Interested in starting a career in fashion design? Or maybe you would like to learn the skills of dressmaking so you can create clothes for your friends, family or partner? Whatever your goal, our Fashion Design & Dressmaking course is the perfect way to get started.
As one of the world\'s largest industries, fashion offers many career opportunities, and with the guidance of our experienced tutors, you can turn your love of fabric and style into a wonderful new career, profitable hobby or rewarding interest.
Our Fashion Design & Dressmaking course will teach you about colours and fabrics, and how to produce professional-looking sketches and patterns. We also cover all aspects of making a garment from start to finish, show you how to communicate your ideas, along with tips for working in the industry. Plus, as your course is delivered by correspondence, there are no timetables to adhere to so your study can fit around your current lifestyle.
So, why not take the first step to entering this exciting, rewarding and personally gratifying industry? Start living your dream today - enrol now!
MODULE 1: FASHION AWARENESS
Fashion awareness; skill requirements; the big picture; the individual; clothing ranges – budget, middle-of-the-road and expensive; seasonal and personal colours; colour groups; patterns; textures; style and seam lines; figure analysis; measuring the body; glossary; templates for clothing design; body measurement sheets.
MODULE 2: PATTERNS
Original pattern blocks; trace patterns; commercial patterns; misses/women’s measurement sheet; pattern envelope; inside the envelope; numbered pattern pieces; cutting layouts; sewing instructions; selecting fabric; layout instructions; reading the pattern; cutting and stitching lines; notches and darts; pleats; gathering lines and buttonholes; choosing your pattern size; basic alterations; fabric preparation; grainline gauge; commercial patterns.
MODULE 3: FIBRES AND TOOLS
Natural and man-made fibres; fashion fabrics; woven constructions – plain weave, weft and warp threads and bias; knit fabrics; modern developments in fabrics; special fabrics; essential tools; tools for marking; essential equipment; selecting a sewing machine; types of sewing machines; 4 main stitch formations; sewing machine features and parts; maintenance; overlocker; additional tools and equipment; storage.
MODULE 4: LAYOUTS AND SEAMS
Tips for cutting fabrics; marking-up; tools; stitched markings; hand basting; shaping and controlling fullness, darts; gathers and ruffles; tiers; seams – open, French, layered, welt and princess-style; seam finishing techniques – zigzag and serpentine stitch, clean finish and bound.
MODULE 5: LININGS, FACINGS, COLLARS, CUFFS AND POCKETS
Lining; underlining; interfacing; fusible interfacing; options; facings; understitching; extended and bias facings; necklines; collars – flat, one-piece, mandarin and Peter Pan; cuffs and openings; continuous band and straight cuffs; sleeve openings for cuffs; pockets – unlined patch, lined and pocket bag in a seam.
MODULE 6: ZIPPERS, BUTTONHOLES, SLEEVES AND HEMS
Hand-sewing stitches – basting, running, backstitch, overcast and slipstitch; closures and fastenings; zippers; buttonholes and buttons; sleeves; sleeve styles; waistbands; pull-on and fitted; hems – lean-finished, double-stitched, zigzag and tailor’s; constructing a shirt.
MODULE 7: TOILES, MACHINE STITCHES, YOKES, VENTS AND STRETCH SEWING
Fitting a toile; fabric layout; cutting guidelines; fusible interfacings; basic machine stitches – straight, backstitch, basting, blind hemming, ease stitching, topstitch, edge stitch, elastic stitching, gathering, satin, stay, under-stitch, zigzag and triple-straight stitch; speciality overlock stitches; selecting a stitch type, length and width; yokes; vents; stretch sewing; overlocking; attaching ribbing and lace.
MODULE 8: FASHION AWARENESS II
Pleats; wardrobe and lifestyle; flatter your figure; basic body shapes and what to wear; hairstyles; make-up; planning a wardrobe; foundation and basic wardrobe; timeless classics; fashion updates; adapting old clothes; accessories.
MODULE 9: FASHION DRAWING AND DESIGNING
Introduction to fashion drawing; working from a template; presentation; drawing mediums – ink, graphite, coloured pencils, marker pens, watercolour and crayons; how designers work; different areas of design – haute couture, designer label, ready-to-wear and mass market; history of design; designing a collection; themes; Australian and New Zealand designers; producing a collection; my designs in the marketplace.
MODULE 10: STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS
Work experience; sample letters for work experience and designs; working with customers; the workroom; quotations; style details; stationery; measuring the client; fittings and alterations; deposit; making payments; packaging; garment storage; filing systems; advertising; the Internet; operating capital; record keeping; paying bills; petty cash; taxes; insurance; terms and conditions; financial records; types of business operations.
