Tutor: Mel Forrest

Sunday 19 May 10.30-4.30pm

Level - Beginners - 5 places

If you know how to use a sewing machine and would like to try your hand at garment sewing, this one day workshop will be great to build your skills further. Stevie dress is one of Tilly and The Buttons best selling patterns. Wear on a summer’s day with sandals, or over leggings if the weather cools. Stevie is speedy to sew and by the end of the day you’ll have made a simple tunic with a round neckline with grown on sleeves - an excellent wardrobe staple. The Stevie pattern (included in the cost of the workshop) comes in a wide range of UK dress sizes from 6-34. Plus the pattern also has other options for a hip length top with patch pocket, so you can sew more versions after the class.

On this course Mel shows you how to use a dressmaking pattern and guides you through simple garment construction. Techniques covered include pattern lay plans and grain lines, understanding and marking pattern notations, choosing the right size and cutting out your fabric. Plus you’ll also learn stitching seams, hemming, finishing a neckline with a yoke and making a tie or button back loop (hurrah no zips!) to complete your dress.

Suggested fabrics:

Many of Hometown’s fabrics will be suitable for this project - choose something plain for layering and accessorising or pick a pattern and let the fabric do the talking! Light to medium weight woven fabrics such as cotton, linen, cotton-linen, double gauze, chambray, light weight denim, cotton lawn are all suitable. Extra fabric may be needed to match plaids, stripes or directional prints.

Materials and equipment required:

Sizes 6-14 require 2.4m of 112cm wide fabric, or 1.4m of 150cm wide fabric; sizes 16-24 require 2.5m of 112cm wide fabric, or 2.2m of 150cm wide fabric; sizes 26-34 require 2.8m of 112cm wide fabric, or 2.4m of 150cm wide fabric. Please ask us for advice if unsure before buying the fabric.

100m cotton / sew-all thread to match your fabric

40cm of medium fusible interfacing, either Vilene G700 or F220

1 x 12-18mm button and elasticated hairband (optional)

Sewing Machine, including straight sewing foot, spare bobbins. Don’t forget your lead and foot pedal! (If you want to travel light, you can book one of our class sewing machines. Simply add to your basket with your booking).

Basic sewing kit, including sharp fabric scissors/rotary cutter (as you prefer), fabric marking pen/pencil or tailors’ chalk, pins and stitch ripper. Fabric weights and thread snips (if you use them).

Large paper scissors

We recommend that all dressmaking fabrics are pre-washed prior to the class. If you need additional haberdashery supplies, you’re able to purchase these in the shop during each class.

This class is suitable for dressmakers who already know how to use a sewing machine and have some experience of garment sewing. The workshop fee includes your own copy of the Tilly and the Buttons paper pattern, worth £15.00, so you can make more tunics at home. Please note that we will be using the standard sizes on the pattern and will not be covering pattern adjustments during the course. Machine sewn.

Refreshments are provided during the workshop.