Work for us

Join Abingdon & Witney College, an award-winning employer

Work for Us

Sewing - Block Pattern Making - Bodice

Course code: IPXV306P

Subject area: Homecrafts

Study level: Part Time

Course level: U

Course details

Course time:

10:00 - 16:00

Days of week:

Saturday & Sunday

Course date:

17th May 2025 - 18th May 2025

Course location:

Cheney School

Contact details

Phone:

01235 555 585

This weekend course covers all aspects of flat pattern cutting to enable you to draft a bodice and sleeve block using your body measurements, make and fit a toile and learn pattern adaptations (i.e. how move darts, collars, sleeves and openings). As a minimum requirement you should be confident in making skirts and blouses using commercial patterns.
During this course you will learn how to take body measurements and using these measurements draft a bodice and sleeve block. A toile is made, and the fit checked before a blouse or a top pattern is cut of your chosen design.

1. Drafting the bodice block and sleeve.2. Fitting of the toile and adjustments. 3. Pattern adaptations exercises 4. Blouse or top design and fashion trends5. Cut the pattern for your chosen design

(Do not buy any materials until your course is confirmed as running.)

Sewing machines are available but you are welcome to bring your own.

Items to bring with you:A4 Ring binder and 12 plastic sleevesA4 lined and plain paperPen and HB pencil/rubber/sharpener and coloured pencilsPaper glueCalculatorSet square/metre rule (if you have one)Sellotape/stapler/stapler remover (tutor can provide)1 metre of medium weight calicoPlain pattern paper (can be purchased from tutor)Fashion curves (if you have them)Please collect ideas/suggestions for blouses/tops cut out from magazines

Basic sewing equipment:Calico, paper and embroidery scissors, colour-headed pins, hand sewing needles, tape measure, tailors chalk, marking pen Specialist pattern cutting equipment and books will be made available by the tutor for use during the course.

In order to avoid disappointment, it is advisable to enrol at least 2½ weeks prior to the course starting. We will confirm course information two weeks prior to the start date.

Please bring lunch and refreshments with you.Free parking onsite.

Abingdon and Witney College is subject to Ofsted regulation and is required to work with all its students to make sure they understand Government initiatives around Safeguarding, Prevent and Fundamental British Values. Information on these matters will be shared with you during your course.

You will also be asked to complete

What next?
You will be able to use the skills, knowledge and techniques you have learnt and apply them to drafting more advanced blocks and patterns. It is possible to enrol on other block courses or sign up for a Dressmaking Improvers course.
Oxfordshire Adult Learning offer a wide range of similar workshops and courses, please check our website for further information.
Entry criteria
As a minimum requirement you should be confident in making skirts and blouses using commercial patterns. This course is suitable for learners who have successfully completed a skirt, a blouse and/or dress using a commercial pattern or have successfully completed the Pattern Drafting Skirt or Trouser Block course and have an interest in design and pattern making.

Courses can fill fast, so please enrol early to avoid disappointment. Decisions on whether a course is to run are made two weeks prior to the start date - an email will be sent to you should there be changes to your course or if it is cancelled. Please check your inbox leading up to your course, including the junk folders. For anyone without an email account, our Admissions team will phone you instead.

For the first week of the course you will need to bring a valid form of identification; this includes passport, driving licence, debit/credit card, Birth Certificate or National Insurance card.

Please note - you should be 19 years old or over at 31st August 2024 prior to starting the course.

Fee information
Additional costs:(a) Pre-prepared paper for the draft £2 payable at the first session.(b) Spare pattern paper £1 per metre, pattern card £4 per sheet (optional) and (c) medium calico £4.80 per metre. (Also available to purchase from the tutor)

Courses offered by the college are fully or partly funded by the Government and the published fee takes account of this funding.

Before starting a course, the College is required to check you meet conditions relating to that funding, e.g. age, residency status within the UK/EEA, prior qualification level and employment status. In some circumstances (such as with online enrolments), these checks can only be completed after you have enrolled and paid.

If you are unable to pay in full for this course at the time of enrolment, and the course tuition fee is £300 or more, an instalment plan is available. If this is your preference, please do not enrol online but rather call the Admissions Team on 01235 216400 to enrol.

Once enrolled, Admissions will take the first instalment payment from you and pass on your details to the Finance team who will email you to set-up your payment plan. Please return a fully completed instalment plan to Finance as failure to do so could result in being withdrawn from your course.

The rules on fee reduction are complicated, we would encourage you to talk to our Admissions Team on 01235 216400 to discuss these options. You can find more information on our Fees and Bursaries page - search "Fees and Bursaries" at the top of the page.

Course fees

19+ Fee:

Tuition Fee: £115.20

Exam Fee: £0.00

Total Cost: £115.20

19+ Reduced Fee:

Tuition Fee: £57.60

Exam Fee: £0.00

Total Cost: £57.60

Qualifications received
As this is a non-accredited course, there is no formal qualification. However, you will be asked to complete activities that demonstrate how you are progressing on your course.
Learning & method assessment
As this is a non-accredited course, informal methods of assessment will be used.
To track your progress and achievement you will be required to complete a short document.