Intro to Garment Making: Make a Merchant and Mills Dress - Two Days

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Maximum Class Size: 6

Level 3: Improver For students who are confident using a sewing machine and ready to start garment sewing. A great next step after completing our Introduction to Machine Sewing or the Beginners All Day.

This two-day workshop is a great entry point into dressmaking using one of Merchant & Mills’ classic patterns, all carefully selected as approachable first garments. With step-by-step guidance, you’ll learn how to take body measurements, understand commercial pattern markings, and construct your own dress from start to finish.

Choose from a range of timeless styles, each offering a different construction experience and outcome. You can view the pattern options here. This class is perfect for building confidence and creating a beautiful, wearable piece for your handmade wardrobe.

What You’ll Learn

  • Taking accurate body measurements
  • Reading and understanding commercial patterns and notations
  • Preparing fabric and cutting accurately
  • Applying core garment construction techniques
  • Working with facings, darts, sleeves, or gathers (pattern dependent)
  • Finishing seams and hems

Materials

The sewing pattern is included. You’ll need to bring your own fabric, and we recommend starting with a plain, easy-to-handle woven fabric if this is your first garment.

All sewing machines, tools, and essential materials such as interfacing and thread are provided. You’ll receive fabric advice and requirements upon booking, and our team is happy to assist in-store.

Booking a class at Ray Stitch entitles you to 10% off everything in-store for one week. Our team is happy to help you choose a suitable fabric for your chosen pattern.

Cancellation Policy

Our classes are non refundable. Due our small class sizes it is very difficult to transfer your booking to a different date. If you cannot attend a class and are able to notify us at least two weeks before the class starts, it may be possible to fit you in on another date but this is not guaranteed so please give us as much notice as possible to increase your chances.

In the event that we need to cancel a class, we will provide as much notice as possible and offer either a full refund or an alternative booking date.