Workshops Better Dressmaking

Better Dressmaking

Learn tips and techniques to make your home sewing look less – well – ‘homemade’.

Do your seams look wrinkled or puckered? Do your facings refuse to lie flat, and are you tired of wonky zips? Or do you even avoid zips altogether? Yes? Then this is the course to help you raise your sewing game.

Better Dressmaking Course Description

Level:  Intermediate.  You need to have had some experience of dressmaking through commercial paper patterns.

I’ve observed a few areas where home dressmakers commonly struggle, and rolled them all up into ‘Better Dressmaking’. Week by week, it will teach you loads of tips and tricks to improve the fit and finish of your home dressmaking and avoid that ‘homemade’ look that is the downfall of many sewing projects.

Better Dressmaking is a unique course consisting of a series of tutorials and practical sessions. You’ll be working samples of each technique, so you can practise the skills learnt in that session.  We’ll start with getting the groundwork right. How to choose the best size of pattern, and making some common adjustments for a perfect fit. Then I’ll teach you the lingo of pattern terminology. I’ll show you how to improve the appearance of your seams with pressing and trimming, and adding the WOW factor with perfectly straight and even topstitching. Darts, interfacing, buttonholes, zips, sleeves and waistbands are covered too. Each session expands on the skills learnt in the previous one, building your knowledge and technical ability over the 10 weeks (25 hours in total).  By the end of the course, you’ll have a library of new techniques at your fingertips to take home so your sewing will be more ‘high end’ than ‘high street’.

I’ve been sewing since I was a child (and that’s a lot of years’ experience!). During that time, I’ve made every mistake in the book and learnt how to avoid them. Now you can benefit from my mistakes and learn to sew like a pro as I share my expert tips. I wish I’d known all this stuff when I started to sew.

Artisan Stitch won a Certificate of Excellence in January 2019 and is rated ‘Best sewing classes in Edinburgh’. The UK Enterprise Award followed for Best sewing classes 2020 then Best Private Sewing Education & Tuition in 2021. Scotland Prestige Awards followed in each of the 3 consecutive years from 2022/23 to 2024/25. Artisan Stitch is the only course provider in Edinburgh, and one of only two in Scotland, that is recommended by Queen Margaret University for sewing tuition.

Who is this aimed at?

• Home dressmakers who’d like to achieve a better fit and finish to their home sewing projects
• You must have had some dressmaking experience and be familiar with using commercial paper patterns and basic garment construction. i.e. if you’ve used patterns to make at least 1 or 2 items but would like to improve the fit and finish.

What will I learn?

• How to choose the best size(s) of pattern to achieve a good fit
• Understanding pattern terminology
• How to do some common pattern alterations
• Learn different seam types and when to use them
• How to take up hems
• Neatening and finishing techniques
• Edge stitching and top stitching to add impact
• Perfect darts
• Make machined buttonholes and sew on buttons
• How to sew in a concealed zip
• Avoid stretched necklines
• Choosing and using interfacing
• How to change the shape of a neckline
• How to make facings lie flat
• Setting in a sleeve

One day, all dressmaking will be taught like this!

Course arrangements

All fabrics needed for the course are provided. Sewing machines are available for your use or you can bring your own if you have one. Please remember your power cable/foot control, spare needles, feet, instruction manual.

How do I book?

Click here to read full information about the course and to book. Places are limited to just a few people so early booking is essential.  Enquiries to jen@artisanstitch.co.uk.

#dressmakingschool #dressmakingcourses #dressmakingpatterns #makingclothes #clothesmaking

Location details

St. Margaret’s House – Sixth Floor
St. Margaret’s House, 151 London Road
Edinburgh EH7 6AE

How to find St Margaret’s House

Directions