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Sewing Skills, Repairs & Alterations - Work Ready
This intensive 15-hour course is designed to equip learners with practical, work-ready sewing skills, focusing on common repairs and alterations. Participants will gain confidence in using a sewing machine, understanding fabric properties, and executing a range of techniques essential for maintaining garments and making minor adjustments. The emphasis will be on developing marketable skills applicable to personal wardrobes, small home-based businesses, or roles within the fashion and retail sectors.

Upon successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:
- Confidently operate a domestic sewing machine for various tasks.
- Identify and select appropriate needles, threads, and stitches for different fabric types.
- Perform common clothing repairs, such as mending tears, reattaching buttons, and repairing seams.
- Execute basic garment alterations, including hemming trousers/skirts and taking in seams.
- Understand basic fabric properties and their impact on sewing techniques.
- Apply safe working practices in a sewing environment.
- Develop an understanding of professional presentation and quality finishing in sewing work.
- Demonstrate foundational skills suitable for entry-level work in textile repair or alterations.

Course Content:
Module 1: Sewing Machine Mastery & Essentials (Approx. 4 Hours) including understanding your machine, tools and notions and fabric fundamentals.
Module 2: Essential Repairs (Approx. 5 Hours) including hand sewing and machine-based repairs.
Module 3: Basic Alterations - Work Ready (Approx. 6 Hours) including hemming techniques, adjusting seams and simple customisations.

For a more detailed, weekly breakdown of activities, please contact us at : -huntington.adulted@york.gov.uk and one will be e-mailed to you.
Prosp User 3
This course is aimed at adults seeking skills in dressmaking, sewing, alterations & repairs.

The course would suit anyone who has a love of dressmaking & textiles. It is particularly suitable for those who would like to, for personal or economic reasons, understand how to repair and alter garments.

No prior sewing experience is necessary, but basic familiarity with a sewing machine (even if minimal) is beneficial. A willingness to learn and an interest in textiles are key!
Prosp User 4
Basic sewing kit: Fabric scissors, paper scissors, tape measure, pins, seam ripper, dressmaker's chalk or fabric marker.

Matching thread for your projects (good quality polyester all-purpose thread recommended).

Fabric scraps for practice (cotton or polycotton offcuts are ideal).

If possible, bring garments for repair or alteration (e.g., a pair of trousers needing hemming, a shirt with a loose button, an item with a small tear). Start with simple items. If you cannot source any garments with a tear we can use scrap fabric.

Please also bring along a notebook, pen/pencil.

Sewing machines, overlockers, a cover stitch machine, a steam generated iron and lots of sewing equipment is available at the venue for learners to use. You are also welcome to bring along your own sewing machine, providing it is in good working order, but please ensure you use one of our PAT extension cables (available at the venue).
Prosp User 5
Please note, refreshments are not provided as part of the course, but there is a café on site that sells a selection of drinks and refreshments.

The dressmaking classrooms are on the first floor which can be accessed by lift or stairs.

Teaching Methods: the course is delivered by a tutor who is also a practitioner in the subject and will utilise a hands-on, practical approach. Learning will be facilitated through:
- Demonstrations by the tutor.
- Step-by-step practical exercises.
- Individualised feedback and support.
- Group discussions and problem-solving.
- Worksheets and instructional handouts.
- Opportunity to work on personal garments (within the scope of the course content).

Assessment Methods:
- Continuous practical assessment throughout the course based on completed projects and demonstrated skills.
- Informal feedback from the tutor.
- Self-assessment opportunities.
- There is no formal examination for this course. Progress will be measured by the successful completion of practical tasks and the development of confidence and accuracy in sewing skills.

Formal homework will not be set. However, we expect learners to do some additional practice at home, where possible. This will help learners embed and retain their newly acquired skills.

The course will be fully supported by ‘Padlet’ (best described as an online noticeboard) where demonstrations and other useful material will be uploaded by the tutor. This platform can also be used to keep in touch with likeminded learners to share ideas, we encourage you to upload photos of your finished garment.

As an added feature, we hold a charity Dressmaking Showcase, at the end of the summer term, to celebrate the wonderful work that has been produced during the year, to which all learners are invited.
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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Alongside gaining course-specific skills, you will develop and showcase transferable skills that boost your confidence, employability, and ability to engage in further learning or volunteering.
Alongside gaining course-specific skills, you will develop and showcase transferable skills that boost your confidence, employability, and ability to engage in further learning or volunteering.
Employers highly value these transferable skills because they equip employees to excel beyond their basic job roles.
Employers highly value these transferable skills because they equip employees to excel beyond their basic job roles.
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 outside of this area, we recommend that, before committing to a course with York Learning, you explore options to study the course in your local area.
If you live outside of this area, we 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.
AT1/QW1
26/09/2025
24/10/2025
10:15 - 13:15
Friday
3.00 hrs per wk
5 weeks
Kate Unsworth
97.00
£92.00 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