The Slow Fashion Sewing Course
Become an advanced sewist with The Slow Fashion Sewing Course, our most all-inclusive course to date, created to give you sewing skills to last a lifetime.
7 Online Workshops + 7 PDF Patterns Included
Beginner Friendly
Learn 42 Sewing Skills + Fitting Adjustments
15 Hours of Videos | Online at Your Own Pace
Metric + Imperial Measurements (with pattern layers)
UK/AUS Sizes: 4-28 | US Sizes: 2-24
Worth Over £360
Lifetime Access
A Lifetime of Sewing Starts Here
Whether you're a total beginner or intermediate, across 7 projects you’ll learn how to sew with precision and confidence, finishing with an understanding of fabrics, fitting to your body, advanced construction techniques and how to make clothes that last.
This is an investment in your sewing skills that you can return to throughout your life. Our aim is to give you the knowledge and confidence to make beautiful clothes that will last a lifetime.
What's Included
- The Slow Fashion Sewing Course Homepage with exclusive course chapters (detailed below)
- 7 x Online Workshops (15 hours of learning)
- 7 x PDF Patterns
- Full Body Fitting Guide
- Lifetime access to updates and improvements
Course Chapters:
- How to Build a Sustainable Wardrobe
- Planning Your Capsule
- Tools & Beginner Tips
- Achieving the Perfect Fit
- Cost Saving Tips
- Re-make, Reinvent & Repair
Online Workshops:
- Day Tote
- Cara Top
- Frida Shirt
- Over Shirt
- Daphne Trousers
- Worker Trousers
- Darcy Coat
Skills You'll Learn
Learning to sew well is about much more than being able to follow a pattern. Throughout the course, we'll teach you the techniques, habits and understanding that will help you approach all future sewing projects with confidence.
- 7 different projects will build a broad and transferable set of skills
- Establish strong foundations with sewing at a high standard from the start
- Progress on to more complex construction and tailoring techniques
- Learn how to handle different fabrics and use your tools effectively
- Achieve beautiful, high-quality finishes throughout each garment
- Save countless hours of trial and error
Fitting Guidance
One of the greatest advantages of making your own clothes is the opportunity to create something that truly fits you. The course will give you an explanation of how each pattern is cut with fit areas to pay attention to.
General Fitting Guidance:
- How to Measure Your Body
- Grading Between Sizes
- How to Sew + Fit Your Toile
- Shortening & Lengthening Pattern Pieces
Upper Body Adjustments:
- How to Add a Dart
- Full Bust Adjustment Without a Dart
- Increasing the Size of a Dart
- How to Move a Dart
- Narrow/Wide Shoulder Adjustment
- High Rounded Back Adjustment
- Full Bicep Adjustment
Trouser Adjustments:
- Reduce/Lengthen a Trouser Rise
- Shorten/Lengthen Trouser Crotch
- Full Tummy Adjustment
- Full/Flat Seat Adjustment
- Swayback Adjustment
- Basic Leg Re-Shaping
- Amending the Waistband
Skill Level
This course is suitable for sewists of all levels, including total beginners.
Intermediate level sewers will learn how to fine tune precision sewing skills, correct bad habits and complete complex construction techniques with ease.
Total beginners will learn how to sew to a high standard right from the start with the support of beginner tips and easy projects to get going with.
What's You'll Make:
Beginner Tips
If you're a total beginner we'll help to get off to the best possible start with tips including how to start with a minimal tool kit, setting up your sewing machine and practising some of our favourite seams.
Day Tote
Kicking off with the Day Tote, you'll learn how to sew simple techniques to a high standard.
Top 3 Skills:
- Piping
- Pockets
- Sewing a lining
Cara Top
Moving on to garment making, you'll learn a handful of key techniques to give you a strong foundation.
Top 3 Skills:
- French Seams
- Sewing & attaching a mandarin collar
- Hemming
Frida Shirt
Building on these skills with the Frida Shirt to make a more substantial garment and learning additional techniques.
Top 3 Skills:
- Sewing a double back yoke with gathering detail
- Inserting a fitted sleeve with ease
- Flat Binding finishing
Over Shirt
Moving on to shirt making you'll start to build on your precision sewing with classic shirt construction.
Top 3 Skills:
- Run & fell seams
- Classic collar and collar stand
- Square topped placket and cuff
Daphne Trousers
Starting your trouser making journey the emphasis is on learning a zip fly with binding finishing.
Top 3 Skills:
- Back Darts
- Zip Fly with Binding Finishing
- Straight, One-piece Waistband
Worker Trousers
Moving on to a more complex pattern to complete your skills in trouser making.
Top 3 Skills:
- Front Pockets
- Concealed Button Fly with Binding Finishing
- Curved Three-Piece Waistband & Belt Loops
Darcy Coat
Lastly, a masterclass in tailoring with our Darcy Coat to create a fully lined, hand finished, tailored coat.
Top 3 Skills:
- Welt Pockets
- Attaching outer shell & lining
- Hand sewn Finishings
Chapters Include:
Sewing a Sustainable Wardrobe
We'll introduce you to the slow fashion mindset with discussions around climate conscious style and building a considered capsule.
Know Your Fibres
Fabrics start life as raw fibres and it's important to understand the natural properties of the raw fibres and what projects they're suitable for.
You'll learn about the full range of raw fibres, the technical properties of each along with sustainable certification.
