Certificate in Sewing L1 CLEAYDC2110 Joanna Spillman

Useful info on islington acl;, your rights and responsibilities, centres, etc.

If you or someone you know are at risk of mental or physical harm contact details for help are here

Don't understand a sewing word or term? Then look it up here.

A useful form to list what you need to know and resources you use to develop your design  ideas

Another form to document your work on the samples you produce: seams, darts, fastenings, etc.

A lovely collection of storyboards to give you some ideas.

Simply the best youtube videos for cutting and making fast fashionable clothes, this one is for a tulle skirt but will take you to lots of other great ideas. Useful for ideas for your storyboard.

This page will help you with shopping for basic sewing resources

This video demonstrates how to load and thread the bobbin on a Pfaff Hobby 1122

All machines are threaded differently so you may need to look for specific instructions for your own machine.

Easy to do: Google your machine model number and user manual. 

Whether you are using a pattern, copying something or simply cutting its great to measure the wearer first. You can see a few basic tips here but do add additional info that you think is relevant.

Read the info in this document to familiarise yourself with some H&S regulations

Read the info in this document to familiarise yourself with some H&S regulations

How to cut fabric strips on the bias

A video guide to using a blind hem foot for finishing fine and lightweight fabrics with an embroidered shell hem.

This is not a required sample for Level 1 but it is useful  for knits and jersey fabrics so try it if you like and have a twin needle.

Level 1 assessment assignment

A guide to making darts

If you don't have pattern pieces you can use these templates to make your single and double pointed dart samples.

Once you know the garment you are going to make you will need a pattern. We have some patterns at DRCR you can use and adapt, alternatively you can copy a garment or provide a good sketch with measurements and make your own pattern.

Occasionally you can find GOOD free patterns online. If you do send or bring the link to class and we can add it to this list

A quick exercise to practise and get to know embroidery/satin stitches

A short video demonstrating how to use a darning foot and darning plate (or dropped feed-dogs) for free machine embroidery.

A useful link to many hand embroidery stitches with brief diagrams and videos that may help with the applique project. Don't worry if you haven't got an embroidery hoop, you'll be fine for this project.

A short video to demonstrate how to stitch parallel lines using a quilting guide. 

Have a read of this to help improve your sewing.

A nice quick bit of hand sewing

This is a great hand stitch to learn, quick and strong. Use it for your fastenings.

A quick Demo on preparing to attach snap and hook and eye fastenings. Click on the button to view.

A Demo on attaching snap fasteners.

A Demo on finishing your stitching

A Demo on attaching hooks and eyes

Picot edged elastic tends to be used on lightweight fabrics, eg lingerie, light tops, etc.

Very easy to use and combines hemming and stretch.

This is a lovely easy way to gather fabric. Its not a Level 1 requirement so you don't have to make a sample but its good to know about and you may want to use it for your garment so handy to have it here.

A short video to show you how to make plain 1cm tucks. If you have a quilting guide you may find it useful here.

A short video on making pin tucks

A variety of body templates to choose from. You can print out or copy into a document and draw directly onto them or use grease paper (baking paper) as an alternative to tracing paper to experiment with your drawings and present them as overlays in your storyboards.

A variety of body templates to choose from. You can print out or copy into a document and draw directly onto them or use grease paper (baking paper) as an alternative to tracing paper to experiment with your drawings and present them as overlays in your storyboards.

How to sew a buttonhole using a one step buttonhole foot. And then so much more, tips on tension, zips, accessories, applique, embroidery. Well worth a look, skip the adds and forward to advice on numerous techniques.

The best way to sew on a button by hand to make sure it lasts, includes creating a shank.

There are different buttonholes for different fabrics and uses. This guide has a lot of information if you want to learn more than the basics about buttonholes

1. Video showing good economical use of fabric and using pattern pieces. 

A demo to show how and why we use under-stitching and bias trims.

This form is in the Statement of intent assignment folder and if you use it submit it from there.

So I can find things quickly in your folders for assessment we use the sheets in this folder to show where your evidence is. There is one for each unit and you only need 105 - 108 according to the garment you are making. They look quite complicated but do help you see exactly what you need in your folders and where to put it. Don't worry about page numbers yet and some samples could be in more than one unit.

A hand out with diagrams to help with piping for the patch pocket

This one is a bit more fancy. Try it if you like.

First bits of sewing: Loops, Stay Stitching

Attaching the bias strip to the sleeve opening

Gathering stitches

Gathering

Stitching the gathers

Top stitching the cuff

Here you can see links to some reasonably priced private courses and classes where you can learn particular techniques.

This page will show you how to measure windows and how much fabric to use