A4443 - Explore: reimagining garments

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Start Date: 25/09/2026      End Date: 27/11/2026        Start Time: 13:00      End Time: 15:30        Hours per Week: 2.50      No of Weeks: 9
Fees:      £180.00 (tuition)     £316.00 (overseas)     £75.00 (concessionary)
Tutor: Eileen Wedderburn        No of Places: 5
Idea Store Watney Market

Course Overview

Course Overview
Take your most loved piece of clothing from your wardrobe and reimagine it through experimentation with design, the next steps in construction techniques and different fabrics. With your existing piece as a starting point, you will explore how garments can be adapted, altered, and developed through a process of testing, comparison, and refinement.
Through experimentation and sampling, you will try different fabrics and approaches to see how materials and techniques affect the final result. You will also practice adapting patterns, not just for fit, but to explore style, proportion, and detail.
You will use more complex fabrics and techniques such as interfacing, hand stitching, frills, puffs, gathers, pleats, and quilting.
The focus is on developing confidence through exploration rather than producing a single finished outcome, allowing your individual approach to emerge through informed choices and repeated practice.
This course forms part of the Explore Repeat Pathway, enabling you to rejoin in order to experiment with new fabrics, techniques, and ideas, and to continue building confidence through iterative making and reflective learning.

What will you learn and be able to do?

What will you learn and be able to do?
* Analyse an existing garment and adapt or recreate it using pattern cutting techniques.
* Work confidently with a wider range of fabrics and structural materials, including interfacing.
* Apply intermediate sewing and construction techniques such as gathering, pleats, quilting, and decorative details.
* Modify patterns and garment details to personalize fit, style, and design.
* Produce well‑finished garments that reflect individual identity and creative choice.
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Entry requirements

Entry requirements
No entry requirements.
Prosp User 8

Equipment required

Equipment required
We will provide some basic materials and machinery. For the first lesson you will need to bring a notebook and pencil and you will be given a list of haberdashery equipment that will be required for 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
This course forms part of the Explore Repeat Pathway, enabling you to rejoin in order to experiment with new fabrics, techniques, and ideas, and to continue building confidence through iterative making and reflective learning. Please see our website Idea Store 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