The Perfect Fit For You
One of the biggest joys of home sewing is being able to sew garments that fit you perfectly. You'll have access to our in-dept full body fitting guide to help you make clothes that are just right for you.
Planning Your Capsule
Get your creative juices flowing when it comes to planning your capsule wardrobe. We'll talk you through how to curate a wardrobe for summer and winter along with tips for choosing trimmings that work across the whole range.
Tools & Beginner Tips
If you're a total beginner this chapter is for you. We'll talk you through how to start your sewing journey with a reduced tool kit so you can get started nice and easily.
Cost Saving Tips
We've shared some of our top cost saving tips along with tips from our community to make your materials work harder for you and reduce your shopping list.
Re-make, Reinvent & Repair
Get the most out of your makes with our final chapter, sharing ideas for how you can make and hack each pattern after you've made it once. We'll also give you repair tips on extending the life-span of your garment.
You’ll finish with:
You’ll finish with 7 beautifully made garments that fit your unique style and body shape, along with the technical knowledge to take your sewing wherever you want.
In search of something better
From Fast to Slow Fashion
If you’re frustrated by wasteful fast fashion, you’re not alone. Our Founder Hetty walked away from her career in the mainstream fashion industry in search of a more thoughtful approach to clothing.
Inspired by the belief that there’s a better way to build a wardrobe, she created the Slow Fashion Sewing Course.
From understanding natural fibres, choosing fabrics and mastering professional sewing techniques to encouraging a repair and reuse philosophy, this course is designed to help you build a sewing practice that is creative, considered and inherently sustainable.
Learn to Sew at Home
A Hand Made Revolution
You don’t need a fashion degree, a professional studio or lots of specialist equipment. With a sewing machine, a kitchen table and the right guidance, you can learn how to make beautiful clothes from your own home.
You’ll join thousands of sewists all across the world who are turning their backs on fast fashion and overconsumption culture.
Instead, they’re choosing our patterns and workshops to learn to craft quality, timeless garments.
FAQs
I’m a complete beginner — can I enrol on this course?
Yes, the course has been designed so that you can start as a complete beginner and gradually build your skills as you work through the projects. We begin with beginner guidance and the Day Tote workshop before moving into garment making and progressively more advanced construction and tailoring techniques.
The course is also perfect for intermediate level sewers who will learn how to fine tune precision sewing skills, correct bad habits and complete complex construction techniques with ease.
Do I need to complete the course in order?
We recommend following the projects in order if you're a beginner as each workshop will gradually build on the skills you've already learnt. More experienced sewers are welcome to work through the course in whichever order suits them.
How long do I have access to the course?
You have lifetime access. There are no deadlines, you can work through the course entirely at your own pace and watch the videos as many times as you like. You'll also receive access to future updates and improvements as and when we release them.
What do I need to get started?
You'll need access to a sewing machine, an iron & ironing board as well as some basic tools which include: sharp scissors, pins, a tape measure, unpicker/seam ripper, sewing needle and chalk.
After you've downloaded your PDF patterns you'll need to print them out. You can do that at home or by sending the files to a print shop. You can read more about how to print PDF patterns here.
You'll also need to source your fabric and trimmings and each workshop page will have advice on the specific materials you'll need.
I already own one or more of the included workshops - can I upgrade to this course?
If you already own any of these workshops or patterns you can upgrade to this course at a discounted price.
- Make sure you’re logged into your account
- Add the course to your basket
- You’ll see your custom discount automatically added at the checkout page
- Discounts are automatically calculated on account expenditure to give you an upgrade option at a cheaper price
- The upgrade discounts will be available until 5th October
Please note that due to the vast number of customer accounts and variations in purchase history we are not able to provide personalised discounts for each individual customer. We have worked out the fairest way to provide discounts to existing customers without under valuing the hard work that has gone into creating this course.
Can I take the course from outside the UK?
Absolutely, the course is completely online and can be accessed worldwide. All of the patterns include both metric and imperial measurements.
How do I access the course?
As soon as you purchase the course you'll receive access to your online course homepage along with the PDF pattern downloads. You can start immediately and return whenever you like.
Can I ask for help if I get stuck?
Of course, if you have any questions you can email us at hello@modernsewingco.com and we'll help you get back on track.
Wonderful makes from our community:
@pippiannshirley
Darcy Coat
@timetosew
Worker Trousers
@pernilleboegh
Darcy Coat
@atelierelsewhere
Worker Trousers
@elephantinthestudy
Worker Trousers
@mossydevon
Over Shirt
@sareeka_sews
Darcy Coat
@sewkland
Frida Shirt
@other.makes
Worker Trouser & Over Shirt
@rachelsalenius
Frida Shirt
@calexan
Cara Top
@studioneeela
Daphne Trousers
Meet Your Teacher
Created by Hetty
Hetty is the founder of the Modern Sewing Co. - a designer, pattern cutter and teacher with 15 years of experience making clothes.
After graduating from London College of Fashion she worked in the fashion industry while also teaching shirt-making classes on the side. It was here that she discovered a love for helping people to make beautifully crafted clothes.
Her online sewing classes took off in the pandemic and so she launched Modern Sewing Co. in 2021 to continue building on her vision - combining her experience in professional garment making with an alternative approach to building a wardrobe.
The Slow Fashion Sewing Course brings all of that experience together. It’s Hetty’s most complete approach to teaching sewing: going beyond individual garments to give you a deeper understanding and love for the whole making process.