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Be Your Own Designer

Design the wardrobe of your dreams… and make it!

What would you create if you had the tools, experience and knowledge to start re-designing your favourite patterns or even start creating your own?

Be Your Own Designer is a pattern subscription with a difference! We won’t dictate to you what to wear, we will enable you the make your clothes exactly the way you want them by teaching you all the essential pattern making skills you need!

The Be Your Own Designer subscription is so much more than a course!

You’ll be part of a supportive online community connecting with your fellow learners who can’t wait to learn with you! With live support from your tutor and all the resources you need, you can sew beautiful, well-fitting clothes that fill you with confidence and pride.

What’s included

Everything you need to know

  • Be Your Own Designer is a Pattern Making course with 9 modules covering a variety of essential pattern making skills.

  • The subscription is delivered over 12 months, with recap and recap and support sessions and fabric, fitting and techniques masterclasses in between.

  • There are lots of free resources, including patterns, blocks, fitting guides, and design templates.

  • You will be invited to join an exclusive Virtual Sewing Room Pattern Makers session every month. These sessions will dive into topics from the current module, tackle troubleshooting, and include time for Q&As and discussions. It’s going to be so much fun connecting with sewists from around the world!

  • You’ll also be invited to be part of a private community group on Facebook where you can connect with fellow learners.

  • Modules can be purchased separately on an ad-hoc basis as they are released. This is a great option if you prefer self paced learning with no community interaction or tutor time.

  • Whichever option you choose, you will have Unlimited access to all courses and resources for life!

Modules include:

  • Re-design a Simple Top

  • Facings, Plackets and Finishing

  • Design using Darts

  • Pleats and Gathers

  • Twists and Drapes

  • Volume and Flare

  • Insides, Pockets and Linings

  • Stretch and Jersey

  • Yokes and Panelling

And here’s some of additional tutorials you can look forward to in recap months:

  • How and where to lengthen patterns

  • Colour blocking

  • Fabric calculations

  • Trouser design

  • Creating a dress block

    …. and MUCH more!

ABOUT YOUR TUTOR

Hi, I am Sarah Laws. I am a fashion designer, pattern maker and sewing tutor.

I love nothing more than sharing my knowledge and inspiring sewists like you to explore your own creativity.

I have over 20 years industry experience (find out more here) and I can’t wait to share it with you to help you create the clothes you’ve been dreaming of.  

“I truly believe that learning as part of a community is so powerful – it’s inspiring, supportive, and just plain fun!”

Sewing as a hobby is meant to bring us confidence and joy…

But too often we struggle to know what we want to wear and we have difficulty finding patterns that result in a finished product we love.

Find the love for sewing again by learning how to make the most of patterns - and make them your way!

The Be Your Own Designer course will not only give you the skills to alter and make your own patterns, but it will nurture your design confidence and empower you to explore your own style and dress how you really want to dress!

What you are looking forward to?

Download a FREE PDF “Get started” guide!

PLUS

Sign up for the Be your Own Designer course before 31st December and you’ll get the

Introduction to Pattern Making Course (worth £60)

completely FREE too!

Enroll Now

Enroll Now ☆

Sign up now!

Be Your Own Designer - Subscription
£25.00
For 12 months
£250.00
One time

Get anytime access to our growing collection of pattern making modules, live interactive learning sessions and exclusive content.


✓ Unlimited lifetime access
✓ Learn within a supportive community
✓ interactive Tutor- led sessions
✓ Essential learning resources included

Frequently Asked Questions

*

Frequently Asked Questions *

  • You can do as little or as much as you like each month. To keep up to speed and be ready for the next module, you may want to dedicate 6-10 hours per month to the course including time for completeing practical projects. If you wish to spend more time developing your skills, there will always be lots of ideas for further learning and development.

    There will be a 1 hour live session each month. This will be an evening session around 7pm UK time.

  • The course includes practical projects such as designing and sketching, collating and editing inspiration, and creating patterns and toiles in both half and full scale.

    These hands-on tasks will allow you to apply your new-found knowledge directly to 3D projects. By sampling techniques and practical pattern making, you will gain a deeper understanding of garment construction, fit, and proportion.

    This practical approach will help to solidify concepts that can feel confusing in theory. Engaging in these projects will enable you to develop critical problem-solving skills, ensuring you can translate your ideas into functional dressmaking patterns with confidence.

  • The 12-month course consists of 9 core modules, delivered over the year.

    In months where there is no new module, the month is dedicated to catching-up, further development of concepts and additional support, focusing on reinforcing your previous learning and deepening your knowledge through fabrics and techniques masterclasses. These resources are accessed via the course portal.

    Each month, you’ll receive two emails: one at the beginning outlining the module's contents and suggested learning path, and another midway through the month to check your progress, recap the live session, and offer additional resources and support.

    Regular check-ins ensure ongoing feedback and help you stay on track with your learning.

  • Yes, you can purchase individual modules if you're only interested in learning specific techniques.

    I basic level of pattern making knowledge will be required so you may wish to also purchase and complete the Introduction to Pattern Making course before starting additional modules.

    The course is designed to be flexible, allowing you to focus on the areas that most interest you. This gives you the freedom to choose and learn at your own pace without committing to the full 12-month structure.

    Whether you're looking to refine your pattern making or master specific techniques, each module provides targeted, in-depth learning to help you achieve your goals.

    When you purchase a stand alone module you will not get access to the live sessions or the course portal but you can ask any questions and get feedback from your tutor via email.

  • All the course modules are yours to access any time you like, for life. you can go back and review modules and access a download resources at any time.

  • There will be a 1 hour live session each month. This will be hosted by Virtual Sewing Room in collaboration with My Handmade Wardrobe. This will be an evening session around 8pm UK time.

    The sessions will be led by your tutor Sarah Laws*, Supported by one of the the VSR team members to field your questions and assist with technical issues.

    Each session will include a brief talk on subjects around the current module, a check in on your progress and achievements and a Q & A session.

    These will be interactive sessions to engage with your fellow learners and your tutor.

    All session s will be recorded and a recording and summary will be emailed to you after the call. If you are unavailable on the day or time of the call you can catch up on the recording at a later date and email any questions you have to your tutor.

    *if in extreme circumstances your tutor is unwell or unavailable, the session will be led by an experienced and knowledgeable alternative tutor.

  • There are lots of downloadable resources included each month to support your learning and and help you complete the practical exercises and projects.

    These include design prompt sheets, measurements sheets, pattern cutting tutorials with diagrams, full size patterns and half scale blocks. Plus lots more!

    These are all yours to download and keep to help you with all your future pattern cutting projects.

  • The course is purchased as a one-off payment or on a 12-month subscription. Both options cover the full course. There will be no automatic renewal at the end of the 12 months but we will be in touch to offer further learning opportunities.  

    The subscription is valid for the entire year. If you choose to stop participating in the course, please note that it will not end your current subscription. If you choose to pause the course to take a break from you learning, you will still be able to access all modules and the course portal. If this is the case please keep in touch and we may be able to arrange for you to join anther future cohort to resume your learning and to attend the live sessions at a later date.

    We do not offer partial refunds if you choose to cancel your annual membership halfway through your term.

    Refunds

    All course purchases and subscription plans are non-refundable. We do not offer partial or full refunds on any courses, apart in compliance with your statutory rights according to the Consumer Rights Act 2015. See our Ts&Cs for more details.

Still have Questions?