Sewing: Patternmaking Extension Course

Expand your patternmaking skills and bring your garment designs to life with our sewing & patternmaking short courses in Sydney!

If you’ve developed your own pattern blocks and are ready to take the next step, this Patternmaking Extension course will show you how to turn those foundations into a wide range of garment designs.

Building directly on your existing patternmaking knowledge, you’ll learn how to manipulate skirt, bodice and pant blocks to create new styles and design variations. Through a structured, hands-on approach, you’ll explore how different pattern changes influence fit, shape, and design—giving you greater control over the garments you create.

Across the course, you’ll work through a variety of styles, developing patterns for skirts, shirts, and pants with different silhouettes and design features. You’ll also explore how to incorporate elements such as collars, cuffs, pockets, and waistbands into your patterns.

In the final session, you’ll apply everything you’ve learned to develop your own design, working from a sketch to create a custom pattern.

With a focus on practical application and individual guidance, this course supports you in building confidence and independence in patternmaking.

If you’re looking for an introductory course, our Sewing Essentials or Patternmaking Essentials courses may be more suitable.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Patternmaking: Extension course, participants will have developed practical skills and knowledge in areas such as:

• Using skirt, bodice and pant blocks to develop garment designs
• Applying pattern manipulation techniques to create design variations
• Developing pattern details such as collars, cuffs, pockets and waistbands
• Adapting basic blocks to create new garment styles
• Improving confidence in drafting and modifying patterns

Course content

What will be covered in this Patternmaking: Extension course?

During the course, participants will be guided through key concepts, techniques and approaches that typically include:

Lesson 1: Skirts

• Developing a variety of skirt patterns from your block
• Examples include: A-line skirt with waistband, pencil skirt with facing, skirt with yoke, full circle skirt, and gathered skirt

Note: If you are interested in menswear or male fashion, you may choose to begin with a shirt or pants in Week 1 instead of a skirt.

Lesson 2: Shirts

• Developing a range of shirt patterns from your block
• Examples include: sleeveless shirt, shirt with gathered short sleeves, shirt with long sleeves and cuff, collared shirt

Lesson 3: Pants

• Developing a variety of pants patterns from your block
• Examples include: pants with waistband or facing, pants with pockets, flared pants

Lesson 4: Your own project

• Bringing a drawing of your own design (front and back)
• Creating a pattern for your design using your blocks and patternmaking techniques learned throughout the course

Please note: Most Patternmaking Extension courses run as four full-day sessions. If you are enrolled in the eight-session evening course, you will cover approximately half a lesson per session.

Content may vary slightly depending on class pace, participant progress, design choices, and instructor approach.

Intended audience

Who is this Patternmaking: Extension course for?

This course is designed for students looking to build on their patternmaking knowledge and expand their skills in garment design.

It is suitable for confident sewists and garment-makers who want to develop their ability to create and modify patterns for different styles.

Prior experience in patternmaking is essential. We recommend completing our Patternmaking Essentials course or having equivalent experience.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd in the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Accessibility: This class takes place in an upper-level room accessible by stairs only. The lift is currently out of service. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Course materials

What to bring to class

• 3 metres of calico
• Ruler (a long ruler over 50cm is ideal)
• Tracing wheel (spiked)
• Paper scissors
• Measuring tape
• Notebook and pens to take notes
• Sharp pencils and a rubber
• Stapler
• Masking Tape
• One red and one black or blue thick marker pens
• An A4 folder with some plastic sheets
• Brown paper lunch bags
• 2 large glue sticks such as UHU
• Water and snacks

Additional information

Please note the following:

• For classes running all day, a 30-minute lunch break will take place halfway through the class. Students are encouraged to bring their own lunch, or there are cafés and takeaway options nearby on Darling Street.
• Please wear closed-in shoes.