A flexible skills‑focused course below university level, taken with a lighter timetable to fit around work or personal commitments.
Not sure what this course level means? Use our course level explainer to help guide you through the different levels.
Are you ready to take your fashion journey to the next level? This dynamic five-part Advanced Fashion Course series is designed for adult learners, fashion students, emerging designers, and passionate makers, who already have experience using sewing machines and are eager to deepen their technical expertise using industry-standard methods and heavy-duty machinery.
Each 5-week course is an intensive, hands-on deep dive into advanced techniques in fashion fundamentals, pattern cutting, sewing, jersey, and independent garment development. Taught in focused, skill-building components rather than full garments, the series encourages experimentation, critical making, and technical mastery, preparing learners for professional opportunities, further education, or independent fashion ventures.
All patterns are drafted from personal measurements or block patterns, no commercial patterns used, giving learners the opportunity to gain confidence in product development and eventually apply freedom and skill to take full creative control. Throughout the series, students build a comprehensive technical file: a personal archive of patterns, samples, and process documentation to serve as a valuable reference for portfolios, job applications, university submissions, or future projects.
Advanced fashion introductions includes a recap to some key fashion techniques in sewing, pattern cutting, drafting and manufacture as well as sketchbook tips and tricks. The course is perfect for anyone starting a HE Fashion course in October who needs a reminder of techniques and machinery.
Advanced Pattern Cutting will recap basic techniques and build on these to develop more creative and technical skills with advanced pattern cutting including cuffs, collars, reveres, jacket and outerwear details as well as volume and shape creating manipulation.
Advanced Sewing will recap basic techniques and build on these to develop more creative and advanced techniques such as twin-needle stitching, a range of seams and hems, binding machine and sewing more intricate details such as sleeve insertion and collars.
Details to be confirmed.
In this final capstone module, students lead their own independent project from concept to outcome, with tutor guidance and critical support. You will be using the developed trousers / jeans patterns from workshop 2. as a starting point in developing your own trousers or utilise an existing block as a starting point. Whether working in jersey or woven, the goal is to apply all previously learned skills to a self-developed outcome. The outcome can serve as a portfolio-quality sample or stepping stone to your next opportunity.
Learners must have completed the Advanced Fashion Recap or Advanced Pattern Cutting course, or demonstrate established understanding of pattern drafting and garment manufacturing skills using industrials machinery in preparation to be attending this course.
Learners are expected to source their own materials for the workshop with tutor support.
Please note: Due to the high demand of these part time courses, if you start a course but can no longer carry on, you will not be eligible for a full course refund. If you enrol on a course and the start date passes, you will not be eligible for a course material fee refund. If you get remitted fees and attend your course for free, if you do not attend the first two sessions without letting the tutor know or without valid reason, you will be withdrawn from the course. Many thanks for your understanding.
Start Date:
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Time:
Location:
Adams Building Stoney Street, Nottingham, NG1 1NG
Fees:
Tuition fees may be waived for this course if you are in receipt of certain benefits or have a low income. Please see our Tuition fee information page for more information.
£78.00
Course Code:
Parent course code:C050563 Child course code: Q050564
Start Date:
End Date:
Time:
Location:
Adams Building Stoney Street, Nottingham, NG1 1NG
Fees:
Tuition fees may be waived for this course if you are in receipt of certain benefits or have a low income. Please see our Tuition fee information page for more information.
£78.00
Course Code:
Parent course code:C050565 Child course code: Q050566
Start Date:
End Date:
Time:
Location:
Adams Building Stoney Street, Nottingham, NG1 1NG
Fees:
Tuition fees may be waived for this course if you are in receipt of certain benefits or have a low income. Please see our Tuition fee information page for more information.
£78.00
Course Code:
Parent course code:C050567 Child course code: Q050568
Start Date:
End Date:
Time:
Location:
Adams Building Stoney Street, Nottingham, NG1 1NG
Fees:
Tuition fees may be waived for this course if you are in receipt of certain benefits or have a low income. Please see our Tuition fee information page for more information.
£78.00
Course Code:
Parent course code:C050569 Child course code: Q050570
Start Date:
End Date:
Time:
Location:
Adams Building Stoney Street, Nottingham, NG1 1NG
Fees:
Tuition fees may be waived for this course if you are in receipt of certain benefits or have a low income. Please see our Tuition fee information page for more information.
£78.00
Course Code:
Parent course code:C054022 Child course code: Q054023
5 weeks.
College certificate
All participants must demonstrate prior experience with machine handling. This can be fulfilled by completing the Advanced Fashion Recap course, or by providing evidence of existing skills.
Walk away with a powerful technical file, refined skills, and the confidence to move forward in fashion education, employment, or independent design.
You will receive verbal feedback throughout the course.
You can progress to other textile courses at Nottingham College (see course content above).
Select career:
Potential Earnings
£58,112.55
Average Earnings
£33,258.70
Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).
The number of job postings in this career for previous years starting from 2023, the current year and projections for future years until 2034.
Sources: The Labour Force Survey (LFS), Working Futures (projections) data, and Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES).
Art, Performance and Design
Active Learning
Monitoring
Critical Thinking
Mathematics
Learning Strategies
Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.
Course Area:
Student Type:
Course Type:
Full-time Further Education course
Course Area:
Student Type:
Course Type:
Part-time Further Education course
Course Area:
Student Type:
Course Type:
Part-time Further Education course