Sewing: Your Next Garment – Shirt
Course overview
Take the next step in your garment-making journey with this exciting follow-on sewing course.
Designed for those who have completed Sewing Your First Garment or have equivalent sewing experience, this course will help you build confidence with more advanced garment construction techniques.
For this course, you should already be able to:
- Thread a sewing machine
- Wind a bobbin
- Backstitch to secure your stitches
- Understand and follow seam allowances
- Understand following commercial sewing patterns
If these terms are new to you or you are not yet confident with these skills, we recommend completing Sewing Your First Garment before enrolling.
In this sewing course, you’ll sew your own shirt using the Closet Core Patterns Carolyn Pyjamas commercial pattern, building on your existing sewing knowledge while developing greater precision and confidence in garment construction.
You can familiarise yourself with the pattern here: Closet Core Patterns Carolyn Pyjamas.
Please note: this pattern is part of a pyjama set. In this course, you’ll be making the shirt. The trousers are covered in Sewing Your First Garment.
Classes take place over 6 weeks on Thursday evenings from 6–8pm, led by expert tutor Isabella Bagwell, who will guide you through each step of the process.
Why choose this course?
You’ll benefit from working in a small group with lots of individual attention, delivered in well-equipped and professional workshops.
By the end of this sewing course, you will have built on your machine sewing skills and garment construction techniques while working from a commercial sewing pattern.
You will learn how to:
- Read and follow commercial sewing pattern instructions
- Understand sizing, fit adjustments and basic alterations
- Identify and work with different woven fabric types
- Construct and attach a collar
- Sew and attach cuffs
- Create buttonholes and sew on buttons
- Improve accuracy and confidence in garment construction
- By the end of the course, you’ll have created your own finished shirt.
You will learn through a combination of theoretical and practical sessions, covering:
- Essential sewing and measuring techniques
- How to read and follow commercial pattern instructions
- Making basic garment adjustments
- Garment construction skills, including collars, cuffs, buttonholes and buttons
- An overview of fabrics, working with easy-to-handle woven materials
You’ll receive individual pattern instructions to guide you through your project.
We’ll discuss fabric options and required amounts in the first session, so it’s not necessary to bring fabric at the start. However, it’s a good idea to think about what you’d like to use or collect some fabric swatches beforehand.
If you already know what fabric you’d like to use, please choose a non-stretch woven fabric. A lightweight or medium-weight cotton is the easiest to work with, but linen, brushed cotton or polycotton are also suitable choices.
Other materials, such as thread and interfacing, are provided. However, if you would like to use a specific thread colour to match your chosen fabric, please bring it along.
We provide all the equipment, but it is a good idea to bring your own basic sewing kit if you have one, including:
- Fabric scissors
- Paper scissors
- Pins
- Tape measure
- Seam ripper (un-picker)
Additionally, a notebook, pencil and eraser will be helpful for taking notes throughout the course.
Continue your creative journey and explore the many other courses that are available
The course will be led by experienced tutor: Isabella Bagwell.
Alternatively enrol by phone quoting BYLLL05EC
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.
