The introduction to pattern making course is self-led and will take you around 2-3 weeks to work through spending a few hours each week going through the materials. It lays the foundations for learning pattern making techniques. It is more of a theory course than practical although there are some optional practical tasks you can complete.

The Be Your Own Designer course builds on the base knowledge with modules covering specific subsections of pattern and garment making for instance pleats and gathers (and the many different ways and places to use them in a garment), facing and finishing and jersey pattern making. We’ll also cover fitting in depth.
The Be Your Own Designer course includes 9 modules spread over 12 months with lots of help and guidance on your specific design questions. It is the ultimate pattern making course for home dressmakers as it not only teaches you how to make patterns and garments to a professional standard, it also will help you make the most of commercial patterns too, for a quick make that’s just right for you.

You can do as little or as much as you like each month. To keep up to speed and be ready for the next module, you may want to dedicate 6-10 hours per month to the course including time for completeing practical projects. If you wish to spend more time developing your skills, there will always be lots of ideas for further learning and development.

There will be a 1 hour live session each month. This will be an evening session around 7pm UK time.

The course includes practical projects such as designing and sketching, collating and editing inspiration, and creating patterns and toiles in both half and full scale.

These hands-on tasks will allow you to apply your new-found knowledge directly to 3D projects. By sampling techniques and practical pattern making, you will gain a deeper understanding of garment construction, fit, and proportion.

This practical approach will help to solidify concepts that can feel confusing in theory. Engaging in these projects will enable you to develop critical problem-solving skills, ensuring you can translate your ideas into functional dressmaking patterns with confidence.

The 12-month course consists of 9 core modules, delivered over the year.

In months where there is no new module, the month is dedicated to catching-up, further development of concepts and additional support, focusing on reinforcing your previous learning and deepening your knowledge through fabrics and techniques masterclasses. These resources are accessed via the course portal.

Each month, you’ll receive two emails: one at the beginning outlining the module's contents and suggested learning path, and another midway through the month to check your progress, recap the live session, and offer additional resources and support.

Regular check-ins ensure ongoing feedback and help you stay on track with your learning.

Yes, you can purchase individual modules if you're only interested in learning specific techniques.

I basic level of pattern making knowledge will be required so you may wish to also purchase and complete the Introduction to Pattern Making course before starting additional modules.

The course is designed to be flexible, allowing you to focus on the areas that most interest you. This gives you the freedom to choose and learn at your own pace without committing to the full 12-month structure.

Whether you're looking to refine your pattern making or master specific techniques, each module provides targeted, in-depth learning to help you achieve your goals.

When you purchase a stand alone module you will not get access to the live sessions or the course portal but you can ask any questions and get feedback from your tutor via email.

All the course modules are yours to access any time you like, for life. you can go back and review modules and access a download resources at any time.

There will be a 1 hour live session each month. This will be hosted by Virtual Sewing Room in collaboration with My Handmade Wardrobe. This will be an evening session around 8pm UK time.

The sessions will be led by your tutor Sarah Laws*, Supported by one of the the VSR team members to field your questions and assist with technical issues.

Each session will include a brief talk on subjects around the current module, a check in on your progress and achievements and a Q & A session.

These will be interactive sessions to engage with your fellow learners and your tutor.

All session s will be recorded and a recording and summary will be emailed to you after the call. If you are unavailable on the day or time of the call you can catch up on the recording at a later date and email any questions you have to your tutor.

*if in extreme circumstances your tutor is unwell or unavailable, the session will be led by an experienced and knowledgeable alternative tutor.

There are lots of downloadable resources included each month to support your learning and and help you complete the practical exercises and projects.

These include design prompt sheets, measurements sheets, pattern cutting tutorials with diagrams, full size patterns and half scale blocks. Plus lots more!

These are all yours to download and keep to help you with all your future pattern cutting projects.

The course is purchased as a one-off payment or on a 12-month subscription. Both options cover the full course. There will be no automatic renewal at the end of the 12 months but we will be in touch to offer further learning opportunities.  

The subscription is valid for the entire year. If you choose to stop participating in the course, please note that it will not end your current subscription. If you choose to pause the course to take a break from you learning, you will still be able to access all modules and the course portal. If this is the case please keep in touch and we may be able to arrange for you to join anther future cohort to resume your learning and to attend the live sessions at a later date.

We do not offer partial refunds if you choose to cancel your annual membership halfway through your term.

Refunds

All course purchases and subscription plans are non-refundable. We do not offer partial or full refunds on any courses, apart in compliance with your statutory rights according to the Consumer Rights Act 2015. See our Ts&Cs for more details.