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Date: Saturday, July 25
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Time: 9.30am–4pm
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Duration: 6.5hrs
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Format: In-person, hands-on workshop
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Location: 92 Leveson St, North Melbourne
- Skill level: Beginner to Intermediate. Some basic sewing knowledge is helpful, though prior experience with pattern adjustments is not required.
Best suited to
This workshop is designed for sewists who want to develop their confidence in fitting and adjusting patterns to achieve a better result from both commercial and self-drafted patterns.
It is ideal for:
- Beginner to intermediate sewists who have struggled with the fit of commercial patterns
- Home sewists wanting to understand why fitting problems occur and how to fix them
- Anyone who has experienced recurring fit issues and wants practical, expert-led solutions
- Sewists looking to build their knowledge of industry fitting techniques
Participants should have some basic sewing knowledge, though no prior experience with pattern adjustments is needed.
Overview
In this hands-on workshop participants will work through a series of practical fitting and adjustment exercises under the guidance of practitioners with over 30 years of specialist fitting experience.
The day covers a broad range of common fitting challenges - from bust and bodice adjustments through to crotch, shoulder, and sleeve corrections. Whether working with a purchased pattern or one you have drafted yourself, you will develop the skills and understanding to identify what needs fixing and know how to fix it.
Mock-ups of garments are provided throughout the day to demonstrate how each technique works in practice, alongside real-life examples of both ill-fitting and correctly fitted garments.
What you will learn
Participants will develop practical skills across several key areas of pattern fitting and adjustment.
Bust Adjustments
- Understand bust darts and how to manipulate them to suit your shape
- Move darts around the bodice for improved fit
- How to measure correctly and transfer dart adjustments to your pattern
Bodice Adjustments
- Adjust bodices and dresses that are lifting or drooping at the hem
- Fix bunching under the arm and understand what causes drag lines
- Sleeve fixes and easy solutions for common issues
- How to improve comfort and fit by adjusting your existing pattern
Crotch Adjustments
- Techniques for effectively adjusting crotch fit in pants
Shoulder Adjustments
- Adjust shoulder slope to suit your posture
- Modify shoulder width for a personalised fit
- Adjust the sleeve head for better alignment
Additional Fitting Techniques
- A broad range of further industry techniques and fitting insights drawn from over 30 years of specialist experience
By the end of the workshop participants will have a thorough understanding of why fitting problems occur and the practical skills to address them confidently.
What is provided
- Mock-ups of garments to demonstrate each technique
- Examples of ill-fitting and correctly fitted garments for reference
- Patternmaking paper and long rulers for class exercises
- Ongoing instructor support throughout the day
What to bring
- Pens, pencils, and an eraser
- Notebook
- Small ruler (optional)
Spots are limited — Book now!
Inclusivity Statement
The Pattern Making Class welcomes participants of all backgrounds, identities, and skill levels, including trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals. We strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment for everyone.