Diploma Level 2

Design and Make Clothes That Truly Fit You

A year-long, in-person Diploma where you learn pattern cutting, fit and garment making from the ground up. So you can stop guessing and start creating clothes that actually work for your body and your life.

You’ll leave with your own blocks, a capsule wardrobe, and the confidence to design and make clothes you genuinely want to wear.

Apply for the 2026–27 Diploma

This Diploma is for you if:

You’ve been sewing for a while but still feel unsure about fit
You’re frustrated that handmade clothes don’t always feel quite right
You rely on commercial patterns but want to understand how to adapt them
You want to stop guessing and start making intentional choices
You’re ready to invest time in really learning the skills properly

And it’s probably not for you if:

You’re looking for quick projects or fast results
You’re not able to commit time between sessions
You’re not interested in understanding the “why” behind what you’re doing

What you’ll walk away with

Right now, you might be able to sew…

…but still feel unsure about fit, rely heavily on patterns, or find that your finished clothes don’t quite feel right.

This Diploma is about changing that.

By the end of the year, you will:

Have a complete set of personal blocks that fit your body properly
Understand how to adapt patterns - and create your own from scratch
Be able to diagnose and fix fit issues with confidence (instead of guessing)
Design and make garments that work together as a cohesive wardrobe
Choose fabrics more intentionally, knowing how they behave and why they matter
Feel confident making clothes that truly reflect your style and your life

You won’t just leave with more garments.

You’ll leave with the knowledge and confidence to keep creating clothes that actually work for you - long after the course has finished.

But is this right for you?

This is a year-long course, and it does require commitment - not just in time, but in how you approach your learning.

You’ll be stepping beyond simply following patterns and into understanding how clothes are really made, how they fit your body, and how to make more considered choices.

For the right person, that shift is incredibly powerful.

If you’re feeling ready to move beyond uncertainty, and want to feel more confident and in control of what you make… you’ll get a huge amount from this Diploma.

Don’t just take my word for it - here’s what some of our current Diploma students have to say.

"I’ve come a long way since starting this course - not just in skills, but in confidence and mindset too. It’s been challenging in the best way. It feels like I’ve found a bit of myself again - and that’s a pretty good place to be."

– Julie

“Initially I was very nervous about starting this course. I knew I wanted to be better but wasn’t really sure how to do that. The pattern cutting has shown me just how innovative you can be and that is exactly what I needed.”

– Julia

"I expected the course to challenge me and it has, and continues to do so. The ‘change one thing’ concept has been a game-changer for how I look at garments and plan possible makes. I look at clothes differently, more critically, more analytically now."

– Sarah

How is our Course structured?

Over the year, you’ll work through five key stages:

1. Design and Ideas

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Learn how to take ideas and turn them into the kinds of garments you want to wear. We will cover a range of techniques to help you whittle down your ideas to decide on the colours and styles that suit you and your lifestyle.

You will create a moodboard to help you focus your ideas and use a sketchbook to collate all your thoughts, fabric swatches and design ideas. You will also learn about presentation methods to showcase your final capsule wardrobe designs.

2. Working with Fabrics

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When working with different fabrics it’s important to understand the sewing and production processes that work best with each type of fabric.

Creating a set of sewing processes resources will help you make better choices when deciding how to make up your garment ideas.

You will develop an understanding of what processes and techniques will give you the best finish to your chosen garment. Along with the best tapes and interlinings to give your garments a more professional look and feel.

3. Pattern Cutting

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Learning to draft your own personal blocks will give you a much greater understanding of how you can better fit commercial patterns.

Creating a personal resource full of pattern adaptations using quarter and half scale samples will help you decide which adaptations you may wish to use to create your own patterns from basic blocks or to change and adapt commercial patterns to create the style of clothes you want to wear.

4. Fabric Manipulation

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As well as making garments we will be looking at how fabric can be manipulated to enhance and add decoration to particular designs and shapes.

This may involve a visit to the V&A or other relevant exhibitions or shows (circumstances permitting). You will also have the opportunity to experiment with some printing and dyeing techniques as well as stitched decorative techniques to create some fabric manipulation samples. These can be further developed into ideas to include in some of your final garments.

