Born from our desire to branch out from shirts, trousers and outerwear, The Art of Dress Making is the latest chapter in our Online Workshop Series. Designed to equip you with 16 professional techniques across three exceptional dress designs, we've developed this course to meaningfully expand your skillset and build your confidence as a sewist.
Three Dresses. One Complete Dressmaking Course.
The workshop centres on three original The Modern Sewing Co. dress designs: the Celia Dress, the Sienna Dress and the brand new Amalie Wrap Dress. Each has its own character and techniques, but together they form a complete and considered collection.
With three hours of detailed video tutorials, step-by-step photo guides and a comprehensive fitting guide to help you adapt each pattern perfectly to your own body, this course is designed to be taken at your own pace and in deliberate stages, consciously building your skills and confidence as you progress. As with all of our workshops, the Art of Dress Making is structured so that each piece builds on the last. Mastering the Celia Dress gives you the foundation to approach the Sienna Dress, and completing both prepares you fully for the Amalie Wrap Dress.
The Celia Dress
The foundation of The Art of Dress Making is the Celia Dress Workshop, taught through in-depth video tutorials with our Founder, Hetty. Our very first dress, Celia has been part of our pattern range for four years and remains one of our most loved designs.
As a natural evolution from shirt and outerwear making, the influence of tailoring is visible throughout: in the collar and lapel with facing finish, the double yoke with gather detail and the two-piece fitted sleeve. We love the considered construction and versatility of the Celia - it can be worn for weekends or workdays dependent on fabric choices.
The Sienna Dress
Once you have completed the Celia, you will move on to the Sienna Dress using our detailed step-by-step photo guide. Designed with high summer in mind, the Sienna uses structure rather than surface decoration or print to bring a garment to life. Pin tucks create sculptural detail through the bodice and fluid movement through the skirt, while an invisible zip finishes the piece with quiet precision. It's a dress that feels effortless to wear, thanks to its careful construction.
The Amalie Wrap Dress
The Amalie Wrap Dress is our most sophisticated design to date. Developed in close collaboration with our pattern cutter Hanni, this is a wrap dress with a drop waist silhouette and a gathered, voluminous skirt. We designed the Amalie to be elevated and polished in appearance, but importantly, feel completely comfortable to wear.
Key techniques include an inverted sleeve pleat, inserting the fitting sleeve head, a gathered skirt with side pockets and a fully lined bodice.
The Amalie Wrap Dress is sewn with no overlocking or raw edges on the inside, making it a really high quality piece you can be proud to make and wear.
Who Is This Course For?
If you have completed any of our previous sewing workshops and are ready to add new techniques to your repertoire, the Art of Dress Making is the natural next step.
If you are an ambitious beginner looking to learn at a professional level from the outset (and avoid picking up bad habits), this is a great place to start.
Begin Making
From first sketch to final fittings, from drafting patterns to filming detailed video tutorials with Hetty, the Art of Dress Making Online Workshop has been a real labour of love here in the studio. We can't wait to see your takes on the designs - please do tag us on Instagram.
