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Dressmaking - How to Make Clothes
Build your sewing skills at any level with this practical, project focused dressmaking class, welcoming complete beginners through to confident improvers and advanced makers. From week one, you’ll start a project of your choice—whether that’s making a garment from scratch, altering clothing, or upcycling an existing piece. You’ll learn at your own pace with supportive guidance, building or refining skills such as accurate cutting, using commercial patterns, inserting zips, shaping with darts, and achieving clean seam finishes. Beginners will gain confidence with the fundamentals, while more experienced learners can explore advanced construction and personalised design details.
Throughout the course, the tutor will demonstrate a wide range of techniques—including working with interfacing, adjusting patterns for fit, handling different fabrics, and repairing garments—so you can apply them directly to your project. You’ll also learn to troubleshoot common issues, interpret pattern instructions, and add professional touches that elevate your finished work. By the end, you’ll have a completed garment or transformed item that reflects your growing creativity and confidence, all supported by a friendly, hands on learning environment.
Prosp User 3
This course is suitable for all sewing levels, from complete beginners to those with more experience who want to grow their skills. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to expand your existing knowledge, you’ll learn how to make or customise garments with confidence. It’s ideal for anyone who wants to develop practical techniques, explore new methods, and build the skills needed to create or transform clothing in a supportive, hands on environment. The course is delivered by a tutor who is also a practitioner in the subject and is on hand to teach by a variety of methods including tutor presentation, varied demonstrations and one-to-one personalised guidance.
Prosp User 4
At the first class, there will be an optional task to complete as an introduction to the course, if would like to take part in this induction task, please bring along 0.5m of cotton fabric (non-stretch and not upholstery fabric).

If you have a project in mind, please bring this along including appropriate pattern, fabric or a sheet/duvet cover to make a toile (mock up), thread and any other haberdashery items you may need. Please also bring along a notebook, pen/pencil and basic sewing kit (including scissors/tape measure/pins/thread etc.) Pattern paper can be bought on the day for an additional cost of 60p per metre (cash only).

Sewing machines, overlockers, an 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, as long as it is in good working order, but please ensure you use one of our PAT extension cables (provided by the venue).
Prosp User 5
Please note, refreshments are not provided as part of the course. There is a café on site that sells a selection of drinks and refreshments, but we recommend that you bring your own lunch.

There won't be a class on Tuesday 27th October due to school half-term break.

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

The course will be fully supported by ‘Padlet’ (best described as an online noticeboard) where weekly 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 between sessions and keep a record of your progress.

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/TR2
15/09/2026
24/11/2026
13:00 - 15:00
Tuesday
2.00 hrs per wk
10 weeks
Kate Unsworth
175.00
A 65% discount of the full fee is available for people in receipt of certain means-tested benefits.