Introduction to Dressmaking
Introduction to Dressmaking is a 4‑Week Evening Course designed as a follow-on from my Beginner Sewing Courses. Making your own clothes is incredibly satisfying — you can achieve a perfect fit, choose fabrics you love, and create something truly unique. But getting started can feel overwhelming. Commercial pattern sizes don’t match shop‑bought clothing, the terminology can be confusing, and the sheer choice of fabrics can leave you wondering where to begin.
This four‑week evening course is designed as the ideal next step after the Beginners Sewing Course. If you’re ready to move into garment‑making but need guidance and confidence, this class will give you a solid foundation in dressmaking skills.
What you’ll learn
Across the four weeks, you’ll be guided through the full process of using commercial paper patterns and constructing garments, including:
- Choosing a suitable beginner‑friendly pattern (suggestions will be provided)
- Understanding pattern sizing and selecting the correct size
- Taking accurate body measurements
- Making adjustments for a better fit
- Selecting appropriate fabrics and using them economically
- Reading pattern instructions and understanding pattern markings
- Laying out, cutting, and marking fabric correctly
- Learning garment‑construction techniques step by step
- Tips and tricks for achieving a professional‑quality finish
Depending on your chosen pattern and your sewing speed/skills, it should be easily possible to complete a simple garment during 4 weeks of the course.
Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for:
- Sewists who have recently completed a Beginners Sewing Course* at Artisan Stitch and want to start making clothes
- Novice dressmakers who need help understanding commercial patterns
- Lapsed sewists who haven’t made garments for a while and want to refresh their skills
Important: This is a dressmaking course focused on garment‑construction techniques. It is not a beginner‑level sewing class.
*You must already be able to:
- Thread and operate a sewing machine confidently
- Sew neat, accurate seams
- Use basic edge‑neatening methods
- Ideally insert zips and sew buttonholes
If you need to refresh these skills, please take one of my Beginners or Refresher courses before booking.
Course Arrangements
You will need to provide:
- Your chosen commercial paper pattern
- Fabric and notions required for your garment(s)
- Your basic sewing kit:
- Fabric shears
- Paper scissors
- Pins
- Tape measure (cm)
- Chalk pencils or fabric‑marking pens
- Quick unpick
- Notebook
Sewing machines are available in the studio, or you may bring your own (please remember the power cable/foot control, bobbins, presser feet, spare needles, and instruction manual).
A full materials list will be provided when you book.
Tickets are non‑refundable, so please check your our terms here before booking.
Useful links
You may find these helpful before the course begins (we’ll cover both topics during the sessions):
- Making your mark – A guide to fabric marking tools
- What pattern size am I? – How to choose the correct size
Where to buy fabric in Edinburgh:
Basic sewing tools (scissors, marking pens, etc.) are available in my studio shop at below RRP, or you can find them at Hobbycraft, Fabric Focus, Edinburgh Fabrics, or Dunelm.
