TRACE THE PATTERN FROM YOUR FAVOURITE TOP OR DRESS - Sat 26 Apr - 10am-4pm

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TRACE THE PATTERN FROM YOUR FAVOURITE TOP OR DRESS - Sat 26 Apr - 10am-4pm

£110.00

PATTERN CUTTING WORKSHOP

WORKSHOP LOCATION: CAST Helston. Google maps link here.

SESSIONS: 1

DATES: Saturday 26th April 2025

TIME:10am-4pm with 1 hour lunch break (lunch not provided, but we highly recommend treating yourself to lunch at CAST Cafe!)

MAXIMUM PARTICPANTS: 5

LEVEL: Intermediate

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TELL ME MORE

Everyone has a garment that they wish would last forever, or that they could get in lots of different colours and fabrics. Come along on this class, and learn how to trace off your favourite dress or top, so that you have a fully workable pattern to take home and make again and again.

During this class, you will learn how to make a paper pattern from your favourite top or dress, without having to unpick a thing! We will be creating the pattern, adding seam allowance, and even making small pattern changes, such as changing the length, or adding a seam line.

There won’t be time to make your garment on the course, but we will talk about construction techniques and the order to sew it at the end. If your pattern has quite a few pieces, you might have finalised all pieces by the end of the session.

COURSE OUTLINE

Basic techniques of tracing off a garment onto dot and cross paper, using push pins, tracing wheels, tape measures and a pattern master
Discussing seam allowance and grain lines.
Making some pattern pieces from scratch, eg. straight plackets, simple facings.
Cut out your pattern pieces in fabric (depending on the complexity of your garment)
Discussing order of construction

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

We will provide all the pattern cutting tools you will need and pattern cutting paper.
Course booklet to take home.
Tea and coffee!

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

Your favourite garment - send me a photo once you've booked of the garment you're thinking of making to hello@dotncross.com
I strongly advise you to bring something simple - with just a few pattern pieces, eg: front, back, sleeve and pocket.
Something in cotton or a sturdy-ish fabric will be best if this is your first time tracing. We wouldn’t recommend bringing a jersey or stretch garment, or a complex tailored garment.

WHO IS THIS CLASS SUITABLE FOR?

This is an intermediate class. This course is aimed at confident dressmakers who have experience working with commercial patterns. You will get a lot more out of the class if you’ve already made up several garments before and got a grasp of garment construction. We will cover all the pattern cutting basics with you, such as: seam allowance, notch, drill hole, grain line. If you are wondering if this is the course for you, don't hesitate to drop me a line to chat it through!

ABOUT YOUR TEACHER

Helen Shine is a pattern cutter and seamstress who has worked in the fashion industry in London for 10 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.

WORKSHOP LOCATION

This workshop is held at CAST in Helston.

CAST is a visual arts organisation, based in Helston, Cornwall. Their ambitious programme includes exhibitions of artists’ film, talks, screening events and workshops, as well as learning programmes for schools and creative activities for children, families and young people. CAST also provides studios for artists, an open-access ceramics studio and an excellent Café.

The class room/accessibility:

My classes are held in Studio 4, which is on the ground floor, close to toilets and the cafe, which are all on one level. There is a step free access at the front door. However, if you are parking in Wendron Street car park (see below), there are steps from the car park to the back door entrance to the building, then steps down to the ground floor once you are in the building.

Address:

CAST (Cornubian Arts & Science Trust)
3 Penrose Road
Helston
Cornwall
TR13 8TP

Parking:

The rear entrance to the building can be reached by steps from Wendron Street car park. Click here for Google Maps link.

It costs £4.60 for 12 hours.

PLEASE NOTE: You must put in your car registration number accurately to avoid a fine. Make sure you pay for enough time to cover the workshop to avoid a fine.

Bus:

The U4 runs hourly between Falmouth and Helston.

The 34 runs hourly between Redruth and Helston.

The U4 runs hourly between Penzance and Helston.

CAST is a 5 minute walk from the Seven Stars bus stop, on Coinagehall Street.

CAST Cafe:

When I was looking for a new venue for my workshops, I purposefully chose somewhere with a great onsite cafe! CAST Café is open Wednesday – Saturday | 10am – 4pm

TESTIMONIALS

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

Helen is a wonderful teacher, she listens to all her students and puts so much time and effort into her classes. (I loved the hand out booklet that Helen created which is just so easy to read, understand and great for future reference). Helen genuinely cares about her students and is always on hand to offer additional support and advice, professional and friendly, her classes are so informative, relaxed and a delight to attend.

Prior to attending Helen’s pattern tracing course I had very little knowledge of the skills and tools needed to effectively recreate an item of clothing. Helen spent lots of time clearly showing and explaining every step of the process, whilst carefully making sue all students understood and felt confident in what they were doing. We used tools I had never heard of or seen before, including a pattern master and a tracing wheel. The information and process of correctly laying out a garment to recreate its pattern, as provided by Helen was invaluable. I left the class feeling as though I had learnt so many new skills in a lovely and friendly atmosphere. I cannot recommend Helen’s classes enough.

Eleanor Kilby-Grainge - Trace a pattern workshop

I thoroughly enjoyed Helens easy manner and ability to convey instructions in an easily absorbed way. I am feeling confident to take a pattern off a favourite top. I’ll be back for more classes!

Sheenagh Gebhard - Trace a pattern workshop

I attended Helen's course in London to copy a top and came away with a pattern that I know I will make again and again. Helen is a relaxed and patient teacher and the small numbers attending the class mean she has the time to spend with each of the students. With a variety of garments chosen to copy, we also got to learn different techniques from each of the projects. The booklet Helen provides with the class is extremely useful and I've since applied the techniques learnt to more complex projects. I very much enjoyed the day and had the classes not moved to Cornwall I'd be enrolling for more in a heart beat!

Fiona Hampson - Trace a pattern workshop