Professional Sewing Techniques: Part 1

When & Where

17 April 2023 - 10 July 2023 ( 33 hours, 11 weeks )
Morning, Monday
View course timetable
Waterloo Centre

Quick Facts

Availability Late starts accepted
Tutor Vanda Finney
Course Code W22FASF07C
Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

Many elements contribute to the look of a garment, not least the quality of the finish. This course is vital if you wish to develop your construction skills to produce garments to a professional standard. Each term the focus will be on the difficult and challenging features of a garment including the use of a range of stitches. A different set of techniques is taught each term: autumn – facings, sleeves, cuffs, plackets, pockets; spring – zips; summer – collars, from relatively simple ones building towards the more complex over the term. You will produce your own reference work of samples, notes and hand-outs. Each term exists as a separate course and can be taken as such or you may wish to enrol on more than one to develop your skills to a higher level. It is essential that you read the entry requirements carefully before enrolling on this course. You must have achieved intermediate level in constructing garments and working with patterns, this course is not suitable for beginners.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

to follow instructional hand-outs
to produce a variety of collars
to sew to a professional standard
to take effective notes

Cost

Full fee

£335

Concession fee

£250

Class format and activities

The tutor will present examples and samples and discuss their construction. There will be demonstrations of techniques and hand-outs and other printed resources will be used to support this work. Teaching will be in groups and on an individual, one-to-one basis according to students’ needs. You will practice methods taught by tutor’s demonstrations and class discussions.

Entry requirements

This is an Intermediate level course. Before you enrol, you should have achieved the following: • Follow intermediate level pattern instructions• Use pattern lays, grainline and selvedge• Use sewing machinery accurately• Have constructed at least 3 garments to a good standard, for students to fully benefit from this course it is important that they have the correct level of existing skill. If after the first session, it becomes apparent that this is not the right course for you, we can arrange a transfer to an alternative course at the right level for you.• Students must be able to read, write and understand fluent English• Mathematics and numeracy skills are desirable but not essential.

What you need to know before you enrol

This course is very intensive; punctuality and good attendance are necessary.• Cutting fabric can involve standing at high tables. Please let your tutor know if this is difficult for you.• Sewing machines have a foot operated speed control.• The fashion studios are on the first floor of the Nancy Seear Building and there is wheelchair access via a lift.• Please also note: there is no eating allowed in the fashion studios – bottled water is allowed.

What you need

• a basic sewing kit: sharp fabric scissors, trimming scissors, tape measure, dressmaker’s pins and needles• sewing thread• paper scissors /scotch tape• pens, pencils, notebook, A4 ring binder Also:• you will need to purchase a sewing machine bobbin from your tutor for £1, refundable at the end of the course you will also need to provide calico for each process taught, this is available from the college at a charge of £2.30 per meter for medium weight and £2 per meter for lightweight.

What you can do next

We run a variety of clothes making courses, including tailoring and intermediate / advanced clothes making. We also run other courses which might be of interest, including Draping on the Stand, pattern cutting and some specialised accessory courses including leather and bag making. Want to go further? We offer full BA (Hons) or Access to Fashion Diploma courses which can be the first step to making Fashion your new career. For more details visit: https://www.morleycollege.ac.uk