Using Patchwork Skills to Start a Business - Part-time

Key details

Course area: Fashion and Textiles
Student type: Courses for 19+ students
Course type: Part-time Further Education course
Course level: Entry Level
Start date: Thursday 15th April 2027
End date: Thursday 24th June 2027
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Ramgarhia Sabha Gurdwara 31 Percy Street, Old Basford, Nottingham, NG6 0GF
Fees: £125.00
Course code: Parent course code:C060625 Child course code: Q060626

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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).

This course is perfect if you enjoy being creative and want to develop your patchwork and quilting skills while exploring how your craft could become a small creative enterprise. Whether you are looking to build confidence with textile techniques, develop new making skills, create beautiful handmade products, or explore selling your work, this course provides a supportive and practical environment to help you progress. It is ideal for learners who want to move beyond simple projects and learn how to design, produce, and finish quality patchwork and quilted items suitable for personal use, gifts, or sale. You will have the opportunity to experiment with fabrics, colours, patterns, and techniques while developing valuable enterprise skills such as costing, pricing, product presentation, and marketing.

On this course, you will develop your practical patchwork and quilting skills while learning how to transform creative ideas into beautifully finished textile products. You will explore how to select fabrics, colours, and patterns, develop design ideas, and use a range of techniques including accurate cutting, piecing, quilting, binding, and professional finishing methods. Through a variety of practical projects, you will create handmade items such as coasters, pouches, cushions, baskets, bags, and quilted pieces while building confidence in your sewing skills and developing your own creative style. Alongside the practical skills, you will learn how to approach patchwork and quilting as a small creative enterprise by planning projects, managing materials and time, costing your work, exploring pricing strategies, and considering how to present and market your products. You will gain an understanding of how handmade items can be developed for customers, gifts, craft fairs, or online selling opportunities, while building valuable skills in creativity, problem-solving, organisation, and independent working.

You can expect to learn through demonstrations, guided practice, and independent making, with opportunities to experiment with different fabrics, colours, patterns, and quilting styles. You will be expected to bring your own fabrics to work on while being instructed what to do. You can expect to explore the enterprise side of patchwork and quilting, including how to develop products, calculate costs, consider pricing, present your work professionally, and explore ways to share or sell your creations. You will receive encouragement and feedback throughout the course, helping you to develop confidence, celebrate your achievements, and gain the skills needed to continue your creative journey or take your first steps towards a small craft business.

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

Qualification

College Certificate

Entry Requirements

You must be aged 19+ and have a good standard of English as you will be required to complete a short workbook with the help of your tutor.

Teaching & Assessment

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.

Progression

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.

Additional Information

This is a practical course, however, the College does not provide materials, so therefore you will need to bring with you a selection of fabrics, threads, needles, bobbins, sewing kit

Some materials may be purchased from the tutor at a weekly cost. Some tools will be available to use.