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Basic Sewing Skills - Dressmaking and for the Home
Explore your creativity and enjoy learning a variety of skills to enable you to make items for yourself and your home.

The course is ideal for anyone interested in sewing and is suitable for all abilities. People can work at their own pace and learn useful skills that they can take into everyday life including dressmaking, soft furnishings, repairs and upcycling.

Both hand sewing and machine sewing skills will be practised throughout the course.

Example projects: -
- Simple household objects from textiles such as cushion covers, asic curtains & blinds.
- Fashion accessories such as tote bags, fabric brooches & scarves.
- Simple alterations to garments to give a better fit.
- How to up-cycle and modernise existing clothes.
- How to make simple clothes from scratch.
Prosp User 3
The course is ideal for anyone interested in sewing and is suitable for all abilities.
Prosp User 4
A simple project of your own choice can be brought along on the first night – this could be a project ‘from scratch’ or you may wish to bring along any items you wish to remodel, alter or mend. If you're unsure of what to make you can choose one of the optional starter projects – either a Tote Bag or a 45cm Cushion (see below for materials required).

Please also bring basic sewing tools including thread, spool, glass head pins, hand sewing needles, tape measure, un-picker and a pair of dressmaking scissors and small hand scissors.

Sewing machines, an overlocker, and iron are available at the venue for learners to use. You are also welcome to bring your own sewing machine, but this must be used with a PAT tested extension cable (provided by the venue).

Materials required for optional starter projects:

Project 1: Tote Bag - make a basic pattern from scratch, insert zips, pockets and learn a host of techniques. Please bring:
- Outer fabric - 1m (medium/curtain weight)
- Lining fabric - 1m (medium cotton weight)
- Fusible interfacing - 1m (medium weight)
- 75cm x 1.5cm elastic
- 49cm - standard zipper
- 20cm - standard zipper
- Matching threads
- 1m pattern paper - this will be provided at 50p per metre

Project 2: 45cm Cushion - including inserting a zip, other techniques can be included e.g. applique and piping. Please bring:
- Outer fabric - 1m
- 39-40cm zip
- Matching thread
Prosp User 5
No class on Friday 30 May 2025 (half term).

There is parking available at the centre, however it is limited. The venue is walkable from the city centre, there are a number of public car parks sited nearby (including Monk Bar Car Park and Union Terrace Car Park) and the area is well served by bus routes.
Prosp User 6

In order to support keeping York moving, consider travelling to your course by bus or bike. Click here to check out the bus routes closest to the venue for this course using the iTravel website, or discover York's cycle routes by clicking here.
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As well as learning many exciting skills specific to your course, you will also be evidencing and practising a range of transferable skills.
As well as learning many exciting skills specific to your course, you will also be evidencing and practising a range of transferable skills.
Being able to demonstrate transferable skills will improve your confidence and self-awareness, make you more employable, and help you with further learning and volunteering.
Being able to demonstrate transferable skills will improve your confidence and self-awareness, make you more employable, and help you with further learning and volunteering.
Employers value employees who have strong transferable skills, as they tend to have the tools to help them go beyond their job description.
Employers value employees who have strong transferable skills, as they tend to have the tools to help them go beyond their job description.
Attending a dressmaking and sewing class will enable you to develop transferable skills in the following areas: innovation, problem solving, communication, attention to detail, design skills, fine motor skills, dexterity and commercial awareness.

The course provides people with skills for self improvement which could lead onto further education at York College and/or possibly, in time, into self-employment.
Prosp User 8

Learners who live in devolved authorities

Learners who live in devolved authorities
York Learning receives government funding which allows us to offer courses at a lower cost. The guidelines relating to devolution means that we cannot apply this funding to learners who live in devolved areas such as the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
York Learning receives government funding which allows us to offer courses at a lower cost. The guidelines relating to devolution means that we cannot apply this funding to learners who live in devolved areas such as the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
If you live in one of these areas we would recommend that, before committing to a course with York Learning, you explore options to study the course in your local area.
If you live in one of these areas we would recommend that, before committing to a course with York Learning, you explore options to study the course in your local area.
If you would prefer to continue your learning with York Learning please note that the price of the course could be double the advertised cost.
If you would prefer to continue your learning with York Learning please note that the price of the course could be double the advertised cost.
In this case, please contact us on 01904 554277 to complete your enrolment.
In this case, please contact us on 01904 554277 to complete your enrolment.

Learners under the age of 19

Learners under the age of 19
Please note that Adult Education funding is for individuals who are over the age of 19 on the 31st of August prior to the start date of their course.
Please note that Adult Education funding is for individuals who are over the age of 19 on the 31st of August prior to the start date of their course.
This means that there will be an additional cost for learners who are under 19 who wish to access funded courses.
This means that there will be an additional cost for learners who are under 19 who wish to access funded courses.
For safeguarding reasons, we cannot accept learners who are under 18 on courses except by prior arrangement. This does not apply to programmes which are designed for 16-18s.
For safeguarding reasons, we cannot accept learners who are under 18 on courses except by prior arrangement. This does not apply to programmes which are designed for 16-18s.
If you are under the age of 19, please contact us on 01904 554277 before booking.
If you are under the age of 19, please contact us on 01904 554277 before booking.
AT3/QC7
25/04/2025
04/07/2025
10:00 - 13:00
Friday
3.00 hrs per wk
10 weeks
Sue Fraser
90.00
£85 if in receipt of the State Pension; a 65% discount of the full fee is available for people in receipt of certain means tested benefits.