A3081 - Explore: fashion clothes making

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Start Date: 29/09/2026      End Date: 01/12/2026        Start Time: 16:00      End Time: 18:30        Hours per Week: 2.00      No of Weeks: 9
Fees:      £144.00 (tuition)     £253.00 (overseas)     £60.00 (concessionary)
Tutor: Eileen Wedderburn        No of Places: 7
Idea Store Watney Market

Course Overview

Course Overview
Explore the next stage of pattern cutting and fashion sewing through experimentation, building your technical skills.
This course helps you explore how fashion ideas can be turned into real garments by trying out different shapes, fabrics, and details. You will develop confidence through practice, testing ideas, and learning what works best.
You will draw inspiration from fashion trends across time and reinterpret them into your own unique garments. You will try out variations, compare results, and begin to understand how fabric, structure, and technique affect the finished garment.
You will work with more complex fabrics and learn how to adapt patterns, not just for fit but also to change style, shape, and detail. Techniques inspired by high fashion will be introduced, giving you opportunities to explore proportion, volume, and design choices.
You will be encouraged to reflect on your work—thinking about what worked, what didn’t, and what you prefer—so you can improve and develop your own approach.
This course is part of the Explore Repeat Pathway, so you can return to continue experimenting, build confidence, and develop your skills over time.

What will you learn and be able to do?

What will you learn and be able to do?
* Research and interpret historical and contemporary fashion trends as inspiration for garment design.
* Create, adapt, and refine garment patterns to develop individual fashion ideas.
* Work confidently with more complex fabrics and advanced construction techniques.
* Apply decorative and structural techniques inspired by high fashion to enhance garments.
* Design and construct balanced silhouettes that combine creative expression with wearability.
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Entry requirements

Entry requirements
This course is suitable for those with some limited sewing
experience or knowledge.
Prosp User 8

Equipment required

Equipment required
For the first lesson you need to bring a note book and pencil.
You will be advised of any equipment required at the first lesson as some
haberdashery materials will be required throughout the course.
Prosp User 9

How will you know you are making progress?

How will you know you are making progress?
You will have an ‘Individual Learning Plan’ where the course learning outcomes are shown and
where you can set your own learning goals and monitor your own progress.
You will need to evaluate your own progress and manage your time.
Your tutor will give ongoing feedback and will keep you informed of your progress.
Prosp User 12
At the beginning of the course the tutor will carry out an initial assessment to help identify the level of
experience, knowledge or skills in this area.
The tutor will also carry out informal assessments to check your understanding, there is no exam.
You will complete a self-assessment at the beginning, middle and end of the course.
Your tutor will let you know how you are getting on throughout the course to you will help you work to
your full potential.
At the end of the course you will receive written feedback.
Prosp User 11

Progress opportunities - your next steps

Progress opportunities - your next steps
This course is part of the Explore Repeat Pathway, so you can return to continue experimenting, build confidence, and develop your skills over time. Please see our website for further courses or speak with your tutor.
Your tutor will support you in researching these and other courses outside of Idea Store Learning.
Prosp User 10

Other info

Other info
We have high expectations regarding attendance and punctuality. We expect 100% attendance for all scheduled sessions and that you do so punctually and are ready to start learning at the start of the class.
We acknowledge the rare occasions when that will not be possible, please inform us before the class by emailing ideastoreadmin@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Prosp User 13

Extra Support

Extra Support
If you have declared a learning difficulty, disability or support need whilst enrolling and you require support/assistance in class or to complete your course, please discuss your needs with your tutor at the first lesson.
If you intend to take an examination and feel you have an additional learning need or special requirements, you must declare them to your tutor within the first 2 weeks of your course.
If you are studying in an online group, then you can arrange a one-to-one online discussion with your tutor, after the session, or by email.

Where we aim to make reasonable adjustments to support our learners, please note we are unable to provide any type of in class or in person support if your course takes place online.
Prosp User 14