Patternmaking Essentials Course
Take your sewing skills to the next level in this hands-on Patternmaking Essentials course in Sydney. Designed for confident home sewers, this beginner-friendly patternmaking class teaches you how to draft your own skirt, bodice and pant blocks using your personal body measurements.
You’ll start with industry-standard templates and learn how to adapt them for your unique fit. Through guided projects, you’ll sew calico toiles (prototypes), make fitting adjustments, and refine each pattern before transferring your final designs onto durable cardboard blocks—complete with seam allowances and construction notes.
With small class sizes (maximum 10 students), you’ll receive personalised guidance as you build strong foundational skills in fitting, drafting and garment construction—empowering you to move beyond commercial patterns and take creative control of your designs.
Course Outline
- Lesson 1: Draft a skirt block, sew and fit a toile, and transfer your final pattern to cardboard.
- Lesson 2: Create a bodice block using your measurements, refine fit, and finalise your block.
- Lesson 3: Draft and fit a pant block, making adjustments for accurate shaping.
- Lesson 4: Refine all blocks and explore additional elements such as sleeves, waistbands or pockets.
Schedule & Format
- Most courses run as four full-day sessions (9:30am–4:00pm).
- Evening format (where offered) runs across eight sessions, covering approximately half a lesson per class.
- 30-minute lunch break for full-day classes.
Important Notes
- Basic garment construction skills and confidence using a sewing machine are essential.
- Classroom is located upstairs and accessible by stairs only.
- Please wear closed-in shoes.
Details
You will learn
- Take accurate body measurements for pattern drafting
- Draft and fit skirt, bodice and pant blocks
- Create and adjust toiles for personalised fit
You will get
- Personalised cardboard skirt, bodice and pant blocks
- Expert guidance in a small-group setting
- Foundational patternmaking and fitting skills
Appropriate for
Confident home sewers and sewing enthusiasts who want to draft and fit their own garment patterns using personal body measurements.
Preparation
What to bring
- 5m calico (150cm wide) or 7m (115cm wide)
- Sewing kit with needles, thread, scissors and pins
- Measuring tape, rulers, pencils, markers and notebook
What to wear
Closed-in shoes required
Your Teacher
Sydney Community College
38 reviewsSydney Community College is a registered charity with a voluntary Board of Directors.
The College has a mission to offer innovative continuing adult education and training programmes that support individual efforts and facilitate sustainable social change.
We do this by:
- Providing quality continuing adult education opportunities for people to build practical and theoretical skills and develop knowledge;
- Leveraging from and developing community capacity and inclusivity;
- Developing innovative affordable and accessible skills training programmes;
- Partnering with like organisations to deliver learning opportunities for disadvantaged individuals and communities;
- Partnering with all levels of government to deliver education policy objectives.
Cancellations & Refunds
If the organiser cancels the class:
You are entitled to a full refund.
If you can't attend the class:
You’re welcome to send someone in your place.
OR
- A refund can be requested 10 days before class starts. An admin fee of AU$45.00 applies.
Terms & Conditions
At Sydney Community College, we know that plans can change unexpectedly. Whether it’s a shift in your schedule, a family emergency, or just a change of heart, we want to support you in the fairest way possible.
At the same time, we’re a not-for-profit organisation that commits resources to running each class—so last-minute cancellations can significantly impact our ability to offer quality, affordable programs.
That’s why we’ve created a simple, transparent policy that balances your need for flexibility with our need to plan and deliver courses sustainably. Our cancellation policy offers two clear options, depending on when you notify us:
Cancel More Than 10 Days Before the Course Starts – You can choose to receive a full refund, minus a $45 administration fee OR a non-refundable credit note valid for 12 months for the full value you paid for the course. This credit can be used towards any future course at the College.
Option 2: Cancel Within 10 Days of the Course Starting - You’ll receive a credit note valid for 12 months for 50% of the course fee you paid for the course. This credit can be used towards any future course at the College.
Please note that both refund and credit options are only available before the course begins. Once the course has started—or if you decide to withdraw after it has commenced—no refunds or credits can be issued. If you need to cancel your enrolment, just email us and we’ll take care of it based on the timelines above.
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Patternmaking Essentials Course
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