Made To Measure Womenswear Short Course
Course description
Course overview
This course will teach how to construct womenswear garments to your personal body measurements. You will discover a style you feel works well for you and complements your unique shape. This course may include a trip to a local fabric shop, but the tutor will also provide guidance for independent visits.
During this course, you will reflect on ideas, practically apply learned techniques, and develop problem-solving skills. You will adapt to resolve fit challenges, encounter and develop solutions for various shapes and body proportions. Whether you prefer to take notes or sketch to visualise and build on your ideas, you’ll be in a supportive learning environment.
Who this course is for
This course is suitable for any individuals aged 18 and older, who already make clothes from patterns, and are keen to address fitting concerns or generally would like to work with specific or personal measurements. It’s also suitable for individuals who have a style, shape or idea in mind, and would like to translate this into a product for themselves.
Students will be given machine inductions, demonstrations and guidance, but some current sewing skills, experience using a sewing machine, and working from patterns will mean you can make further progress and gain more from the course.
Although the emphasis is on womenswear design and working to personal measurements, men are also welcome and can work to the measurements of the tailor's dummy.
Key information
Topics covered
- How to draft a basic skirt or trouser block from your recorded personal body measurements (this will serve as a simple template which you will be able to modify into other designs and shapes).
- How to achieve a good fit and what to analyse when doing this (to achieve this, we will work through the stages of constructing a toile to a finished garment in a fabric of your choice).
- Fabric shop visits (to discuss and select suitable fabrics, trims and fastenings for your design).
- Essential sewing techniques in using industrial sewing machines including, appropriate seams, finishings, zip insertions and other simple fastenings.
Learning outcomes
- Use recorded body measurements to draft your own personal trouser or skirt block and see how shapes can be adapted into simple styles to create patterns.
- Attach fastenings securely and be able to carry out zip insertions such as a zip-fly and concealed zip.
- Create different types of waistbands and explore different ways of attaching these.
- Assess which areas may need adjusting when fitting garments on the lower section of the body and analyse key areas for fitting.
- Demonstrate learned techniques in making calico toile adjustments and pattern amendments as needed.
- Make fabric buying decisions that compliment your final design choice.
- Explore ways to enhance your design such as with trim and finish details.
- Calculate costs by knowing fabric widths and the pattern layout for sampling your trousers (skirt option).
Materials
- Pattern master or set square
- Dressmakers carbon paper
Any further materials needed for this course will be provided.
Tutor
Maria Demetriou
Maria Demetriou began her career in the fashion industry as a sample cutter, illustrator, pattern cutter and designer, working for commercial labels. Following this she worked in production for the high-end market. In 1998 she started working as a technician and fashion tutor. She has now been teaching for the last seventeen years and currently delivers private tuition and small workshops at the londonfashion.coop. In addition to this she also worked as an exclusive dressmaker in bridal and evening wear.
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