Pattern Making from a Garment Workshop

What you'll learn

Learn how to recreate your favourite clothing with our Textile & Fashion short courses in Sydney!

Do you have a well-loved dress, top, skirt, or pair of trousers that you wish you could replicate in a different fabric or colour?

In this one-day, hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to create a pattern from an existing garment—without unpicking a single stitch.

No prior pattern-making experience is needed, and beginners are welcome. This is a non-sewing workshop, focused entirely on pattern tracing and garment replication.

Join us for a practical and inspiring workshop that will give you the skills to reproduce your favourite clothes with confidence!

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this Pattern Making from a Garment Workshop, you should be able to:

Trace a pattern from your garment while maintaining its original structure
Apply techniques to ensure accuracy, including grain lines and seam allowances
Modify your pattern by adjusting the fit, length, or design details such as sleeves
Understand how to apply these principles to future garments.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with a cardboard block pattern of your chosen garment, ready for use in future sewing projects.

Course Content

How to accurately trace a pattern from your garment
Key pattern-making principles, including grain lines and seam allowances
Techniques to adjust the pattern for different fits, such as:
- Making it bigger or smaller
- Lengthening or shortening
- Adding sleeves or other design elements
Tips and tricks to ensure the pattern is accurate and easy to use

Intended Audience

Who is this Pattern Making from a Garment Workshop for?

This workshop is ideal for sewing enthusiasts of all skill levels who want to recreate a favourite piece from their wardrobe. No prior pattern-making experience is necessary, and no sewing is required during the class.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Additional Information

What to Bring

Garments:

Bring one or two garments you’d like to reproduce. You will complete at least one pattern in class, and depending on the style and your pace, you may start a second.

Essential tools:

Ruler and tape measure
Pencils, eraser, sharpener, marker pens
Tracing wheel and pins
Paper and cardboard scissors
Stapler
Notebook and pen

Other items:

Water and snacks for the day

Course testimonials

Robyn said: We learned and learned and learned in very pleasant company.
Monique said: Nola is amazing as always, and the class was insightful and I learnt a lot!
Grace said: As a very nervous sewist, Nola’s confidence and enthusiasm are infectious. She provides clear instructions and excellent levels of personal support and direction to each member of the class, as needed. I’m so delighted with my new pattern and can’t wait to make it up. Thank you Nola!

Course tutors

Nola Dennis

Nola has worked in the Fashion Industry for decades – as a designer, production manager, pattern maker and specification technician. She began her career in the 1980s for a womens label called...

View Nola Dennis's profile

Classes Online Courses

Pattern Making from a Garment Workshop

Wed 7 May 2025

1 session, 7 hours total

9am - 4pm (UTC+10:00)

2A Gordon St, Rozelle

Nola Dennis

There will be time for a short lunch break.

Early bird discount ends 2 May!

When	Time	Where	Session Notes
Wed 7 May 2025	9am - 4pm	A2-1: Sewing Room - 2A Gordon St, Rozelle

If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Pattern Making from a Garment Workshop