Players and leading theatre school, Italia Conti.
Vee founded Sew Bee Yourself, an online sewing club for budding dressmakers to improve their sewing skills and enjoys teaching adults sewing at various venues including Activate Learning’s Reading College.
https://www.sewingteacher.co.uk/about
Alternatively enrol by phone quoting 3AEFTEA07R
Meet the tutors
We want our learners to feel welcome, safe and at ease when attending our classes, especially if this is your first time attending an adult education class or if you're coming back to education after a break.
If you're interested in one of courses, meet our tutors first! You'll see they have similar passions and interests and, most importantly, the right qualifications to help you make the most of your time and money.
