Free beginners guide to dressmaking
Start sewing today or enjoy a skills-boost to up your dressmaking game with our free guide to making clothes – including everything you need to know from seams to zips, sleeves and pattern matching!

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New to dressmaking or simply want a little refresher? You’re in the right place. We know some techniques can be intimidating if you’re just starting out, which is why we’ve made this free guide to help you (the kind of book we wish we’d had when we started!).
The Essential Guide to Dressmaking will introduce you to making your own clothes with step-by-step guides, tips and advice for every stage of the process. Scroll down to download your copy today.

From cutting out your pattern to inserting pockets and zips, we’re with you each step of the way. Keep our guide close to your sewing machine and tick each technique off as you go. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised how easy it is…

Once you’ve mastered the basics, we’ll talk you through everything you need to know about garment construction, from inserting sleeves and adding pockets to zips, seams and hemming.

21 techniques to try
- Get to know your sewing machine
- Measuring and fitting
- Pattern markings
- Fabric markers
- Fabric types and uses
- Preparing your pattern
- Using interfacing
- Sewing tricky fabrics
- Pattern matching
- Scissors and shears
- Pressing tips and tools
- Seam finishes
- Plain and French seams
- Zip types and uses
- Anatomy of a zip
- Inserting an invisible zip
- In-seam pockets
- Patch pockets
- Set-in sleeves
- Flat insertion sleeves
- Hemming
Get your copy of The Essential Guide to Dressmaking here.
