General Dressmaking

The Party Frock: General Dressmaking Course

When and where will the lessons take place?

The course will take place on a Tuesday morning from 9:30am til 12 noon. The class is held at the Grange Farm Hobbies Centre, Wesley Rd, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire DN16 1SA. If you need directions to find the venue, please contact The Party Frock on 01652 658516 or enquiries@thepartyfrock.co.uk. Please specify on your enrolment form which course you are attending.

How long does the course run for?

The course runs in term time only and is currently 6 weeks up to half term and then a further 6 weeks to continue up to the Easter holidays. Please refer to course dates for an exact timetable. The length of each course will be determined by the North Lincolnshire school term dates.

What will I be learning?

Sewing techniques spanning a variety of skill levels will be taught, such as how to insert a zip, using bias binding, creating pockets in a garment, making adjustments to dressmaking patterns to improve the fit and many more. The techniques will be chosen week by week to suit the needs of all of the students.

Throughout the course you will be encouraged to create a small portfolio and keep a reflective journal of your work.

Is this course suitable for beginners?

The course is suitable for many skill levels from beginner to intermediate seamstresses.

How much does the course cost?

This course costs £95 per half term (based on a 6 week half term, price will vary if the term is longer). A deposit of £30 must be paid when booking to secure your place, as there is only 12 places per course. The remaining balance must be paid 2 weeks prior to starting the course. Please see terms and conditions on the enrolment form for further information. Please contact if you wish to discuss payment further.

What if I miss a week?                                                                                    

Please, where possible attend each session, as there will not always be time to catch up in further sessions. The course will run for 6 weeks, then a contiuation one will begin after the school holidays, so if you know you may not be able to attend most sessions, please consider booking a course you will be able to fully attend.

Do I need my own sewing machine?

It is advisable to bring your own sewing machine as it is better to learn on the machine you will be using at home as there can be a lot of variety between different machines. The Party Frock does, however, have a limited supply of sewing machines available during lessons for students that do not own their own. Please note that Party Frock sewing machines cannot be taken home with students.

Will there be a break and refreshments during class?

Yes we will have a 10-15 minute break at an appropriate stage in the lesson. There will be teas and coffees available from the cafe at 50p a cup, and I always bring the biscuit tin!

Is this an accredited course?

There is no qualification at the end of the course, but you will learn skills for life. This means students get to have more of an input into the course, as there is no set criterion that you must follow.

What do I need to bring with me to class?

Your sewing machine if you have one and a pair of fabric scissors and paper scissors. A notebook, pen and pencil would be handy too. Each week we will discuss the following week’s lesson to ensure you have plenty of time to organise supplies for the following week. Please refer to the kit list of other suggested items that you may need.

Basic sewing kits will be available to purchase no less than 2 weeks in advance of the sewing class start date, allowing time to receive orders from my wholesaler. I will endeavour to have items such as sewing machine needles and bobbins available to purchase during each lesson at minimal cost.

Fabric, notions (e.g. thread, interfacing, buttons, zips) and patterns are not provided as standard, but they will be discussed with you at least one week before you need them, so that you can purchase them before the next lesson.  I will have a selection of dressmaking patterns available for use during classes, but this is a limited stock and they are not current patterns.

Kit list

This is a suggested list of kit you may need during your sewing classes and beyond:

• Fabric scissors
• Snips
• Unpicker/seam ripper
• Pins
• Pin cushion
• Safety pins
• Machine needles
• Hand sewing needles
• Needle threader
• Tailor’s chalk
• Loop turner
• Folder with punch pockets for your portfolio*
• Paper scissors*
• Tape measure
• Ruler and set square*

A kit can be purchased through The Party Frock for £19, or £13.50 without fabric scissors.

If you would like to order a wooden metre ruler at £7.50 or aluminium metre ruler at £10, please make a note of this when booking the course and pay for it along side your kit and enrolment fee. This is not a necessity but will come in handy when working on some projects

*Please note the kit to order does not include a folder & inserts, ruler & set square or paper scissors.

Please tick the relevant box on your enrolment form and pay the additional fee alongside your enrolment fee.