With Elaine Hobden

For adults

Join the Magic of Dressmaking:

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced hobbyist, this course offers a magical journey of creating garments with a professional finish. The skills acquired will stay with you, ensuring an absorbing and useful hobby for years to come. Feel free to bring new fabrics or give a second life to cherished textiles from your wardrobe.

About the Instructor:

Hello, I'm Elaine Hobden, a lifelong garment maker with a passion for sharing the art of dressmaking. I honed my skills through a City and Guilds Fashion and Design course, where I learned the intricacies of designing garments, drafting and cutting patterns, and the professional techniques of garment construction. My unique touch involves combining hand embroidery with machine embroidery to add a personal flair to my designs.

Course Highlights:

In this comprehensive dressmaking course, I'll guide beginners through a journey of creativity and skill enhancement. Here's what you can expect:

• Fundamentals of Dressmaking:

  • Learn the correct method of measuring the body and adjusting patterns for a perfect fit.
  • Understand pattern markings, laying patterns, and transferring markings for precise cutting.

• Mastering Your Sewing Machine:

  • Gain a thorough understanding of your sewing machine's capabilities.
  • Learn techniques for buttonholes, zip insertions, seam finishings, hemming, gathering, and more.

• Pattern Alteration and Design:

  • Explore the art of pattern alteration to match your unique ideas and preferences.

• Sustainable Dressmaking:

  • Embrace the excitement of using new fabrics or repurposing previously worn garments, sheets, and quilt covers to create sustainable clothing.

What to Bring:

• Your own sewing machine
• Fabric of your choice
• Patterns for your project
• Sewing kit

Course Structure:

• First Session: Dress Making Fundamentals

  • This is an essential class if you are new to dressmaking and do not know how to read a pattern, measure yourself, and the basic tools for dressmaking. 

• Subsequent Sessions: 6-Week Dressmaking Course

  • Each person, once starting their own garment is on an individual learning journey. As each garment is so different from each other it means you are working through your own problem solving techniques.
  • You will receive advice and tuition on the techniques required for your choice of garment.
  • We will cover intricate techniques that result in a professionally finished garment that will add to your learning and understanding of garment construction.
  • You will receive advice on what your machines are capable of and how to use the various feet available to make jobs more professional in appearance i.e. invisible zip foot
  • Many attendees have re-signed onto the course time and again have gone on to make many excellent garments and have learned so much by doing it together with Elaine's guidance and supervision.

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2025 7-Week Dressmaking Courses

Monday 6th January - Monday 17th February

Price: £75 per person
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Click here to book

Monday 24th February - Monday 7th April

Price: £75 per person
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Click here to book

Monday 28th April - Monday 23rd June (Monday 5th and 26th May are Bank Hols)

Price: £75 per person
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Click here to book

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We have a coffeeshop in our centre if you would like to get refreshments before the class but we suggest doing this 15 minutes beforehand. 

If you have any questions, call us on 01489 779471.