Course Overview
Learn the art of tailoring and create your own lined jacket in this practical sewing course for creative learners and sewing enthusiasts. Guided by experienced instruction, participants will explore modern tailoring techniques while developing skills in garment fitting, jacket construction and professional finishing.
Using commercial sewing patterns and Palmer/Pletsch fitting methods, students will learn how to alter patterns for a more comfortable and personalised fit. The course covers essential tailoring techniques including cutting, pressing, interfacing, lining construction, pockets, collars and sleeve shaping.
Designed for learners wanting to build confidence in garment construction, this course combines practical sewing knowledge with creative craftsmanship. Students will develop a deeper understanding of tailoring techniques while creating a structured jacket suited to their own style and body shape.
Whether you are looking to improve your sewing skills, explore slow fashion or create handmade clothing with a professional finish, this course provides a supportive and rewarding learning environment.
Macquarie Community College operates from a range of venues across Northern and Western Sydney. We have campuses in Blacktown, Carlingford, Chatswood, Epping, Mt Druitt, Richmond, and Ryde. Enrol now!
What you will learn
Course outline
It is intended that the course will cover:
- Introduction to tailoring
- Fabric layout, alterations to fit and cutting
- Pressing techniques
- Fusing ~ application of interfacing
- Marking
- Pockets
- Collars
- Sleeves and Shoulder Pads
- Facing and lining ~ make up
- Facing and lining ~ insert
- Finishing
Course outcome
By the end of this course, participants will understand essential tailoring techniques used in jacket construction and garment fitting. Students will gain confidence altering patterns, working with linings and creating structured garments with professional finishing techniques.
Participants will also develop practical sewing skills that can be applied to future tailoring and dressmaking projects.
What you need to know
Entry requirements
Basic sewing skills are an advantage.
What you need to provide
You will need to bring:
- Pattern: Butterick B6960 is the current preferred pattern for the course. However, Butterick B8350, Butterick B6862, McCall’s M6172, McCall’s M8638 or McCall’s M7818 are also suitable.
- Fabric: The best fabrics for tailoring are wool fabrics such as Tweed, Flannel or wool blends. Linen is also suitable but is not quite so easy to work with
- Lining: Lining fabric such as Sunsilky or Bemberg
- Interfacing: Fusible woven knit interfacing only such as Whisperweft or Armoweft
- Sewing machine and manual
- Basic sewing kit (scissors, pins, needles, quick unpick, marking chalk etc)
- Pressing cloth
- A box of fine large head pins in a magnetic pincushion
- Tape measure
- Soft lead pencil
- Red and green fine felt tip pens
- Two rolls of 12mm Scotch brand magic transparent tape
- Weighted table tape dispenser
- Paper scissors
- Gridded plastic ruler (eg quilters), plastic ruler or dressmakers square
- 6mm elastic to tie around your waist
- Note pad and pen
- Palmer/Pletsch gridded pattern tissue (from Lincraft, Spotlight or online) or white gift wrap tissue. Greaseproof paper is too stiff.
- 1 x reel matching thread 1 x reel contrasting thread
- 1 pair shoulder pads according to size recommended on pattern
- 1 metre x 6mm pre-shrunk cotton tape
- Button quantity as per pattern
Other information
- Prior to attending the first lesson students should:
- Preshrink all washable fabric and linings by washing with detergent at the same water temperature you plan to use when laundering.
- Fabrics marked & dry clean only can be steam pressed using a steam iron. Iron the fabric from side to side (not diagonally) and steam evenly. Allow the steamed fabric to dry thoroughly before moving.
- Course notes