MAKE your OWN WEDDING DRESS: pattern and toile stage

1-1 WORKSHOP PRICE: £660.

Including 1 hour initial design phone call, 3 days private tuition, equipment, tools and toiling materials (see below for details) and a 1 hour follow up call.

Extra days (6 hours) can be added on for £180, and extra hours are priced at £30.

SESSIONS: 3 full days

TIME: 10am-5pm (with 1 hour for lunch)

LEVEL: Intermediate.

AVAILABLE DAYS: I work Monday – Thursdays

LOCATION: My studio in Falmouth

HOW TO BOOK:

Click make enquiry to open up our enquiry form. We will then contact you to arrange your free half hour call to talk through your design, and the class structure to see if this class is right for you.

If you decide to go ahead, then I will send an invoice and discuss your preferred class dates. Invoice must be paid before the class, and can be paid in instalments by prior arrangement.

Workshops are held at my home studio in central Falmouth. Address and parking information will be provided upon booking.

TELL ME MORE

In a nutshell, this is a 3 day intensive 1-1 class to make a pattern and toile for your dream wedding dress, with the help and guidance of a top London pattern cutter. I have worked for Victoria Beckham, Mary Katrantzou, Karen Millen and more, and have valuable experience with making wedding dresses and all types of occasion wear.

You are then welcome to book a 2-3 day 1-1 dress making class with me to make the final dress, once you have sourced all the materials required, or make the final dress at home in your own time.

I have always wanted to offer a class like this, and now that my new dress making studio is finished, it felt like the right time. More and more people are choosing to make their own wedding dress. I want to give people the support and encouragement to push the design to make something incredible without the worry of figuring out the pattern and fit by yourself. If you have big dreams but aren’t quite sure where to start, I hope I can be that helping hand.

In the lead up to the class, we will discuss your design, send design inspiration, fabrics, trims etc to try refine and develop your ideas. I always recommend that before finalising a design, you should go to bridal wear shops to try on several different dresses to work out if the perfect silhouette in your head actually suits you in real life and that you feel comfortable in it. For example, some people love the idea of a strapless dress, but then spend all day hoiking it up as they feel like its slipping down.

During the class we will work together to create the perfect fitting pattern. It is a development process so we will tackle it in stages, first working on any corset/inner construction, then building the dress on top of this. We will toile the dress, once or perhaps twice, and amend the pattern to get the perfect fit. You will go away with the pattern ready to work on the final dress at home.

The class is held 1-1 in my studio in Falmouth. You will need to arrange accommodation and transport for the time you are here. Why not add it on to a longer trip in Cornwall? If you are away with your fiancé, I am happy to keep the toile and pattern safe and post them to you when you get home.

Before you book

  • We will have a half an hour phone call to briefly discuss your design ideas and body shape, so that I can let you know if the dress pattern is achievable in the 3 days. Please send me your initial design inspiration before booking in this call.

  • I know this is a huge financial commitment, especially at a time when you will be paying an arm and a leg for everything else for your wedding, so I want to make sure this class is the right fit for you before you book.

Once you’ve decided you want to go ahead.

Before the class

  • Have a 1 hour zoom call to look at your inspiration images and design drawings to finalise the design.

  • See if there are any sewing patterns available that are similar in design, fit, volume etc, and if so, purchase that in time for the class.

  • Discuss fabrics, linings, trims, fastenings, boning, corsetry supplies, and get samples where possible in advance.

  • Discuss what accessories and undergarments you’ll be wearing on the day, including type of bra, or if the design has a low back, backless bra options if you wish to wear a bra, and have them ordered before the class so that when we do fittings, you’ve got the correct underwear, and the height of your heels etc.

What we’ll do during the class

  • Take accurate body measurements

  • Either make the pattern from scratch, or alter an existing pattern that we have already sourced.

  • Toile up in appropriate toiling fabrics that we have sourced.

  • Painstakingly fit the dress, to ensure you love the design and the fit, including practising walking and sitting to ensure it is comfortable for your big day.

  • Make the pattern amendments.

  • Potentially re-toile any areas if there’s time.

  • Advice on what materials to use, internal corsetry construction, what type of boning to use, what type of zip, how to give the dress structure.

What you’ll leave with

  • A finished dress pattern.

  • A fitted toile.

  • A step by step of how to make the final dress.

