Looking for your next dressmaking project? Whether you love the relaxed elegance of a woven wrap dress or the comfort of a flattering knit style, this workshop is the perfect opportunity to create a handmade dress you'll wear again and again.
In this full-day workshop, you'll choose to sew either the Zadie Dress or the Appleton Dress, depending on your preferred style and fabric.
The Zadie Dress is a relaxed wrap dress designed in woven fabrics, featuring a waist tie fastening, softly pleated bodice, inseam pockets and your choice of 3/4 length sleeves or a sleeveless dropped-shoulder version. With no zips or buttonholes, it's a satisfying project that introduces a range of essential dressmaking techniques.
The Appleton Dress is a classic knit wrap dress with a crossover bodice, deep V-neckline and built-in waist ties that create a beautifully flattering silhouette. Designed for stretch fabrics, it offers a comfortable fit and is an excellent introduction to sewing with jersey while learning techniques for constructing knit garments.
What You Will Learn
Depending on your chosen project, you will learn:
- Measuring and selecting the correct pattern size
- Understanding and assembling a sewing pattern
- Pattern marking and fabric cutting techniques
- Working with either woven or knit fabrics
- Sewing pleats (Zadie)
- Applying bias binding to finish a neckline (Zadie)
- Constructing a knit neckband (Appleton)
- Sewing inseam pockets (Zadie)
- Constructing a wrap bodice
- Setting sleeves or finishing sleeveless armholes, depending on your chosen version
- Garment assembly and professional finishing techniques
What You Will Need
- A sewing machine in good working order (please let us know when booking if you need to use one of our machines, as availability is limited)
- A basic sewing kit including scissors, pins or clips, tape measure and marking tools
- Fabric and notions required for your chosen pattern (a detailed materials list will be emailed after booking)
- Matching thread
-
A ballpoint/stretch needle if sewing the Appleton Dress
What we supply
- Your chosen pattern either the Zadie dress or the Appleton dress
- This will be posted to you in the two weeks before the class so you are able to prepare the pattern before the class. We will ask you to either trace out or cut out the size you would liek to sew, we are happy to advise on your sizing if you need help choosing.
Level
Next Stage to Improver
This workshop is suitable for anyone who has sewn a few garments before and is ready to develop their dressmaking skills further. Whether you're looking to gain confidence sewing woven garments or want to learn the techniques needed for sewing with jersey fabrics, you'll leave with new skills and a beautiful handmade dress.
Tutor
Angela Best – Read about your tutor here.
Important Information
We carefully plan each workshop to give you the best opportunity to complete your dress during the session. However, sewing speeds vary and some versions may take longer than others. If you don't quite finish during the workshop, we'll ensure you leave feeling confident about completing your garment at home.
A minimum of four participants is required for the workshop to run. If minimum numbers are not reached one week before the workshop date, we will contact you to arrange an alternative date or offer a full refund if rescheduling is not possible.
Why not bring a friend? Book together and receive 10% off both workshop places.
Please read our workshop cancellation policy before booking.
