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The Dressmakers Studio - Essential Skills & Techniques
CLASS DATES: Starts 15th Sept - 24th Nov. Tuesday mornings, 9:30 - 12.00

This course is designed for those who already have basic sewing experience and want to strengthen their technical skills for employment or small business opportunities in the fashion and textiles sector. Instead of completing full garments, you’ll build a comprehensive library of technical samples—including zips, collars, cuffs, waistbands, pockets, facings, button stands, and seam finishes—that reflect industry standard construction methods. Each session focuses on a specific technique, allowing you to refine accuracy, improve your handling of different fabrics, and gain confidence using a range of sewing equipment. These structured, hands on activities help you progress beyond hobby sewing into more advanced, work ready practice.
As you develop your skills, you’ll also build the workplace competencies needed for roles in alterations, garment production, costume support, or bespoke dressmaking. You’ll learn how to follow technical instructions and apply quality control processes used in professional settings. By the end of the course, you’ll have a curated portfolio of high quality construction samples that demonstrate your growing expertise and can support job applications, further study, or the development of your own micro business. This course offers a solid, industry informed foundation for anyone looking to elevate their craft and move confidently toward work in the fashion and textiles field.
Prosp User 3
This course is for learners who have an intermediate knowledge of dressmaking and are looking to further their skills for their own personal development or possible employment.

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.

Before you book, we’ll invite you to fill out a brief , informal questionnaire, this gives you the chance to tell us about your sewing background and what you’d like to achieve during the course.
Prosp User 4
Learners will be asked to provide some haberdashery to complete the samples, zips, elastic, interfacing. We will contact you approx. 3 weeks before the course with details of what you need to bring.
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, 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 refreshments and food.

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 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.

The 27th October is half-term, therefore there won't be a class on this date.
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/TL6
VARIOUS
VARIOUS
VARIOUS
Tuesday
2.50 hrs per wk
10 weeks
Kate Unsworth
150.00
A 65% discount of the full fee is available for people in receipt of certain means-tested benefits.