Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn to sew your own clothes
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Making a garment that fits you, in a fabric you chose, is a different thing from buying one, and the same skills let you alter and mend what you already own. Beginners' courses start with the sewing machine itself and work up to reading a pattern and laying out fabric.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650MonthsIndoorsWith othersUK and US
Someone who has done it
These are real people who did this, as reported by the outlets named. We opened each one before linking it. None of them is connected with this site.
What it's really like
You start with the machine, not the dress. Morley College's one-day introduction covers setting up the machine, its features, sorting out common errors and sewing sample stitches. Abingdon & Witney's dressmaking course for beginners spends its first term on threading, tension, needles, maintenance and the machine's attachments, and its main project is a tote bag. It is part one of three.
Patterns and fabric come next. North Seattle College's beginners' class covers reading a pattern, choosing fabric and laying it out, with three projects sewn in class from fabric and patterns the tutor supplies.
Expect a kit list. Abingdon & Witney asks for fabric scissors and paper scissors, coloured-head pins, needles, a tape measure, tailor's chalk and a metre of plain cotton or calico for samples. Machines are provided there; North Seattle asks you to bring your own in good working order.
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Course/format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Morley College, Waterloo, London | Introduction to the Sewing Machine: one Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm; leads on to Beginners Clothes Making | £115, plus a tutor's pack of up to £10 |
| Abingdon & Witney College, Oxfordshire | Dressmaking, Beginners (part one of three): Monday evenings, September to December 2026; machines provided | £274.45, or £137.23 reduced fee |
| North Seattle College Continuing Education | Beginning Sewing: eight Thursday evenings; bring your own machine | $245, plus a $35 cash supply fee |
| American Sewing Guild | Local chapters and neighbourhood groups, plus more than 150 online classes and projects for members | See the ASG website |
Morley says its short courses are subsidised by up to 50% by the Greater London Authority. The ASG says members with no local chapter can join as members-at-large.
How to start
- Take a beginners' sewing-machine course first: threading, tension, changing needles and basic maintenance come before any garment.
- Read the course description to see what you will make; some first courses make bags and samples, not clothes.
- Ask whether machines are provided or whether you must bring your own, with its foot pedal, bobbins and manual.
Where to go
- Morley College London: Clothes Making Beginners, Introduction to the Sewing Machine UK
- Abingdon & Witney College: Sewing, Dressmaking, Beginners (Oxfordshire) UK
- North Seattle College Continuing Education: Beginning Sewing US
- American Sewing Guild: membership, chapters and online classes US
We opened these links on 7 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Can a complete beginner learn to make clothes?
Yes. Morley College and Abingdon & Witney College both run courses for people with no sewing experience, starting with how to use the machine.
Do I need my own sewing machine for a sewing class?
Not always. Abingdon & Witney provides machines; North Seattle College asks students to bring their own, with the power cord, foot control, bobbins and manual.
What do I need for a beginners' dressmaking class?
A basic sewing kit. Abingdon & Witney lists fabric and paper scissors, pins, needles, a tape measure, tailor's chalk, tacking thread and a metre of plain cotton or calico.
How much does a sewing course cost?
As last listed, from £115 for a one-day introduction at Morley College to £274.45 for a term at Abingdon & Witney College, and $245 plus a $35 supply fee in Seattle.
Where this comes from: Morley College London, Clothes Making Beginners, Introduction to the Sewing Machine; Abingdon & Witney College, Sewing - Dressmaking - Beginners; North Seattle College Continuing Education, Beginning Sewing; American Sewing Guild, Benefits of membership. Opened 7 November 2026.
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