Description
Have you already begun your sewing journey, gained confidence with your sewing machine, and are now ready to progress into making your own garments? This one-day introduction to dressmaking is the perfect next step on your garment-making journey.
This course is ideal if you’re confident using a sewing machine and keen to make your first garment with support and guidance. It’s also a great next step if you’ve already completed another type of garment and would like to try something different, for example if you’ve made a top or dress before and are ready to move on to making a pair of trousers.
Led by experienced sewing teacher Emma Smith, the course offers a supportive, hands-on approach designed to build confidence step by step. Emma has many years of teaching experience and is known for her patient, attentive guidance. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, and participants are encouraged to ask questions throughout, with plenty of opportunity for individual support, advice and helpful sewing insights along the way.
In this workshop, you will be making the Chantelle Pants by Sew Liberated – a relaxed and wearable pair of trousers and a great introduction to trouser making.
The Chantelle Pants are an ideal project for building your dressmaking skills and confidence while learning the techniques involved in constructing a pair of trousers. During the day, Emma will guide you through the pattern and construction process, helping you understand each stage so that you not only make your own pair, but gain skills that you can take forward into future dressmaking projects.
Your own printed copy of the Chantelle Pants pattern is included in the course.
What You’ll Learn
Over the course of the workshop, you will be guided through the full dressmaking process:
• How to measure yourself accurately to determine your correct pattern size
• How to read and understand a commercial sewing pattern, including markings, notches, grainlines and layout instructions
• How to work out fabric requirements and select suitable fabrics and notions for your trousers
• How to prepare and handle your fabric correctly before cutting
• How to lay out your pattern pieces and cut accurately and confidently
• How to understand the construction process involved in making a pair of trousers
• How to construct your Chantelle Pants, with Emma supporting you throughout
As the course progresses, you will be supported step by step as you construct your trousers, building your dressmaking skills and confidence as you go.
This is a structured yet relaxed introduction to dressmaking, designed to take you from understanding your pattern through to creating your own handmade garment in a friendly and encouraging environment.
Course Date and Times
Tuesday 20th October
9.30am – 4.30pm
Most participants will complete their garment during the day. However, as everyone works at a different pace, some finishing details may be completed at home, with clear guidance provided.
What You’ll Need to Bring
• A basic sewing kit: small scissors, large scissors, pins or clips, hand sewing needles, fabric marking tool and a seam ripper
• Notebook and pen for taking notes
• Water bottle (optional)
Materials for Your Garment
You may bring your own fabric or purchase it in the shop during the course, where guidance will be available to help you choose suitable fabrics and quantities.
Fabric requirements, including suggested quantities, are shown in the photographs attached to the pattern listing, alongside sizing information. If you would prefer to purchase your fabric in advance, please refer to these images when selecting your fabric and requirements, or feel free to pop into the shop for advice beforehand (or arrive a few minutes earlier than your workshop)!
Attendees receive 10% off shop purchases over £25 made on the day of the class only, as part of your workshop benefits.
Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided throughout the session – sewing always runs better with refreshments.
Lunchtime
We’ll take a break of approximately 30 minutes for lunch during the day.
You’re very welcome to bring a packed lunch with you, and we have a fridge in the Sewing Studio if you’d like to keep it cool. Alternatively, Ashby has plenty of lovely cafés, bakeries and places to pick up something for lunch, all within easy walking distance. We even have a café right here in Rushtons Yard, directly opposite the shop.
Venue & Studio Information
The Sewing Studio is equipped with Janome 5060QDC sewing machines, overlockers, ironing stations and Oliso irons. Classes take place in small groups of 5–6 people to ensure individual attention.
The studio is located within The Fabric Boutique at 5 Rushtons Yard, Ashby de la Zouch, LE65 1AL. Please note there is a flight of stairs leading to the studio from the shop floor.
For your comfort, there is a toilet and handwashing sink within the studio, as well as a small fridge available if you would like to keep any refreshments or cold drinks chilled during the session.
Parking is available nearby. There is Rushtons Yard car park adjacent to the shop; however, this has a maximum stay of 3 hours and charges apply, so it is not ideal for this workshop as you would need to move your car during the session.
We recommend using the long-stay car park on South Street, which is only a short walk away. Charges also apply.
Please arrive 10 minutes before the session so we can begin promptly.
Booking Information
Pre-booking is essential as places are limited. Full payment is required to secure your place.
• Places are confirmed once full payment has been received
• Payment is required at the time of booking
• Gift cards can be used towards workshop fees
• A minimum of 3 participants is required for the course to run
• Courses are for adults aged 18+
Cancellation Policy
We completely understand that sometimes plans change and unexpected things happen. However, as a small independent business, a great deal of time and preparation goes into organising each of our workshops. Places are very limited, tutors are booked in advance and costs are committed based on the number of people attending.
For this reason, we do have a cancellation policy in place. We hope you understand that this enables us to continue offering our small, friendly workshops while being fair to everyone involved.
If you need to cancel your place:
• If you cancel 14 days or more before the workshop, we will be happy to offer you a full refund or transfer your booking to another available workshop.
• If you cancel less than 14 days before the workshop, we are unable to offer a refund or transfer. At this stage, tutors and other costs have already been committed and, with our workshops limited to just a small number of places, it can be very difficult to fill a space at short notice.
If we need to cancel:
If The Fabric Boutique needs to cancel a workshop due to insufficient numbers or unforeseen circumstances, you will, of course, receive a full refund.
Where a refund is due, we will process it promptly. Please allow 7–10 working days for the funds to appear back in your account.
Thank you for your understanding and for supporting our small independent business.