1-1 pattern cutting WORKSHOPS IN FALMOUTH, CORNWALL

I just wanted to thank you for an amazing day yesterday. You are inspirational and I learnt such a lot and returned home feeling so fortunate to have found such a knowledgable teacher! My granddaughter Eva was equally keen and the class has really galvanised her thoughts on her future, in that the fashion industry is really for her. As she told you, she is visiting the London School of fashion open day next week which is very exciting.
Please keep me on your list for classes, I would certainly like to continue attending your workshops.

Maggie Martin - Clone your clothes

I recently undertook a full week of patten cutting workshops with the lovely Helen of Dot.n.Cross in Falmouth. We covered 2 day Dress Block , 2 day Trousers Block , 1 day How to Adapt a pattern, and an added bonus we had time to draw up a button down Shirt-waisted dress pattern from scratch using the dress block we had created based on my measurements taking into account the Full Bust Adjustment we had made on the dress block. The section we did on Full Bust Adjustment was a revelation and explained why I had so many problems fitting garments. This new pattern will fit properly no gapping or pulling over the bust, no overlarge shoulder or arm holes because I've had to make a larger size to accommodate my fuller bust. HEAVEN.

Each workshop we did had full and comprehensive supporting documents and notes which will allow me to develop my own patterns or adapt commercial patterns at home and get a great fit.

I had an amazing week with Helen her teaching was exceptional, doing a one on one really allowed me to take so much on board in a very short time.

Would highly recommend Helen's courses her wealth of knowledge and expertise, which she so generously shares is amazing and inspiring.

Came home so excited to make up my new self drafted pattern (with a lot of help thank you ) .

Thank you Helen had a really inspirational week.

Geraldine Bailey - 1-1 dress block, trouser block, pattern hacking

I would definitely recommend the ‘Make your own wedding dress’ workshop, I can't imagine having a better experience co-creating my wedding dress. Helen was very thoughtful the whole way through, making sure I understood the process and was involved in the making. It was an invaluable experience where I could expand my technical cutting skills, challenge my design ideas, and have lots of fun doing so. I had the best time and will look back on it very fondly in years to come, as a one-off creative experience!

We covered how to take my ideas from a rough drape and drawings into a pattern and final toile. We worked from a bodice block, amending it to add details such as; pleats and tucks, my desired neckline, and created a pattern for the large skirt sections. We also discussed sewing techniques, fabrics, embellishment, and ways to finish the garment. I learnt a lot about pattern cutting, how to cut certain fabrics, and through my conversations with Helen I started to understand more about how I wanted my dress to look and feel when wearing it.

Helen was amazing at seeing the possibilities in the design and asking me all the right questions in order to achieve something we were both excited about! The dress evolved completely, from something mostly in my head and on paper, to a dress that had been professionally made for me. It was really helpful to talk through my ideas with Helen, she understood the look I was going for, and helped me to realise it.

It was quite far for me to travel, however it was totally worth it and I really enjoyed my time in Falmouth. I decided to go ahead because of the passion and knowledge Helen has for her craft. It was undoubtedly the right decision to work with Dot n Cross on my wedding dress.

Holly Hawkins - Make your own wedding dress

I had a great time attending the Make Your Own Wedding Dress workshop at Dot n Cross. Helen is organised, knowledgeable and patient, and I instantly felt at ease in the studio.

Together we designed a pattern based on my inspiration pictures and sewed up a toile, experimenting with different options along the way. Thanks to Helen's teaching and detailed construction notes, I feel confident and am now looking forward to sewing my dress at home. 10/10

Aoife Mahon - Make your own wedding dress

Helen is an excellent teacher. I am delighted with my trouser block and look forward to using it to make trousers that actually fit. Highly recommend Dot and Cross courses.

Sarah Williams - Make a Trouser Block

I really enjoyed my trouser block course by Dot n Cross. Helen is lovely, as well as very experienced at pattern drafting, cutting, draping and toile making. She is extremely helpful and brilliant at passing her knowledge on in a clear way. Her tuition is supported by excellent documentation for future reference. I learnt a lot from the trouser block course and am looking forward to putting my learning to the test with a pair of shorts!

Kiersty Long - Make a Trouser Block

The trouser block workshops were excellent. Helen paced the sessions well and ensured enough time so I felt I was getting plenty of individual support. I learnt so much.

