Dress in a Day

This is the stuff your sewing dreams are made of! A whole day of uninterrupted dressmaking and a finished dress by the end of the day!

Using patterns from UK independent pattern designers you will sew up a storm. To make a dress you’ll really love, you bring your own fabric to make your dress. With all students making the same dress together in our sewing studio, you will learn together in a friendly and supportive group.

Even if you’ve never sewn clothes before, we will get you going straight away, cutting the correct pattern size and pin the paper pattern to your fabric and accurately cut out the pieces.

You will then assemble the dress according to the pattern instructions, but don’t worry, Alison will be there to take you through every step of the way and demonstrate the tricky bits.

By the end of the day, you will have an amazing me-made dress that you could wear out that evening.

Sew Different – Scoop Pinafore

Sew Different was founded by Laura nearly 3 years ago when her passion for sewing, fabric and clothes was starting to consume every moment of her life. Laura had always drafted her own patterns and decided it was time to share them!

The Scoop Pinafore is a casual, over the head tunic designed for you to wear over a top. Its statement square neckline contrasts with the scooped sides, which house large and comfy pockets. The skirt has a slight bubble hem and sits just above the knee (5’ 8”). No zip needed.

Tilly & the Buttons – Bettine Dress

Tilly & the Buttons patterns are a firm favourite with the new wave modern dressmakers and the online sewing community. Designed by Tilly Walnes a contestant on the first series of The Great British Sewing Bee and columnist for Simply Sewing Magazine, Tilly’s patterns are a great starting point for any novice dressmaker, with stylish and wearable designs and easy to follow instructions

Bettine is an easy-peasy throw-it-over-your-head dress. It has a blousy bodice with scoop neckline, kimono sleeves which hang softly around the underarm, turn-up cuffs, elasticated waistline to cinch you in and flattering tulip skirt.

The plain skirt version is a perfect project for beginners, as it's simple to sew, with no fiddly darts, fastenings or set-in sleeves - yay! More experienced? Try the pocket skirt version and optional cuff tabs for a speedy, satisfying project.

Comfortable and gorgeous, this is a dress you’ll want to wear every day. Throw it on with sandals for Summer picnics; dress it up with a necklace for the office or evenings out; or layer it over long sleeves and woolly tights in the colder months.

Tilly & the Buttons – Cleo Pinafore Dress

Cleo is simple to sew, with no fiddly zips and minimal fitting required – hooray! Make it dungaree-style with buckles, or as a pinafore with button fastenings. Choose from mini length or knee length with optional centre-front split, patch pockets on front or back, and optional contrast topstitching.

Wear Cleo all year round, layered over a t-shirt, shirt or sweater – the relaxed style makes it oh so comfortable!

No previous dressmaking experience required but you should have used a sewing machine before.

There will be no more than 6 students at the workshop so that you can have plenty of room to cut your fabric and lots of support and guidance from your tutor, Alison.

Sewing machines and all the tools you will need are provided for you to use, however if you have your favourite scissors, pins etc and would prefer to use your own, then please do bring them along.

Scoop Pinafore

Fabric requirements:
• Fabric – 2m (2 ¼ yards) x 150cm (60in) wide OR 2.5m (2 ¾ yards) x 115cm (45in) wide (45” wide is cut on crosswise grain so not suitable for directional fabrics)
• 0.5m lining
• 2.5m of matching or contrasting bias binding
• Matching thread

Fabric recommendations
Most mid-weight fabrics such as cotton, linen, denim, corduroy, lightweight wools, scuba, double knit.

Bettine Dress

Fabric requirements
• Fabric – 2m (2 ¼ yards) x 150cm (60in) wide OR 3m (3 ¼ yards) x 115cm (45in) wide
• Matching thread
• Your waist measurement in 9-12mm (1/2in) wide elastic
• 0.3m (1/2 yard) iron-on interfacing (similar weight to your fabric)
• Optional: 2 x 1.5-2cm (5/8-3/4in) buttons for cuff tabs

Fabric recommendations
Light- to medium-weight drapey fabrics, such as viscose (rayon), cotton voile, lawn or chambray. If you’re a confident stitcher, try a delicate crêpe or georgette.

Cleo Dress

Fabric requirements
• Mini length - 1.2m (1¼ yards) x 150cm (60in) wide OR 1.8m (2 yards) x 115cm (45in) wide
Knee length - 1.3m (1 3/8 yards) x 150cm (60in) wide OR 1.9m (2 1/8 yards) x 115cm (45in) wide
• Matching thread
• 0.4m (3/8 yards) iron-on interfacing (similar weight to your fabric)
• 2 x 30-35mm (1¼ - 1½in) wide dungaree buckles and 2 x no-sew jeans buttons OR 2 x 15-20mm buttons and buttonhole foot for your sewing machine
• Optional: Contrast colour topstitch thread and topstitch/embroidery needle

Fabric recommendations
Heavy or medium weight woven fabrics that hold their shape, such as denim, corduroy, cotton drill, gabardine, canvas, wool.

Scoop Pinafore

Pattern size range is 8-26 as shown below, if you are outside of this size range, please get in touch to discuss alternatives.
Size: Bust – Waist – Hips
8: 33” – 27” – 36”
26: 50” – 44” – 53”

Bettine and Cleo Dress

Patterns range from size 1 to 8 (Tilly & the Buttons own size range) as shown below, if you are outside of this range, please contact us to discuss other options.
Size: Bust – Waist – Hips
1: 30” – 24” – 33”
8: 44” – 38” – 45”

You’ll take home your fantastic dress, to wear and show off to your family & friends, a big smile at your sense of achievement, the pattern and instructions, so you can make your dress again at home and cement what you have learnt on the day.

And you’ll have all the skills you’ve learnt throughout the day and maybe made some new friends too.