5. Producing your Capsule Collection

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Once all the other projects have been completed you will be well equipped with all the knowledge you need to design and create a capsule range of clothing that both fits you and your lifestyle, as well as your body shape.

You will be able to draw on all the theoretical and practical work you will have achieved in the first part of the course. Then use this to make far more considered and selective choices to create a range of clothes you really want to wear.

You're Not Doing This Alone

One of the biggest worries people have before joining the Diploma is whether they’ll be able to keep up. That’s completely understandable, but this course is built with plenty of support woven through the whole year.

This means you’ll be supported in the studio, between sessions and throughout the whole year. With guidance, encouragement and clear next steps whenever you need them.

14 Hours Studio Time Each Month

You’ll spend two full days with me in the studio every month, working through your blocks, garments, fitting questions and sewing techniques with hands-on guidance.

Monthly Group Tutorial

A 1-hour group tutorial gives us time to check in, talk through questions, share progress and learn from each other’s work.

Individual Zoom Tutorial

You’ll also have a monthly one-to-one Zoom tutorial, focused entirely on your own progress, questions and next steps.

Support Between Sessions

If you get stuck at home, you can ask questions by email or WhatsApp, so you’re not left guessing or worrying on your own.

Skills and experience required

You don’t need to be an advanced dressmaker to join the Diploma, but you do need some basic sewing experience.

You should feel comfortable:

Using a sewing machine and overlocker confidently
Following a commercial sewing pattern
Sewing simple garments (such as tops, skirts or trousers)
Understanding basic sewing terminology

What you don’t need is perfect technique or advanced skills. That’s exactly what you’re here to develop.

If you’re unsure whether this is the right level for you, just get in touch - I’m always happy to chat it through.

Are You ready to Commit?

This Diploma works best when it’s a true partnership.

I’ll be there to guide and support you - but to really benefit, you need to be able to show up for yourself too.

To get the most from the course, you’ll need to:

Attend your 2 monthly studio days (14 hours)
Join your group and 1:1 tutorials each month
Set aside around 8 hours per week to work at home
Take ownership of your learning - practise, ask questions, keep going
Commit to the full 12-month journey

If you can give this course your time and attention, the transformation in your skills and confidence can be huge.

Investment

The total cost for the course is £4800. This is broken down into a non-refundable initial investment of £800 to secure your place, then 11 monthly instalments of £333 and a final payment of £337.

There is also the option to pay for the balance of £4000 in full if you choose to.

This is a small, in-depth course, limited to just 6 students so that everyone receives the time, attention and support they need.

Diploma FAQs

That’s completely understandable and it’s exactly why there’s an application process.

The application form gives me a really clear picture of where you’re currently at with your skills and experience. From that, I can make sure the course is the right fit for you and tailor the support you receive.

During the Diploma, I can adapt tutorial sessions and in-studio guidance to focus on the specific processes and skills you need to develop, so you’re not left trying to keep up or fill in gaps on your own.

If you’re still unsure, you’re always welcome to get in touch for a chat before applying.

To really make progress, you’ll need to be able to continue your work between studio sessions.

That means having access to a sewing machine at home, and ideally an overlocker too, so you can practise techniques and develop your garments as you go.

Alongside that, you’ll need some basic pattern cutting tools and simple drawing materials to help you plan, adapt and develop your designs.

You won’t be left to figure this out on your own. Before the course begins, you’ll receive a full list of everything you might need. This includes the essentials to get you started, additional tools you can add over time, and a carefully chosen reading list to support your learning throughout the year.

You’ll finish the year with a set of well-fitting blocks, a collection of garments made from them, and - most importantly —-the knowledge and confidence to design and make clothes that truly work for you.

Along the way, there’s also a moment to pause and celebrate. You’ll have the opportunity to showcase your work to friends and family, seeing just how far you’ve come, and you’ll receive a beautiful certificate to mark your achievement at the end of the course.

Design and Make Clothes That Truly Fit You

A year-long, in-person Diploma where you learn pattern cutting, fit and garment making from the ground up. So you can stop guessing and start creating clothes that actually work for your body and your life.

This Diploma is for you if: