Make Clothes From A Shop Bought Pattern

Make A Dress (Non Stretch) from a Pattern

Make a dress from a shop bought dress pattern. Get our guidance on measuring and adjusting the pattern to your shape before cutting out the fabric. Once a great fit is achieved, these basic styles can be used again as a 'template' you can make into different designs.

We recommend making a 'toile' first - a mock up in calico to perfect the fit before making in more expensive fabric. Or you can make a 'wearable toile'*

Level: Improver
Classes needed: 5-10** 

Which Stitch Classes to attend: Any - Book Your Classes Here

Bring/wear:

• 3m calico fabric or inexpensive medium weight cotton (Fabric Land do great prints at £4 mtr) to make a (wearable*) toile
• Cash for spot and cross or tissue paper @ 75p metre if tracing patterns of ours - or save class time by bringing your own with you
  
• Wear a slim fitting but not tight vest top and leggings. Or thin skirt/dress
  
• wear the bra you would wear with final dress to each class
  
• Bring your glasses if need Sample of fabric you'd like to make the dress from (if you have one.)
  

• If you want to learn to adapt the dress into different designs, bring images of dresses you like or examples from your wardrobe if you have any

• Patterns you could buy - images above: 

- Top Right Collette Laurel: buy here
- Bottom left Avid Seamstress Sheath Dress: buy here
- Bottom right - Burda 7137: £12 cash in class
- We also sell McCalls M7279 Dress 'Block' pattern £12 cash in class

Questions? Email us here  

Book Stitch Classes Here
Book 1-2-1's Here

* a 'wearable toile' is the first draft of garment made from a pattern, that may not be quite right and still needs adjusting - but if you make it in inexpensive fabric, it may be good enough to still wear it - you can make the next one in £25 mtr silk!!

** number of classes needed depends on skill level, sewing speed, fitting issues, fabric chosen and amount of homework done

Make Trousers from a pattern

Trace off and make trousers with our guidance on measuring and adjusting the pattern . Buy the McCalls M6901 trouser pattern (£12 cash from us in class) - or bring your own simple trouser pattern. Leave the pattern un-cut until you see us! You may be surprised which size you end up using and there are adjustments to make pre-cutting
Once a great fit is achieved, these basic styles can be used again as a 'template' you can make into different designs.

Level: Intermediate 
Classes needed: 4-10*

Which Stitch Classes to attend: Any -  Book Your Classes Here  

Bring/wear: Visit our Trouser page here for a list of what to bring with you/what we can provide

Pattern available for purchase from us for £12 cash in class

Questions? Email us here 

Ready to book? Book Your Classes Here

Make a top from a pattern

Options:

• Trace off our basic top pattern (very similar to the one in image here) free of charge in Stitch Classes
• Bring along a pattern - this one or others (google New Look 6483 to find this one)

Get our guidance on tissue fitting and  adjusting the pattern to get closer to the best fit before cutting in fabric. 

Option: With basic top styles like the one shown here, once a great fit is achieved the pattern be used again as a 'template' you can make into different designs. 

We recommend making it in inexpensive fabric first to perfect the fit.

Level: Improver
Classes needed: 3-6 depending on skill level and fitting issues

Which Stitch Classes to attend: Any -  Book Your Classes Here  

Bring/ Wear: 

• a top pattern or £1.50 for tracing paper to trace our simple top shape
• If you have a pdf pattern get it printed onto tissue inexpensively at Fabulosew here instead of printing and sticking it together at home or in class - you'll be VERY glad you did!
• 1m inexpensive medium weight cotton for this style, or whatever is the most suitable fabric suggested on your pattern otherwise - contact us if you need advice, saying the pattern name and number you plan to bring to class
• wash and iron your fabric before class
• use our in-class sewing machines (Janome 525s/725s) or bring your own (no need to book our machines, we have lots!). 
• We also have overlockers with complimentary black or white thread should you want to try using one on your garment to neaten seams or sew jersey once you've completed the fitting and tried it on. Please don't bring your own overlocker unless you can use it without help as Stitch Class teachers only know our overlockers!
• sewing thread - 100m reel is usually enough to sew a garment. If you are using stretch fabric get Gutermann Maraflex thread which goes through the sewing machine like ordinary thread but has an amazing stretch to it and may save you needing to use stretch stitch on your sewing machine
• Wear the clothes and bra you would wear with final top to each class - essential for getting a great fit  
• Bring glasses if needed for close up work

Questions? Email us here

Book Stitch Classes Here
Book 1-2-1's Here