Home All Garment Construction Principles - Virtual Workshop

Garment Construction Principles - Virtual Workshop - Victory Patterns

Garment Construction Principles - Virtual Workshop

$125.00 USD

( / )

Unavailable

Please select all options.

You've learned to thread your sewing machine and maybe completed a few beginner projects — but something still feels off. Your seams don't lie flat, your corners aren't clean, and you're not sure why. This workshop is designed for exactly that moment in your sewing journey.

Garment Construction Principles is a live, virtual workshop that takes you beyond pattern-following and into a genuine understanding of how and why quality garments are made. You'll work through the essential foundational techniques used in every garment — from simple beginner pieces to complex designs — covering the details that separate a homemade look from a well-crafted finish.

This is a hands-on class. As we work through each technique together, you'll build your own set of fabric samples, creating a personalized reference book of methods you'll return to for every project you make from here on.

By the end of the workshop, you won't just know what to do, you'll understand why it works, giving you the confidence to apply these principles to any pattern, adapt when things go wrong, and bring a more professional standard to everything you sew.

This is a 3-session workshop with 6 hours of total class time, held live on Zoom.
Registration includes a printed PDF workbook and sample PDF pattern.

Class Schedule

6:30–8:30pm Eastern (EDT)

Wednesday, April 15
Wednesday, April 22
Wednesday, April 29

What to Prepare Before Class

Included with Registration

A PDF workbook to print before class begins
A PDF sample pattern with preparation instructions

You'll Need to Supply

Fabric & Materials

1.25 yards/metres of muslin (plus scrap fabric for practice)
0.25 yards/metres of fusible interfacing, lightweight to medium weight
Polyester thread-a contrasting colour is strongly recommended for these exercises (black works well)
10" (25 cm) Fusible tape

Machine & Equipment

Sewing machine
Iron and ironing surface

Hand Tools

Fabric scissors
Pins
Seam ripper
Measuring tape
Pencil or fabric marker
Point turner
Tailor's ham (optional but not essential. You can follow this tutorial to make your own)

Included in Class

A PDF workbook that will need to be printed before the class.
A PDF pattern for class samples. These will need to be prepared and cut out in muslin, in preparation for sewing the demonstrations in class.
An introduction guide and video to help you with class preparation (cutting class samples).

Who This Class Is For

This workshop is designed for sewers who are past the very beginning stages — you can operate your machine and have completed at least one or two projects — but you're ready to understand the why behind the techniques, not just follow instructions.

This class is great if you:

Are a beginner sewer who wants a strong, confident foundation in garment construction
Find yourself unsatisfied with your results but aren't sure what you're doing wrong
Want to understand core techniques that apply to every garment you'll ever make
Are largely self-taught and feel like you may have missed some fundamentals along the way

What You’ll Learn

Tools & Terminology

Essential sewing tools and pressing aids, and how to use them effectively
Key garment construction terminology you'll encounter in any pattern

Pressing & Finishing
Pressing methods and techniques that create a clean, professional result
Basic seam finishes that improve garment quality and longevity

Seam Management
Grading, clipping, notching, and understitching to reduce bulk and eliminate tension
Stabilising seams to prevent stretching and distortion
Staystitching to preserve the shape of cut fabric edges

Sewing with Control
Sewing clean corners, opposing corners, and opposing curves with confidence
Controlling fabric feed and tension across straight, curved, and shaped stitches
Applying directional sewing to maintain garment integrity

Shaping & Structure
Building garment shape through darts and shaped seams
Understanding interfacing: types, selection, placement, and application

Virtual Class Details:

Joining the class:

You'll need a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a reliable internet connection. A larger screen is strongly recommended for the best visibility.
Classes are held on Zoom. If you don't already have it, you can download Zoom here.
Your Zoom link and password will be emailed the day before the first session to the address provided at checkout. Please double-check your email address when registering.

Camera Setup:
An overhead close-up view of the work surface
A dedicated camera focused on the sewing machine
A face-to-face camera for demonstrations and conversation

Recordings & Catch-Up

Each session is recorded. If you fall behind during class or need to miss a session, recordings are available for review for 30 days following the final workshop date.

Class Policies & Cancellations

Please review our full class policies before registering, including cancellation and refund terms.