Clone your clothes - Make your favourite garment
Copy Your Favourite Garment
Two-Day Pattern Cutting & Dressmaking Workshop
Ever wish you could make another version of your favourite top, skirt or pair of trousers? Now you can learn how!
In this two-day workshop at G&G, you’ll discover how to copy a simple woven garment from your own wardrobe without taking it apart. You’ll learn to turn a much-loved piece into your own reusable sewing pattern, giving you the skills to recreate clothes you love in new fabrics, colours and prints.
Thursday 1st April and Friday 2nd April 2027
Tuesday 20th July and Wednesday 21st July 2027
What you’ll make
You’ll work from one simple woven garment chosen with your tutor at the start of the workshop. You’ll create:
✨ Your own hand-drafted, reusable sewing pattern
✨A calico toile to check and refine the fit
✨A new version of your chosen garment in your own fabric
✨Construction notes and sewing instructions to help you make it again
Please note:
Working step by step with your tutor, you’ll analyse your chosen garment, draft your pattern pieces and make a calico toile to check and refine the fit. Once you’re happy with your pattern, you’ll start cutting and sewing a new version in your chosen fabric. Depending on your garment and how you progress, your new piece may be finished during the workshop or ready for you to complete at home.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have developed your pattern cutting skills, gained a better understanding of garment construction and created the foundations for making your favourite styles again and again.
The class size is set to a maximum of 6 students. This means more space in the studio for students and more individual time with the tutor.
Turn a wardrobe favourite into a pattern that’s uniquely yours. Learn new skills, experiment with fabric and discover how to recreate the styles you love, long after the workshop ends.
Ready to recreate your wardrobe favourites? Book your place now.
Copy Your Favourite Garment
Two-Day Pattern Cutting & Dressmaking Workshop
Ever wish you could make another version of your favourite top, skirt or pair of trousers? Now you can learn how!
In this two-day workshop at G&G, you’ll discover how to copy a simple woven garment from your own wardrobe without taking it apart. You’ll learn to turn a much-loved piece into your own reusable sewing pattern, giving you the skills to recreate clothes you love in new fabrics, colours and prints.
Thursday 1st April and Friday 2nd April 2027
Tuesday 20th July and Wednesday 21st July 2027
What you’ll make
You’ll work from one simple woven garment chosen with your tutor at the start of the workshop. You’ll create:
✨ Your own hand-drafted, reusable sewing pattern
✨A calico toile to check and refine the fit
✨A new version of your chosen garment in your own fabric
✨Construction notes and sewing instructions to help you make it again
Please note:
Working step by step with your tutor, you’ll analyse your chosen garment, draft your pattern pieces and make a calico toile to check and refine the fit. Once you’re happy with your pattern, you’ll start cutting and sewing a new version in your chosen fabric. Depending on your garment and how you progress, your new piece may be finished during the workshop or ready for you to complete at home.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have developed your pattern cutting skills, gained a better understanding of garment construction and created the foundations for making your favourite styles again and again.
The class size is set to a maximum of 6 students. This means more space in the studio for students and more individual time with the tutor.
Turn a wardrobe favourite into a pattern that’s uniquely yours. Learn new skills, experiment with fabric and discover how to recreate the styles you love, long after the workshop ends.
Ready to recreate your wardrobe favourites? Book your place now.
Further Information
- How to analyse an existing garment and understand how it’s constructed
- How to identify pattern pieces, grainlines, ease and key measurements
- How to draft a sewing pattern from a garment you already own
- How to add seam allowances, notches and essential pattern markings
- How to make a calico toile and assess the fit
- How to make fitting adjustments and transfer them back to your pattern
- How to cut and begin sewing your new garment
Level 4
This workshop is not suitable for complete beginners. This workshop is ideal for confident dressmakers who want to take their sewing skills further and explore the world of pattern cutting.
You should be comfortable using a sewing machine and have previous experience making garments from commercial sewing patterns. You don’t need previous pattern cutting experience, but you should be confident with the basics of dressmaking.
Use of specialised measuring tools and equipment
Full use of sewing machines and sewing tools
Dot and cross dressmakers pattern paper
Calico fabric for making the toile
Tea/coffee and biscuits
10% off full priced fabrics purchased at g&g on the day of your course
- Bring two or three simple woven garments from your wardrobe that you love and would like to recreate. Your tutor will help you choose the best one to work from.
Suitable options include:
Simple pull-on tops
Straightforward skirts
Loose-fitting trousers or shorts
Sleeveless tunics
For the best results, choose a garment with a relatively simple shape and construction. Please avoid stretch fabrics, complicated design details or garments that need major fit adjustments.
- Fabric for your new garment
- Matching thread and any other required notions
- A notebook and pen
- A packed lunch or you are welcome to visit one of the local cafes or shops to get some lunch in your 30 minute break
Emma Smith
Emma started sewing as a young girl using scraps from her mum’s dressmaking to makes dolls clothes.
She developed that love through needlework class at school, and fashion and textiles courses at college and University, after which she spent time working in the garment making industry.
She now works as a freelance sewing tutor and loves sharing her passion with others, as well as finding time to sew most of her own clothes – she has the motto “if I can make it I can’t buy it”!
On the rare occasions she’s outside of the sewing room Emma endeavours to stay fit and healthy by running and training in a local gym.
