Learn the essential skills used in the production of couture clothing from the comfort of your home. During this six-week course you will construct your own quarter-scale vintage-style sundress, practising and perfecting hand-sewing techniques on a dress pattern designed exclusively for this course. Quarter-scale dresses play a vital role in the history of couture dressmaking. Designers such as Christian Dior used them to finalise their designs before sending them around the world to showcase their new collections. They also make fantastic teaching tools for full-scale couture work. Throughout this course, tutor Rowena Luke-King will show you the key stitches and finishing techniques needed to create your own miniature dress, complete with a decorative border of tucks, pin tucks and shell tucks. Rowena will also show you, step-by-step, how to mark dart points with tailor's tacks, 'bag-out' a bodice and add gathers at the waist, creating a complete dress, all by hand. This course is suitable for those starting out in dressmaking, or those looking to refine their hand-sewing skills. As well as your completed quarter-scale dress, you will leave this course with a thorough understanding of how to adapt this miniature pattern into full scale.

Learn the essential skills used in the production of couture clothing from the comfort of your home. During this six-week course you will construct your own quarter-scale vintage-style sundress, practising and perfecting hand-sewing techniques on a dress pattern designed exclusively for this course. Quarter-scale dresses play a vital role in the history of couture dressmaking. Designers such as Christian Dior used them to finalise their designs before sending them around the world to showcase their new collections. They also make fantastic teaching tools for full-scale couture work. Throughout this course, tutor Rowena Luke-King will show you the key stitches and finishing techniques needed to create your own miniature dress, complete with a decorative border of tucks, pin tucks and shell tucks. Rowena will also show you, step-by-step, how to mark dart points with tailor's tacks, 'bag-out' a bodice and add gathers at the waist, creating a complete dress, all by hand. This course is suitable for those starting out in dressmaking, or those looking to refine their hand-sewing skills. As well as your completed quarter-scale dress, you will leave this course with a thorough understanding of how to adapt this miniature pattern into full scale.

Make your own shirt with Alice & Co.

Develop your own fashion ideas using the Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion exhibition as inspiration.

Create your own garment inspired by Frida Kahlo in this creative workshop.

Create your own stylish shirt inspired by fashions through the ages

Want to make your own 1960s-style minidress inspired by Mary Quant?

Sew your own colourful version of the traditional Mexican tunic worn by Frida Kahlo

Get creative with our free downloadable sewing pattern!

Have a go at making a beautiful kimono-inspired dress

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For use with our 'sew your own: customisable shirt pattern', these print layouts will help you decide…

I remember learning to first hand sew from my mother; we started with basic shapes using thick colourful…

Image: Hallie Primus @primrose.films Sew Social Newham Formed in September 2020, Sew Social Newham…

I wanted to create a space where you could design your emotions, with no set goal: building a space to…

If you enjoyed sewing your own 1960s-style minidress inspired by our Mary Quant exhibition, now’s your…

They didn’t give each seamstress her own workbox, instead they had communal boxes, and there was thread…