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Alteration Skills for Beginners/​Improvers — Part-time

Course outline

Community courses are “first steps” for adults to learn new skills, develop confidence, meet others in welcoming classroom. The purpose of courses is to support students into further learning or employment (paid or voluntary).

This course is great for revamping and transforming any garment!

It will include taking measurements for better fitting garments, shorten or lengthening items (dress, trousers coats and jackets) hand sewing and accessories to encourage re- using, recycling and restyling old or new items of clothing. Improve your existing sewing, dressmaking skills and acquire the confidence to produce professional looking items.

“Alteration skills for beginners” course is about engaging with other sewing enthusiasts which can provide you with valuable tips, feedback, inspiration and meeting other like mined people in where the environment relaxed, supportive and encouraging.

This course will put you on the right direction; by focusing on developing your understanding of how to develop your sewing skills. It is suitable for any level of abilities for sewing and for those who wish to improve their existing skills, we will revisit techniques that were covered in previous courses and strengthen skills and knowledge by applying them to new projects and themes. you will be supported by tutor, guidance will be given to students into further learning into employment,

Course knowledge and skills:

Further master these sewing skills and learn new technique.

  • Developing a range of sewing skills for personal projects.
  • To develop an understanding of how alterations work.
  • Take measurements accurately.
  • Working with fabrics, lining and specialised materials.
  • Hand sewing techniques.
  • Garment construction and design.
  • Working with items to Alter and transform to create a prefect fit.
  • Learn how to make free hand patterns.
  • Finishing to a professional standard.

On this course, you will learn to:

  • Use the sewing machine and how it functions, all the attachments!
  • Know your tools and equipment!
  • Seams and seam finishers.
  • Fabrics, materials and threads.
  • Understanding patterns and creating your own patterns to individual projects,
  • Be able to develop skills in becoming creative and design which will challenge the learning.

You should attend regularly and arrive on time to make best progress on course.

You will complete a short diary weekly in class time, to record your progress and receive written tutor feedback.

You will use Microsoft Teams whilst on the course. Microsoft Teams is a free, safe online app used by Nottingham College for tutors to contact students.

Using Teams will also enable you to develop and feel confident using digital skills.

For more information on using Microsoft Teams and the induction process, please visit our Induction Information for Community Students page.

How to apply for this course

Apply now and if you need to pay any course fees, or provide evidence if you wish to claim a fee reduction, we will contact you to let you know how to do this.

For help on completing the online application form, please see our useful apply online guide here.

Choose a course option below and press apply now.

Want to find out more first?

Get in touch by hitting the button below and filling out our enquiry form.

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Location Date / time Fees / reductions
1 Ambergate Rd
Nottingham
NG8 3GD

Start: Wednesday 11th September 2024

End: Wednesday 27th November 2024

Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Tuition fees may be waived for this course if you are in receipt of certain benefits or have a low income. Please see our Fee and Financial Support page to see if you can claim a fee reduction.

Tuition fee: £105

Beginners

Course code: C052756 / Q052757

1 Ambergate Rd
Nottingham
NG8 3GD

Start: Wednesday 4th December 2024

End: Wednesday 26th February 2025

Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Tuition fees may be waived for this course if you are in receipt of certain benefits or have a low income. Please see our Fee and Financial Support page to see if you can claim a fee reduction.

Tuition fee: £105

Improvers

Course code: C052758 / Q052759

Unit 2 Lillington Rd
Bulwell
Nottingham
NG6 8HJ

Start: Thursday 6th March 2025

End: Thursday 22nd May 2025

Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Tuition fees may be waived for this course if you are in receipt of certain benefits or have a low income. Please see our Fee and Financial Support page to see if you can claim a fee reduction.

Tuition fee: £105

Beginners

Course code: C052675 / Q052676

Queens Walk
The Meadows
Nottingham
NG2 2DF

Start: Friday 14th March 2025

End: Friday 13th June 2025

Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm

Tuition fees may be waived for this course if you are in receipt of certain benefits or have a low income. Please see our Fee and Financial Support page to see if you can claim a fee reduction.

Tuition fee: £70

Beginners

Course code: C052859 / Q052860

Queens Walk
The Meadows
Nottingham
NG2 2DF

Start: Friday 14th March 2025

End: Friday 13th June 2025

Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Tuition fees may be waived for this course if you are in receipt of certain benefits or have a low income. Please see our Fee and Financial Support page to see if you can claim a fee reduction.

Tuition fee: £70

Beginners

Course code: C052861 / Q052862

Qualification

Non-accredited

Level Entry Level
Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements but you must be aged 19+.

You will complete a weekly “Student Diary” and so ESOL students should be studying at entry 3 or higher to enrol on a Community course taught by non-ESOL tutor.

Teaching & assessment

Tutors will give weekly verbal and written feedback. You will complete a short workbook and set your own personal targets, as well be progressing though the general course learning outcomes. This will help you and your tutors record progression on the course.

Progression

The course tutor and development workers can advise of other learning opportunities within Community faculty or signpost you to courses in other vocational areas of Nottingham College.

You will have the opportunity to receive progression guidance from an external locally based agency “Futures for You” whilst on the course.

If you are interested in progressing onto leisure courses in your chosen subject, you may have opportunities to do so at Nottingham College or be signposted to other leisure courses in the Nottingham area.

Additional information

Please bring a basic sewing kit which includes:

  • Tape measure.
  • Pins/ pin cushion
  • Seam unpicker.
  • Hand sewing Needles.
  • Tailors chalk
  • Paper scissors
  • Fabric scissors.
  • Notebook, pen and pencil.
  • Threads (colours to match each project)
  • Fabric (anything else that is relevant to the chosen project) - this will be discussed at the first lesson.

All other equipment will be provided.