Professional Sewing Techniques

Professional Sewing Techniques

Would you like to take your sewing to the next level?

Perhaps you’ve already made a few dresses and even completed some trickier projects and now you’re ready for more challenging dressmaking. 

Come and spend five days seriously improving your sewing techniques on this intensive, practical course based in our professional fashion studios.

To begin...

We offer you three patterns, and you choose your favourite - then make it during the first two sessions.

You’ll explore different types of fabric (with access to the university fabric store) and the various methods of cutting and over-locking.

There will be plenty of time for problem solving, plus a one-to-one fitting with the tutor.

And then...

Make a shirt!

You’ll progress through each of the techniques, practising how to make a collar, cuffs, button stands, sleeves, plackets and button holes.

It’ll be intense - but great fun!

During the course, you will:

• learn about grain lines, fabrics and their suitability to different projects
• cut, lay, fold and bias cut on reverse fabrics
• fuse fabrics, and learn why fabrics are fused differently
• use an over-locker, and learn (or remind yourself) how to set one up
• make buttonholes and understand different buttonhole construction
• sew and assemble a shirt from start to finish.

You’ll be introduced to the techniques through group demonstrations, handling samples, paper-based instructions and one-to-one feedback.

What will you gain?

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to confidently create a garment with professional sewing techniques.

If you haven't completed your garment before the end of the course you're welcome to take it home and your instructor will make sure you know the techniques needed to complete the project.

Tutor Profile: Deidre Niddrie has had a varied career working as a garment technologist and assistant designer for Alexander McQueen, Matthew Williamson and Victoria Beckham.

She is now an experienced fashion technician at Nottingham Trent University.

Need accommodation for the summer?

You can book a self-catered, single room with private bathroom on our city campus, right next door to our studios and classrooms. Accommodation can be booked online via the course homepage.