Clare Lowry - Make a Trouser Block

Recently attended 2 x one to one sessions with Helen with the aim of fitting a dress for my wife (who also attended). Helen immediately put us at ease and we went about correcting a toile I had previously made. Helen was very patient and answered all of our questions and went about explaining the pattern drafting process to create a new improved toile and set me my homework. On the second session I brought along the new improved toile and we further refined the fit for my wife's dress. I cannot recommend Helen enough. Her experience and knowledge is first rate and she gave me a whole new appreciation of the garment construction process.

Steve Rolfe - Pattern cutting and fitting 1-1

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

I recently had a fantastic day pattern cutting with Helen after my husband kindly bought me a voucher for Christmas. I had had the benefit of Helen's experience before when we made a bodice block and my project this time was to make a summer dress based on a Tudor kirtle. Helen spent a lot of time beforehand researching the styles and seemingly endless possibilities of the look and function of the dress after I sent her some photos of the kind of design I had in mind. Helen has an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience to draw on and talked me through the stages of how to move and remove darts and incorporate Princess seams instead and how to drop the sleeves to make the garment more historically correct. I learned so much and am busy finishing my toile ready for a further fitting session with Helen and more advice regarding the lining and lacing. Helen is very friendly and approachable and ensures that you are understanding the various steps and the whole process as you go along. I would definitely recommend Helen's classes to anyone from the first time sewist to those who have been sewing for a while and want to challenge themselves further in their projects.

Sandy - Pattern cutting 1-1

I had the best time with you on this course, thank you so much!! I learnt so much about patterns and garment construction, and also just had an overall nice time chatting about sewing, thank you so much! I will definitely be booking onto another course soon!

Chloe Crimmen - Trace a pattern workshop

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've done a 'shared course' and some one to one sessions with Helen at Dot and Cross. Really improved my understanding of how dressmaking happens. It is a technical subject, but so important. The knowledge I gained has had a great effect on the fit and style of my hand-made clothes. I've been able to alter commercial patterns, to measure myself and interpret those measurements to my dressmaking. Excellent teaching, and 'team work' Helen teaches, listens, explains and discusses options in a lovely way. I wanted/needed to improve to prevent frustrating waste. Excellent. Worth it and so so satisfying. Lovely garden studio room. To be recommended.

Deborah Richards - Pattern Cutting 1-1

The Full Bust Adjustment Course was a birthday gift for my wife Clare. She arrived home from the course bubbling with excitement and enthusing about the course content, the teaching, everything.
Friendly and engaging, Helen is clearly knowledgable and has a great teaching method.
Highly recommended.

Clare- Full Bust Adjustment, 1-1 class

I attended the 1-1 garment mending workshop. It was absolutely excellent. I learnt multiple mending techniques and we even shortened some trousers that were too long for me and reused the "harvested" fabric to mend some other pieces. My favourite was learning about (and trying) the Japanese mending style, Sashiko. Will definitely be using this technique in the near future, it's very pretty. I was very impressed with the class and intend to book more. Helen is great and super friendly. The studio is cool.

Lisa G- How to repair your clothes, 1-1 class

I attended a one-to-one dressmaking session from Dot N Cross. I realised the wrap dress pattern I chose was a bit challenging for a beginner like me but Helen is a great teacher, she took the time to explain things step by step and went the extra mile so we would finish the dress on the day. I also appreciated that she made sure I understood the key concepts and techniques we learned together so I can use them again autonomously in the future. I really enjoyed the session and it brought me the confidence to start sewing, I am looking forward to starting my next pattern, thanks Helen!

Linda - 1 to 1 Dressmaking class

I have been wanting to learn to sew from a pattern for ages and even have had a pattern for a beautiful jacket tucked away in a draw. The problem was every time I got it out it looked so confusing I didn’t know where to start.

Luckily I found Dot n Cross and booked a (very affordable) private 6 hour sewing lesson. After spending the day with Helen yesterday I feel so much more confident!! We worked on the pattern for my jacket. She broke everything down and made it all feel super clear and simple. I am now feeling very inspired and excited about my sewing future! I never expected to get so much out of a one day class.. and now feel as if as long as I break it all down into the simple steps and techniques she taught me the sewing world is my oyster!!

Annie Attwell - 1-1 Sewing Lesson