Join sewing tutor Lauren Holloway for a three-day dressmaking course and develop your skills as you make your own classic overshirt.

Make a relaxed, workwear-inspired jacket with dropped shoulders and a cropped length in just 3-days. The overshirt is a versatile wardrobe layer – and the perfect project for developing more advanced dressmaking techniques.

Over the three days, Lauren will guide you through the process of constructing your garment from start to finish. You'll learn how to create professionally finished run and fell and French seams, construct intricate plackets and cuffs, and confidently insert sleeves.

As your overshirt takes shape, you'll tackle a classic collar and collar stand, patch pockets and a double yoke before learning how to create neat buttonholes and add the finishing details to your garment. Lauren will share plenty of practical tips and techniques throughout the course to help you achieve an accurate, professional finish.

Working through a more involved garment construction will give you the opportunity to understand how different elements of a sewing pattern come together and develop skills you can take into future clothes-making projects.

By the end of the course, you'll have developed a range of more advanced dressmaking and shirt-making techniques and gained greater confidence in tackling complex sewing projects. Best of all, you'll leave with your own beautifully finished overshirt – a useful, handmade wardrobe piece designed to be worn and enjoyed for years to come.

This course is suitable for intermediate dressmakers or ambitious and confident beginners with previous dressmaking experience. You should have basic sewing skills and feel confident using a sewing machine. Lauren teaches in a relaxed and supportive way, with guidance throughout the making process.

The sewing pattern and interfacing are included in the course price, bring your own choice of material.

Please note: This workshop takes place across three consecutive Wednesdays.

Tutor: Lauren Holloway
Date & Time: Wednesdays 18th, 25th November and 2nd December, 10:15am - 4:15pm
Venue: Scissors Studio, New Brewery Arts
Price: £105.00 (£0.00 VAT)

Please note that this workshop is for those aged 18 and over.

You are welcome to bring a lidded bottle of water with you but we kindly ask that you do not bring food into the studio.

Refreshments are available at our on-site café Blend until 4pm.

For more information:
Visit our FAQ page

Who is this workshop for?
This is an intermediate or ambitious beginner project so basic skills and confidence using a sewing machine is essential and previous dressmaking experience is desired.

What you will need:
Sewing pattern and interfacing are included in the workshop price. You will need to bring your own fabric, matching thread and buttons. Recommended fabrics are denim, twill, canvas, corduroy, needlecord, light woollen weave, flannel, brushed cotton or lighter fabrics like cotton poplin/lawn and linen. You will also need 8 x medium buttons (around 1.5cm), 2 x smaller buttons (for the plackets).

More information regarding fabric quantity will be emailed to you on booking.

All threads and equipment are included. You may wish to bring thread to match your fabric.

Sewing machines can be provided, but we recommend you bring your own sewing machine if you have one - please bring a standard foot and buttonhole foot.

Meet Your Tutor - Lauren HolLoway

Designer and Maker Lauren Holloway has been running her own slow-fashion handbag and accessory brand since 2013. She specialises in making sustainable bags, purses, laptop cases and toiletry storage, all handcrafted in her Bristol-based studio.

She has extensive knowledge and experience in designing patterns and sewing anything from coin purses to backpacks. Lauren offers a range of sewing workshops from beginner to intermediate level, where participants can learn the basics of using a domestic sewing machine, brush up on existing sewing skills or develop new techniques to improve their craft.