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Adult and Community Learning

Dressmaking Alternations - Resize, Repair or Redesign Garments: Tue 29 Sept, 19:00-21:00

Mode of study

Part Time

Start date

29/09/2026

Fee

£120.00

Entry requirements

All learners need to be a minimum 19 years old.

Teaching staff

An experienced and enthusiastic tutor.

Course Code

CL281A1E

Duration

6-weeks

Location

St Albans Campus

Awarding body

Generic award - no awarding body

Assessment

Class discussion, demonstrations, class/individual feedback and quality of pieces.

About the course

New for 26/27 for learners who want to extend the life of their clothing, reduce textile waste, and develop practical dressmaking alteration skills. Whether you want to achieve a better fit, repair damaged garments, or give old favourites a fresh new look, this course will provide hands-on techniques to help you transform and personalise your wardrobe. Do you want to alter your clothes for a better fit, repair that well-loved sweater, mend children's holey trousers, or save those comfy socks from landfill? Perhaps you have a gorgeous old dress that you love for its fabric but no longer enjoy wearing because of its shape. Throughout the 6 weeks we will explore a range of alteration and repair techniques, including lengthening and shortening garments, taking in waistbands, adding inserts and false hems, carrying out internal repairs, visible mending and decorative patching, fusing and covering holes, simple zip replacements, and easy restyling methods (depending on garment complexity and individual skill levels). You should be confident using a sewing machine independently, as machine sewing will be required throughout the course. Some activities will also involve hand sewing techniques. Please bring a selection of your own garments to work on (nothing precious, delicate, heavily embroidered, or beaded at this stage). Cleaned charity shop or Vinted purchases provide excellent practice pieces. What you need to bring, click on Course Additionality
Materials provided by learners: You will need a basic sewing kit, including: Fabric scissors, Paper scissors,Tape measure, Seam ripper (unpicker), Pins, Sewing needles (and a needle threader if required), Quality sewing thread to match your garments (e.g. Gutermann, Coats, Sylko). You may also wish to bring additional haberdashery items, although these will be discussed during the first lesson, such as: Elastic, Lace, Spare fabrics (especially stretchy jerseys and elastane/Lycra), Iron-on interfacing These materials can often be salvaged from old garments, such as unwanted T-shirts or odd socks.

Please contact us to find out if you require any specific equipment for this particular course.

Class discussion, demonstrations, class/individual feedback and quality of pieces.