Student drafting sewing patterns during a patternmaking class at Sydney Community College

Learn the art of patternmaking with this beginner-friendly sewing short course in Sydney. Designed for confident sewers, this course teaches how to draft skirt, bodice, and pant blocks using personal body measurements. Through structured learning and hands-on practice, you'll develop a strong foundation in fitting, drafting, and construction techniques to create custom cardboard blocks for future projects.

Gain one-on-one support in a small class setting, and leave empowered to take creative control of your garment making journey.

Course Outline

  • Lesson 1: Skirt block: Body measurements, paper pattern drafting, calico toile fitting, adjustments, and finalising on cardboard.
  • Lesson 2: Bodice block: Similar steps tailored to bodice construction with guided alterations and cardboard finalisation.
  • Lesson 3: Pant block: Draft, fit, adjust, and construct personalised pant block patterns.
  • Lesson 4: Refine and complete all blocks, with exploration of optional techniques like waistbands, sleeves, or personal projects.

Schedule & Pricing

  • Offered in both day (4 sessions) and evening (8 sessions) formats.
  • Prices range from $649 to $719 depending on duration and schedule.

Accessibility & Additional Info

  • Classes held upstairs; no lift access available.
  • Lunch breaks scheduled during full-day classes; cafes nearby or BYO lunch.
  • Closed-in shoes required in the classroom.

Details
6 hours 30 minutes

You will learn

  • Draft skirt, bodice, and pant blocks using personal measurements
  • Fit and adjust toiles for personalised garment construction
  • Create reusable cardboard patterns with professional finishing

You will get

  • One-on-one guidance in small class setting
  • Complete skirt, bodice, and pant cardboard blocks
  • Hands-on drafting and fitting experience

Appropriate for

Confident home sewers and sewing enthusiasts with basic garment construction knowledge who wish to create personalised garment patterns.


Preparation

What to bring

  • 5-7 metres of calico (depending on width)
  • Sewing tools: rulers, pins, tracing wheel, markers
  • Sewing machine needles, bobbins, thread and basic stationery

What to wear

Closed-in shoes required


Your Teacher
Sydney Community College

Sydney Community College

38 reviews

Sydney 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.

Terms

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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