2-Day Workshop // 23rd & 24th May // 10am - 4pm // Level: Experienced Beginner // Cost: £195 // Places Available: 8 // Instructor: Cassandra Belanger //
Discover the joy of creating your own clothes as you build confidence, learn new skills, and bring a custom-fit garment to life. Perfect for beginners ready to take the next step, this friendly, supportive class makes sewing feel exciting, achievable, and fun.
About this course
Ever wished you could copy your favourite clothes in a different fabric, fit, or style? In this workshop, you’ll learn how to reverse-engineer a garment, develop a paper pattern and recreate it into something uniquely yours. It’s a creative, sustainable approach to sewing your own clothes—helping you waste less, learn more, and wear what you make with pride. Give your clothes a second story!
In this block, you’ll expand your essential sewing skills while learning basic pattern drafting and developing a new garment from one of your favourite existing garments in your wardrobe. All body shapes and sizes are warmly welcomed. Our studio is an LGBTQI+ friendly space, and people of all genders, sizes, and backgrounds are encouraged to join us.
Topics Covered & Outcomes
Basic pattern cutting skills
Methods for creating a new pattern from an existing garment
Garment construction and sewing instructions
Using a bodice block for pattern cutting
Pattern hacking (making changes to an existing sewing pattern that will create a design that is different from the original)
Approaches to zero waste pattern cutting
Determining fabric and haberdashery requirements
Skill Level
Experienced Beginners: You need to have basic knowledge of how to use a sewing machine and have sewn at least one project.
Course Cost Includes
Use of 230DC Janome computerized sewing machine each. We have a sewing machine available for each student, although you can bring your own if you like.
Use of overlockers and coverlocker
You Will Need to Bring
A basic sewing supplies kit. Here is what we recommend for a well-stocked kit.
Fabric and haberdashery of your choice
Thread (available to purchase at the studio)
French curve and dressmaking ruler (some are available to borrow at the studio)
Patterns for pattern hacking if you take this approach
A lidded cup for hot drinks; tea and coffee will be provided
Booking Your Place
To book your place on this course, you will pay a non-refundable booking deposit of £50. The remaining balance is due no later than 14 days PRIOR to course start. Once you’ve booked a place on the course, you will receive the details to bank transfer the final amount. We divide course costs in this way to avoid additional external fees. Please familiarise yourself with our Terms & Conditions before making your booking.
Subsidised Places
In response to the cost of living crisis, we offer one subsidised seat per class to ease the burden on our community. If you are committed to learning and experiencing financial hardship, please reach out.
More Info:
During class tea and coffee will be available.
All of our classes are suitable for over 18s, younger crafters may be accommodated if accompanied by a participating adult but please contact us before booking
If the workshop you were looking at is fully booked drop us an email and we’ll add you to the waiting list.
If you need to cancel, we need at least two weeks notice. Please read our cancellation policy before booking.
Any Questions?
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.
The Stitchery operates under a business model of full transparency. If you have any questions about how we cost our courses and what the breakdown of costs is, please feel free to get in touch for more information.
Cancellation & Course Fees Refund
Because of the popularity of our courses and the limited number of spaces available, we've now introduced a Cancellation & Refund Policy. If you cancel your booking 14 or more full days before the start date of your course or workshop, you will be refunded the balance of your fees. This is equivalent to your full course fees minus your non-refundable deposit.
If you decide to cancel your place in less than 14 days before the course start date or during the course, a refund is not guaranteed. In this situation we shall review the circumstances of the cancellation before deciding on an appropriate solution.
If for any reason you change your mind and need to cancel your booking, please email us (info@thestitcherystudio@gmail.com) immediately so that we can release your place to someone on the waiting list.