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The Complete Sewing and Garment Making Short Course

Course description

During The Complete Sewing and Making Short course students will be introduced to professional sewing and garment construction methods through a number of garment making workshops to achieve a quality and professional finish. We will cover cutting and making-up of garments such as skirts, blouses and shirts, with reference to multi-size patterns for your making.

You will also learn different methods of making garment components, such as zip insertion, pockets collars, waist bands etc. in relation to how to lay patterns, cutting, and the order of assembly on garment construction. You will also undertake market research which will include window shopping for garment ideas on your own or as a group.

Workshops will cover the following garments: skirt, blouse, shirt, shorts, jacket (manufacturing process), t-shirt, leggings, and a boned bodice (evening/occasion wear).

To make the most of this course it is recommended that the practice skills gained during lessons in their own time.

Who is The Complete Sewing and Making Short Course for?

This course is suitable for aspiring professional sewers or garment makers, such as for the fashion industry, or those who want to improve their sewing practise.

Course outcomes
By the end of this course students should:

  • Be confident in carrying out a range of sewing and construction methods
  • Know how to work with a wide range of fabrics and different type of sewing machines
  • Learn garment processing skills such as how to construct types of pockets, zip insertions etc
  • Develop the confidence to accurately determine measurements

Clear, easy to understand lessons:

  • Our tutors will explain things in easy to understand, accessible English. If they need to use any special terminology they will make sure they explain what they mean.
  • New methods will be shown to students through live demonstrations, in a way that’s crystal clear and easy to understand.

Experience life on campus

  • Network and share ideas with students from across the globe
  • Access the technology and materials relevant to your discipline
  • Shop in our college shops for any materials you might need
  • Ask questions of your tutor in real time
  • Receive feedback and critique on your assignments
  • Experience the many sights of London on your down time

A certificate of completion:

  • You've put the work in so we want to make sure you have something to show for it!
  • As long as you attend a minimum of 80% of your classes, we will provide you with a certificate of attendance
  • We always recommend you attend all of the classes so that you get the most out of the experience!
  • Certificates are great to complement your CV

Important information for international students

International students must ensure their visa, short term or otherwise, is valid for the full duration of their course. Please visit out frequently asked questions for any questions about Standard visitor visa you may have. For instructions on how to apply for a Standard visitor visa and everything you need to know before and after receiving your visa please visit UAL website. Alternatively you can read our full guide on immigration.

Payment plans

Payment plans are available on request and follow the process outlined below:

A 50% deposit is required to reserve your place on the course. This is followed by 3 monthly instalments. The monthly payments are determined by dividing the total course fee minus deposit into three amounts. E.g. Course fee £3000, £1500 deposit, x3 £500 payments. The final balance must be paid 4 weeks before the course start date.

Normal UAL Short Course T&Cs apply.

Contact ualshortcourses@shortcourses.arts.ac.uk for more information.

Available dates

It can take a few moments for our course dates to load - if there are no available dates, please sign up to our mailing list where new course dates will be announced or browse other courses within your chosen subject area to find an alternative.

Details

What is covered in this course?

Week 1:

  • How to use a sewing machine and safety rules
  • Needles and threads
  • Seams – plain seam, pinking seam, french seam, run and fell seam, piped seam, overlocked seams, open and close seams
  • Pressing procedure

Week 2:

  • Finishing a circular hem
  • Stitching an enclosed seam
  • Tucks and pleats
  • Top stitching
  • Gathering and stitch a corner
  • Assemble front skirt
  • Preparation for Zip insertion

Week 3:

  • Zip insertion to continue / Method 2 Channel Zip
  • Attach skirt waist band
  • Overlock skirt hem and stitch to complete this skirt workshop

Week 4:

  • Blouse - cutting and making
  • Students to receive fabric and a blouse pattern for this exercise
  • Single binding and double binding
  • Stitching a curve seam to insert sleeves
  • Muti-size pattern preparation
  • Zip and fusing

Week 5:

  • Binding
  • Single binding with edge stitch, double binding with sink stitch
  • Revisit both skirt and blouse making to ensure the garments have had completed to a reasonable standard
  • How to choose the size in relation to one’s body measurements

Week 6:

Shirt workshop including:
  • Component making
  • Two-piece collar construction / front opening
  • Two sleeve openings – continuous strip and placket as in men’s shirt construction
  • Assembly process
  • Attach sleeves – one side with overlock closed seam
  • Shirt hemming
  • Buttonholes

Week 7:

  • Homework Preparation – Organise work for Fly Front Making in stage sample making
  • Garment Making: based on a multi-size pattern – choose a shirt style to make

Weeks 8 and 9:

Short workshop including:

  • Component making
  • Fly front zip
  • Two x in-seam pockets
  • Single Jetting pocket
  • Apply binding on waist band finishing
  • Assembly Process
  • Attach pieces to form a pair of shorts
  • Hemming on legs – circular stitching and hand felling for classic look
  • Fly Front sample making
Week 10:
  • Fitting and adjustments
  • Revisit on exercises that require to remake or fixing to achieve an acceptable manufacturing standard
  • Easter break homework

Week 11:

  • Jersey Experiment – induction on different types of Jersey specialised sewing machines such as coverstitch, coverstitch binder and 3 and 4 thread overlockers
  • T-Shirt Workshop – students to cut a t-shirt each with the provided pattern and fabric for this exercise

Week 12:

  • Leggings making
  • Experimenting on mixed jersey and woven fabrics
  • Front placket opening and side opening

Week 13:

  • Vent opening
  • Bias Skirt

Week 14:

  • To cut and sew a full-size (students own size) soft fabric skirt with lining
  • Technical details – tutor will demonstrate this exercise with the students
  • Invisible zip. Waist band, hemming
  • Bias skirt to complete

Week 15 and 16:

Jacket Workshop including:
  • Component making
  • Welt pocket
  • Rever collar
  • Join front and back facings
  • Two sleeve openings
  • Attach both sleeves to the jacket
  • Show easing technique, add sleeve-head and shoulder pad on one side of the sleeve only
  • Stitch jacket lining pieces together
  • Stitch lining to the jacket with enclosed seams on jacket hem stitch in place and press off to complete this workshop

Week 17 and 18:

Evening wear exercise workshop including:
  • Methods of fastening
  • Construction on a Boned bodice (Bustier) – pattern will be provided

Week 19:

  • Garment making from multi-size pattern for occasional wear


Materials

In order to get the most out of this course you should bring the following materials to your first session:

  • Notebook
  • Pen/Pencil
  • Sharpener
  • Eraser

Meet the Tutor

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In The Complete Sewing and Making Short Course students will learn various industry techniques to achieve a professional and accurate finish. This course is geared towards aspiring professional sewers or garment makers, such as for the fashion industry, or those who want to improve their sewing practice

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