I have never used a sewing machine
Start with Course 1: Beginner Pattern-Making. You learn to take measurements, draft your own blocks, and sew a garment from them. Everything else in the school builds on this course, so there is no way to skip it.
Sewing Courses in Cape Town
We teach sewing the long way round: you draft the pattern, then you build the garment. It takes longer than following a printed pattern, and it is the reason our students can make something that fits a real body instead of an approximation of one.
Classes run from our studio in Avondale, Parow — small groups, industrial machines, and a teacher who will unpick a seam with you rather than let it go.
Where to start, honestly
People arrive at three different places. Read the one that sounds like you.
I can sew but nothing ever fits
That is usually a pattern problem, not a sewing problem. Course 2: Beginner Garment Construction takes the blocks you drafted in Course 1 and turns them into different dress designs, adjusting them for the body you are actually sewing for.
I want to do this for a living
Take the Courses 1 to 4 package, which runs from beginner blocks through streetwear, tailored jackets and waistcoats. It is the path our working alumni took, and it is enrolled as one package so you are not arranging four separate bookings.
What you can actually make afterwards
Blocks that fit
A skirt, bodice and sleeve block drafted to your own measurements — the foundation every later garment is adapted from.
Garments, not samples
Finished pieces built on industrial machines, with seams and finishes that survive being worn and washed.
The ability to adapt
The point of drafting: change a neckline, add a dart, move a seam — and know what it will do to the fit before you cut.
A path onward
Streetwear construction, tailored jackets and waistcoats, corsetry and draping, or short workshops in swimwear, grading and garment cloning.
Practical things people ask before enrolling
Do I need to know how to sew before starting?
No. Course 1 assumes you have never drafted a pattern. You start with taking measurements and drafting your own blocks, then sew from those blocks. Most beginners are cutting and constructing within the first few sessions.
What is the difference between a sewing class and a pattern making course?
A sewing class usually teaches you to follow someone else's pattern. Our courses teach you to draft the pattern yourself, so the garment fits the body in front of you and you can adapt it into other designs. It is slower to learn and far more useful afterwards.
Do you supply the sewing machines?
Yes. The studio in Parow is equipped with industrial machines and overlockers, and everything is included in the course fee. You bring fabric and a basic sewing kit; we sell a beginner kit at the studio if you would rather not shop around.
How much do the courses cost?
Individual courses are R2 250. The full Courses 1 to 4 package, which is what most people take if they intend to work professionally, is R9 000. Fees can be split into three instalments via Payflex at checkout.
How long does it take to learn to sew properly?
Course 1 runs one session a week and gets you comfortable with drafting and construction. Most students who want to make garments independently take Courses 1 and 2; those who want to work professionally or start a label work through Courses 1 to 4.
Can I do a sewing course if I work full time?
Yes. Classes are scheduled around working hours, and the express format compresses Courses 1 to 4 for people who need to move faster. There are also online pattern making lessons if travelling to Parow is not practical.
Next step
If you are unsure which course suits you, tell us what you have sewn before and we will tell you where to begin — which is often Course 1, even when people expect to start further along.
Phone the studio on (081) 330-8775 or email info@schooloffashion.co.za.