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Key details

Course area
Fashion and Textiles
Student type
Courses for 19+ students
Course type
Part-time Further Education course
Course level
Other
Start date
End date
Thursday 3rd December 2026
Time
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Location
Middle Street Resource Centre 74 Middle Street, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 2AR
Fees
£125.00
Course code
Parent course code:C060506 Child course code: Q060507
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Course introduction

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).

Further develop your ability to copy and recreate garments by refining pattern cutting techniques. This course focuses on accuracy, fit, and adapting cloned patterns creatively. 

This course is designed for learners who already have some basic sewing or dressmaking experience and are ready to build their skills further. It is ideal if you can confidently use a sewing machine and understand simple garment construction and now want to develop more advanced techniques. This course will support your progression from basic projects to more structured garments, including the potential to create a garment with a lining and draft an A-line skirt. This improvers course will deepen your dressmaking skills and introduce you to more advanced techniques and terminology.

By the end of the course, learners will be able to:  

  • Construct garments such as dresses or shirts with greater accuracy
  • Apply professional finishes, including necklines and hems
  • Set in and finish sleeves
  • Use bias binding for clean seam finishes
  • Create elasticated cuffs
  • Explore fabric manipulation techniques
  • Develop confidence working with different fabrics
  • Begin drafting simple patterns (e.g. A-line skirt)
  • Understand key dressmaking terms and processes used in industry 

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.

Course information

Non-accredited

No formal qualifications or experience is required. 

You should attend regularly, be punctual and have a good standard of written and spoken English. 

All students are required to complete a mandatory course workbook (Unique Learning Programme) each week, with the support of their course tutor.  

Tutors will give regular verbal and written feedback.  You will be required to complete a short workbook and encouraged to set your own personal targets as part of this course.  

The course tutor can discuss appropriate opportunities for if you wish to further your learning in this subject area. Information will be made available to you about other course opportunities at Nottingham College.  You will have the opportunity to access external Careers Guidance to aid your next steps. 

Access to Higher Education: Creative Industries (Fashion)

Advanced Fashion - Part-time

Appliqué by Hand for Beginners/Improvers - Part-time