The Party Frock: Introduction to Dressmaking Crash Course
Our next beginners crash course will be full day Sunday classes at Broughton Village Hall, which will be held on Sunday 14th January 10am til 4pm. We will also be holding further full day Sunday Beginners Crash Course sessions on 31st March, 7th July and a date TBC in October.
Download the enrolment form here!
Thank you for expressing an interest in this course. Here are a few pieces of information which might be of interest to you:
When and where will the lessons take place?
The single session full day course will take place from 10am til 4pm at Broughton Village Hall, 59 High Street, Broughton, near Brigg, DN20 0JX.
The two session course will take place on evening from 6:30pm until 9pm or a one day course on a Sunday from 10am til 4pm. The Scunthorpe class is held at the Grange Farm Hobbies Centre, Wesley Rd, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire DN16 1SA on a Monday. The Brigg class is at Broughton Village Hall, 59 High Street, Broughton, near Brigg, DN20 0JX on a Thursday. If you need directions to find the venues, please contact The Party Frock on 01652 658516 or enquiries@thepartyfrock.co.uk. Please specify on your enrolment form which venue you are attending. For 2023 we will only be holding the class at Broughton Village Hall on a Thursday.
How long does the course run for?
This is a 2 week or one full day intensive crash course. Please see course date information sheet for exact dates for your chose venue.
What will I be learning?
- How to set up and use a sewing machine
- Basic sewing techniques
- Creating simple items on your sewing machine, such as cushion covers and aprons
Throughout the 2 weeks you will gain further knowledge on how to look after your sewing machine, and be prepared to use your sewing machine with confidence without a tutor present. This will prepare you for the general dressmaking course which will begin immediately after the crash course finishes. You may wish to attend this also, please see separate information sheet for further details.
How much does the course cost?
This class costs £47. A deposit of £20 must be paid when booking to secure your place, as there are only 8-10 places per venue. The remaining balance of £27 must be paid 2 weeks prior to starting the course. Please see terms and conditions on the enrolment form for further information and get in touch if you wish to discuss payment options.
What if I miss a week? (two week course only)
Please, where possible attend both session, as there will not be time to catch up in further sessions. The course will run for 2 weeks. If you know you may not be able to attend all sessions, please consider booking a course you will be able to fully attend. The Sunday class is a one off class.
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, as well as biscuits! If you are attending the full day course please bring a pack-up, we will have an ample break to eat!
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. A notebook, pen and pencil would be handy too. For your first lesson you will need 1 metre of fabric of your choice for an envelope cushion cover, I recommend fabrics such as cottons, wool, polycottons, rather than stretch/jersey fabrics or chiffons for beginners as these can be more difficult to manage, along with a reel of thread. Please refer to the kit list of other suggested items that you may need. Week 2 (or the afternoon of the full day course) you can choose from projects such as a tote bag and pouch, apron (kids or adults) or a drawstring PE style bag. The bags take half a metre of fabric and the aprons require a full metre. If you choose to male the drawstring bag you will also need 3m of drawstring cord. A similar type of fabric to the cushion cover project will be ideal!
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.
Kit list
This is a suggested list of kit you may need during your sewing classes and beyond. You may not use every item during the beginners crash course, however they will all be useful at some point!
- 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 an aluminium metre ruler at £11, 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.
Download the enrolment form here!