A3531 - Explore: fashion sewing and garment pattern cutting

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Start Date: 26/09/2026      End Date: 21/11/2026        Start Time: 10:00      End Time: 13:30        Hours per Week: 3.50      No of Weeks: 8
Fees:      £224.00 (tuition)     £393.00 (overseas)     £94.00 (concessionary)
Tutor: Liliane Fontaine        No of Places: 3
Shadwell Centre

Course Overview

Course Overview
This course builds on existing sewing and clothes making skills, developing confidence in garment construction using both commercial and self‑drafted pattern cutting on and off the stand.
Develop your existing sewing skills and grow your confidence when making garments by trying out ideas, practicing techniques, and exploring variation.
During the course you will practice taking body measurements and making simple adjustments to improve fit, learning what works through testing and refining your approach. Through practical exploration, you will deepen your understanding of fit, fabric handling, and construction techniques.
As you develop your skills, you will try sewing a wider range of fabrics and techniques, including interfacing, tacking, gathers, pleats, frills, puffs, and basic quilting. You will also build a personal library of stitch, seam, and fabric samples to support your learning and help you compare results.
The course encourages you to experiment, make changes, and learn from the process, building confidence over time.
You can re-join the course as part of the Explore Repeat Pathway to keep developing your skills, try new techniques, and work with different fabrics as your confidence grows.

What will you learn and be able to do?

What will you learn and be able to do?
* Use commercial sewing patterns and pattern‑cutting techniques confidently to plan and construct garment sections.
* Take accurate body measurements and apply basic fit adjustments to improve garment comfort and shape.
* Construct garment components using a range of stitches, seams, and finishing techniques suitable for more complex fabrics.
* Apply shaping and decorative techniques such as gathers, pleats, puffs, frills, and quilting within garment construction.
* Develop a reference library of stitched and constructed samples demonstrating techniques worked during the course.
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Entry requirements

Entry requirements
No previous experience is necessary and you do not need to own a
sewing machine.
Prosp User 8

Equipment required

Equipment required
For the first lesson you need to bring a note book, pencil and a tape measure. You will be given a list of haberdashery materials that 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 identify your current
level of experience knowledge or skills. This is repeated at the middle and end of the course.
There is no exam.
The tutor will also carry out informal assessments to check your understanding. 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
You can re-join the course as part of the Explore Repeat Pathway to keep developing your skills, try new techniques, and work with different fabrics as your confidence grows. After completing this level you can progress to the Emerging Personal and Professional Practice level. Please see our website 'Idea Store - Learning' for further information 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