Dress Making Class

This six-hour class, with a qualified university fashion lecturer, offers tuition in techniques for constructing a dress using a dressmaking pattern, using a sewing machine and an overlocker, working with a dressmaking pattern for the first time.

All fabrics and notions are included, just bring yourselves! (....and maybe a packed lunch, or there are cafes and Sainsbury's nearby)
The dress style changes seasonally.
1st April - 23rd June - Shift Dress (with invisible zipper)
24th June - Sept 30th - Summer Trapeze dress (with tie straps) - great for wearing loose or belted)
1st Oct - 30th Jan - Winter cocoon dress (with grown on short sleeve)

WORKSHOP BREAKDOWN:
MORNING SESSION:
(Practical)
Intro to the sewing machine – winding a bobin / threading / testing your stitches
Understanding all the dials and levers on the sewing machine.
Machine stitching / handstitching / reverse (backstitch)
Identifying and rectifying sewing problems
Advice on machines to buy as a beginner

(Demonstration)
Introduction to Commercial and digital patterns
How to read a commercial / digital pattern
Choosing your first projects as beginners
Understanding your measurements
Fabrics – understanding fabric types, qualities and difficulty in sewing
Calculating and understanding fabric consumption
Important questions to ask your fabric supplier
Preparing fabrics ready for sewing
How to lay your pattern pieces correctly
How to cut out correctly
Marking your pattern pieces ready for sewing

(Practical)
Sewing techniques – what can go wrong?
Using a seam allowance / Sewing in a straight line
Using pins correctly
Pressing / ironing professionally
Using the overlocker for a professional finish
Facings – what are they used for
Interlinings / Interfacing and its uses
Attaching facings, and sewing around curves (armholes and necklines)

LUNCHTIME (30-45 Mins)

AFTERNOON SESSION:

(All Practical)
Inserting an invisible zip (where applicable)
Understanding seam allowances
Pressing techniques
Hemming

There will be a selection of different fabric styles to choose from in your workshop. As there is not time for everyone to cut out individual dresses, these are prepared for you, so please inform us of your dress size beforehand.

Beginners Info:
This workshop is aimed at beginners making their first garment, and we work with standard sizes 4 - 24 or XXS/XS, S/M, L/XL, XXL/ XXXL, depending on the style of dress for that season.
The focus of this workshop is to teach you the dressmaking skills needed to be confident for you to try this at home.
This workshop does not focus on fitting, or made-to-measure garments. We do offer other workshops in these more advanced techniques. Which you will be able to advance to once you have learnt the basics.
It is advised that workshoppers complete the Intro to Sewing workshop beforehand, or have used a sewing machine before. as you will find this workshop easier to manage.

IMPORTANT INFO:
Once you have made a booking, we will send out a size chart for you to select your size from. It is important that you check your emails and spam folder, so you can request a specific size.

It is also advisable to provide a mobile number, should we need to contact you.

If you do not request a specific size by the deadline, you will be able to select a size from our 'reserve rail' on the day. (We can not guarantee your size will be available). We will email you with the size chart and the deadline date for dress size requests.
Please note: We can not prepare dresses on the day, or after the workshop deadline.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
Everything is provided in this workshop.

DO I NEED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION BEFORE I ATTEND?
Yes, you will need to provide your dress size, from the size chart we will send out to you. Please note that dressmaking patterns are NOT your retail size. So it advisable that you check the size chart.

DOOR POLICY.
Please note: Doors close 10 minutes after the start time on all workshops.
We do ask our attendees to be on time. As we will not be able to go over missed content, health and safety once missed. We have had an issue with a lot of people all arriving at different times, late, which disrupts the demonstrations and leaves us with less time to teach, and not completing the workshop. Which in turn, leaves us with complaints from people who have arrived on time. So we are very strict with our door closing policy.
Only one reschedule permitted per booking. We do not offer free reschedules or refunds to latecomers, or outside of our cancellation policy.

WORKSHOP DURATION
This is a 6 hour workshop.

AGE RESTRICTIONS:
This workshop is suitable for 14 years and above. All students under the age of 18, must be accompanied by a participating adult.

• Prepared sewing pack to use on the day.
• Handout.
• Your dress to take home.

This class is great for individuals and couples as well as for a team building activity, birthday, hen do or stag do.

This would also be a nice gift for her, gift for mum, anniversary gift or Father's Day gift.

Craig Parr is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and adheres to COVID-19 government guidelines. They won't run this class if they've had a continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss of or change in their normal sense of taste or smell, in the last 14 days.

See additional precautions taken   

Your safety is important to us!

On entering, we will have sanitiser stations for you to to freshen up. All machinery, sewing stations, and tools you will be using, will be sanitised before you arrive, and between each session.
At your sewing station you will also have sanitiser wipes, should you feel you need to use them.
Our lavatories are communal, but they will be supplied with santiser wipes, hand wash and disposable towels.

Face masks:
We will continue to follow the government guidelines on facial masks. If you are exempt please bring along your exemption badge.

ClassBento donates with every booking to