  • A one hour phone call with me (can be all in one or split in to two half hour calls) to discuss any issues you encounter when making the final dress.

What types of dress patterns it will be possible to make in the time

  • Fitted

  • Fit and flare

  • Corseted

  • Trains

  • A-line

  • Slip dress

 

What may not be possible

  • Very complex designs with a lot of draping

  • Designs with a lot of lace work

  • If you need more time, extra days (6 hours) can be added on for £180, and extra hours are priced at £30.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

  • All equipment and tools for the class

  • Dot and cross pattern cutting paper

  • Use of sewing machine

  • Toiling materials as long as we have discussed in advance what type of fabrics you like (drapey, crepe, satin etc). Please note: toiling fabrics will not be silk, they will be polyester versions of bridal fabrics.

  • Structural elements for the toile such as zips, boning, fusing

  • Tea, coffee, biscuits and encouragement!

What is not included

  • Any bra, bust cups or underwires for your toile, discuss before hand if we think we’ll need these.

  • Any lace or bead applique or lace for your toile, please bring with you if you have lace motifs you’d like to sew on.

  • Any covered buttons for your toile, please bring if you’d like to use these.

  • Fabrics or trims for your final dress (but I can advise on where to source). I would budget £50/metre for final dress fabric.

  • Accommodation, transport, meals

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

  • VERY IMPORTANT: The under garments you’ll wear on the big day – so we can mould the shape of the bust etc to the correct bra, and to ensure the bra will not be seen at the back or the straps when making the pattern.

  • Inspiration images

  • Fabric swatches

WHO IS THIS CLASS SUITABLE FOR?

  • An experienced sewer, who would love to make an original wedding dress and hasn’t managed to find a pattern that suits the design they are imagining and so need help with the pattern.

  • Or someone that maybe has found a pattern that they like, but who would usually have to make a lot of fit amendments when making their own clothes, so they would like help with perfecting the fit of the toile.

  • Please note this class is intended for people wishing to make their own wedding dress, it is not industry training for those wishing to sell wedding dresses.

ABOUT YOUR TEACHER

Helen Shine is a pattern cutter and seamstress who has worked in the fashion industry in London for over 12 years. She has cut patterns for several high-end designer brands, including Victoria Beckham, Mary Katrantzou and Karen Millen. She loves sharing the knowledge she has gained over the years with others, to help them on their sewing journey.

I have made many different wedding dresses over the years, from simple, elegant mermaid styles, to elaborate, full skirted ballgown designs. I’ve worked with brides to complete the pattern to create unique, beautiful dresses.

TESTIMONIALS

TESTIMONIALS

I gained an appreciation of pattern engineering and a better understanding of the subtleties of fit. Lovely hearing Helen’s experiences and dipping into her knowledge. Thank you, it was worth the journey from Devon.

Jacqui - Make a dress block

This was my second course with Helen, consisting of four 3 hour sessions creating a personalised clothes block. It was great fun working with other enthusiastic sewers and I ended up with exactly what I had hoped for: a pattern from which I can create a host of new projects. I also learned that I needed to up my game and be a more accurate seamstress - all brilliant lessons! I would recommend this course as a foundation for anyone interested in creating their own sewing patterns.

Leonora Nattrass - Make a dress block

Really enjoyable four week class creating a pattern block. Helen is super helpful and explains everything in a very easy to understand way. I am delighted with the final toile produced from my block and can’t wait to join Helen for another course soon.

Jo - Make a dress block

I learned how to adapt a pattern block to fit me. We worked on adjusting darts and we had time to look through various pattern cutting books. I loved how technical and personal it was, and the tea and biscuits!

Alice Jacoby - Create a dress block

I learned about the possibilities of using a dress block. How to move darts and make adjustments when things don’t fit. I learnt more than expected and I loved that this was a face to face class. You are such a great teacher Helen and put me completely at ease, thank you so much.

Susan Manson - Create a dress block

HOW TO BOOK

Click make enquiry to open up our enquiry form. We will then contact you to arrange your free half hour call to talk through your design, and the class structure to see if this class is right for you.

If you decide to go ahead, then I will send an invoice and discuss your preferred class dates. Invoice must be paid before the class, and can be paid in instalments by prior arrangement.

Workshops are held at my home studio in central Falmouth. Address and parking information will be provided upon booking.

CANCELLATIONS

Please click here to view our cancellations policy before booking any classes with us.

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