Beginning
Garment Construction

What I liked most about this course was gaining an understanding of the basic constructs of a pattern, I felt the biggest benefits of taking this course were knowledge, understanding and confidence. I would recommend this course to my friends and would like to do the more advanced course next

I really like the small class! When I needed any attention or help, it was all there for me to learn as much as I could. I liked it how it was in the evening as I have a job during the day. I was so excited about Monday, and I think that says it all! I took the pattern making course so I was expecting to learn how to make basic patterns. I had a bit of experience so I was very excited to learn something new. I was learning way more than I thought I was going to. It was serious and intense at times, and I loved it as it was not one of those casual hobby type of class. ( Don’t get me wrong, it was not scary at all and I didn’t feel pressured, I had a lot of fun ? ) I was able to question, ask and understand the whole process of basic pattern making. The pattern making template is a best magical tool you could ever ask to have. For anyone who is interested in pattern making, you won’t regret it!

I was looking for a course that would teach me patternmaking and the Saturday Patternmaking course ticked all the boxes, it was part time and we started from the basics so didn’t have to know too much before, although it helped to know a bit about constructing a garment. Terry our tutor was fantastic, guided us and gave us plenty of time, and the best thing was being able to do it part time. I loved having a challenge and working to deadlines, after all there is no pressure to complete when you are just pleasing yourself at home.  Recommend the Academy – absolutely!

I took this course as I wanted the ability to design my own clothes, specifically for me, that fit! This course has opened up a whole new word. I expected to learn all about making blocks and what was promised on the website, and I got that and so much more. I love having the ability to create my own designs and know how clothes are constructed. I have recommended to a couple of friends that they should do this patternmaking course. Its great that the classes are small and friendly and the patternmaking tool takes away all of the hard work. I had previously done metric patternmaking some time ago, but this is so much easier.

I loved all of this course; before I started I was quite nervous, I thought it would be very detailed and number oriented, but Terry was able to cater to how I learn best. I am doing Costume Design at Unitec and wanted to have the knowledge of patternmaking to help with this course. I wanted the knowledge of how to dissect images to lead into a pattern, and now I can! I would definitely recommend this course, my tutor at Unitec is impressed at how much I learnt in such a short space of time.

Before I started the Diploma (now Apparel Creation) I thought it would be like a hobby course, but it was way more extensive than I thought it would be, which was good! I felt like I learnt so much more than I expected. I love the process of being able to draw up a pattern in my own design and then make it up, it is always exciting. Patternmaking has been my most difficult subject but it has opened up a new skill. Using the patternmaking template is like discovering a magic tool. I would love to design my own range and sell it, make clothes that are different, comfortable and make people happy. I am so looking forward to what I can accomplish in the future.

I am from Hamilton and make the journey to Auckland to take this course. I have started my own business in Hamilton, Vintage and Antiques, and took the course to help with the business. I wanted to learn to pattern draft my own designs and not have to make them up 3 times to get the fit right. Terry is is great tutor, she is patient and takes the class from the simple stuff to the difficult stuff, which if you do the simple stuff is not so hard. The format of the course is pattern making, then go home and make up your blocks. The girls in the group were great and its good to be with like minded people.  I would recommend this class to anyone who has an interest in clothes that fit.

I am already skilled as a sewer and I wanted to make my own clothes from the very beginning. I joined the Introductory patternmaking course and hoped to learn the basic patternmaking skills. I learnt this and so much more. We were set homework at the end of every block and sometimes I had to refer to the excellent notes to remember what we had learned in class. There are no more than eight people per class and the group was great. Its good to learn with like minded people. Terry is a fantastic tutor so goes at a good pace and gives everyone individual attention. I trained in Fashion Design, but never learnt to patterndraft as part of the degree. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to make their own designs come to life.

I took this course because my mother is a dressmaker and she wanted to learn how to make her own patterns, but her english is not good. I thought this course would be all theory with a little bit of practical but its exactly the opposite. We learn how to translate the design lines and view garments in a totally different way. I can sew so it was not a stretch to learn how patterns fit together. I would recommend this course and ask the Academy when they are doing the more advanced patternmaking courses in the weekend for those of us who work!

When I took this course I didn’t know what to expect, I wanted to learn how to make dresses from my own designs.   By taking this course I have learned the skills of looking at a design and and realising what I have to do to create the adaptations, Terry has made it so that I am taking the knowledge off patternmaking not just the recipes away with me.  The biggest benefits for me are knowing how to construct a basic block, and adapting that block to my own designs.  I would highly recommend the Academy, when I first started I was overwhelmed by all the jargon, but Terry was patient and explained it in ways we could all understand.  I didn’t realise just how much I have learned by actually doing the work until I thought about what I wanted to do with my own designs.