For some, the most off-putting part of learning to sew is getting to grips with the sewing machine itself. The Sewing Diploma Course begins by removing all trepidation, teaching you the basic parts and functions of your sewing machine, no matter which brand you have. You will quickly learn how to operate a sewing machine, including how to thread the bobbin and thread your sewing machine, and even gain the confidence to troubleshoot any minor problems that may arise, and understand how to care for your machine.
Another area that may at first seem baffling, is the array of tools available to the sewer. The course introduces you to the basic tools and accessories that you need to have in your sewing basket and outlines what each does.
Before working on a garment for yourself or a client, it is important to take accurate measurements. You will learn how to correctly measure women and men and the importance of rechecking measurements as years go by, to allow for changes in weight or body shape.
Although the Sewing Course will teach you how to create your own custom-made projects, a great way to learn the basic principles of garment creation is by following commercial patterns. A skill every good sewer should possess, following commercial patterns, offers hands-on practice of the sewing techniques that you will use in with your own designs. This course shows you how to understand and follow commercial patterns.
Choosing a fabric for your project is an important step, as choosing incorrectly can ruin the look and feel of what you had envisaged. This course reviews natural and man-made fabrics, explaining the characteristics of various types of each and the ways in which they should be prepared for a project.
The Sewing Course provides practical instruction on basic and advanced sewing techniques including pressing, pinning, cutting, and marking fabric, how to insert a zipper, make buttonholes, and how to sew closures, such as hooks-and-eyes and snaps.
Basic hand and sewing machine stitches are covered comprehensively. Although sewing machines can sew many types of stitch, it is still important to learn how to make very basic hand stitches, as there are instances when machine sewing would be too aggressive for the fabric type or more difficult to use. You will learn how to employ a variety of hand and machine stitches and gain an understanding of when each should be used.
Whether you think you can draw or not, sketching is the quickest and most effective way of getting your ideas down and finessing them, making it an important skill to develop. You will learn the simple steps to getting an idea out of your mind and onto pattern paper, ready to be made.
The course takes all the skills you have learned and combines them into several projects for you to follow, all of which will help you to develop the various techniques you have learnt. Each project gives you a summary of the item that you will make, the materials you’ll need, and the skills you’ll develop, before giving you step-by-step guidance on how to create the piece. The fully-guided projects included in the course are:
- Small Decorative Pillow
- Placemat
- Patchwork Table runner
- Headband
- Fashion Scarf
- Pouch
- Pin Cushion
- Infinity Scarf
With your new skill set in place, the online Sewing Course provides you with advice on setting up a business selling your items and services. You will learn how to find your niche, devise a business plan and create goals, track expenses and sales, and advertise and market your business.
