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Sewing - Dressmaking - Improvers

Course code: ICKU202P

Subject area: Homecrafts

Study level: Part Time

Course level: U

Course details

Course time:

18:30 - 20:45

Days of week:

Thursday

Course date:

24th Apr 2025 - 10th Jul 2025

Course location:

Gosford Hill School

Contact details

Phone:

01235 555 585

This course is part two of a three-part programme. The course is aimed at learners who have completed the beginner’s dressmaking course or those who have some confidence in their sewing abilities. You will gain confidence and additional skills in the use of a sewing machine, learn garment construction techniques, and follow instructions to produce a skirt.
College sewing machines are available, but you may bring your own machine.

During the course you will: • Learn how to thread your sewing machine. • How to alter the tensions/change the needle/basic maintenance. • How to use the different attachments for different stitches, effects, and finishes. • Produce a range of samples and samplers to illustrate the above • Cover basic sewing techniques to produce a Tote bag.

You will need a basic sewing kit: Fabric scissors, paper scissor, colour headed dressmaking pins, sewing needles, tape measure, tailors chalk or fabric marking pens, tacking thread. Folder with 10 plastic sleeves

Plus:A pattern for your skirt (the tutor will give you details once the course is confirmed) Calico fabric for a toile and sewing thread (1 metre of fabric) Fabric and thread for your skirt plus a zip/interfacing (to be discussed during the course) Pens/pencils/writing paper

NB. If you are bringing your sewing machine, please ensure it is in full working order and you have the manual and attachments with you.

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 note there will be no teaching session on 29/05/2025.

Please bring refreshments, if required.Free parking.

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 monitoring paperwork, which helps us to deliver course content to the highest quality.

What next?
Oxfordshire Adult Learning offer a wide-range of sewing courses including: Dressmaking - Advanced, Quilting and Patchwork for Beginners, Roman Blind or Creative Cushions and Bags workshops
Entry criteria
All welcome.

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
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.

19+ Fee:

£237.60

19+ Reduced Fee:

£118.80

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
Demonstration/Observation
Practical – samples, toile, and a skirt. Self and peer assessment.
Q&A, Discussion, 1:1’s
To track your progress and achievement you will be required to complete a short document.