If you want to take up sewing as a hobby and are wondering can I teach myself sewing, the answer is yes!
However, if you are looking for sewing lessons where the goal is to learn professional dressmaking skills, your first step is to find a good design, dressmaking or tailoring school and sign up for a course where the practical elements of sewing and design are the focus. There is plenty of choice out there it just depends on your goals and your budget.
Dress designing … is to me not a profession but an art. Elsa Schiaparelli
So, can sewing become a career?
Yes, and there are several possibilities when it comes to learning how to sew and design clothes on a professional level. Let's explore some of these options below.
Sewing Classes and Programmes
BA in Fashion Design
Today in South Africa there are many institutions known as New Generation Universities where Diploma courses can be upgraded to degree courses with an extra year. One such institution like this is the Villioti Fashion Institute where one can do Higher Certificates, Diplomas, and even a BA in Fashion Design.
Once you have advanced beyond sewing courses for beginners, courses like these, and other tertiary education institutions will include necessary pattern making courses, fashion marketing, fashion illustration, textile and footwear design, costume design and so much more.
Discover all these helpful resources for learning how to sew.
Other Specialised Fashion and Design Schools
Fashion is very important. It is life-enhancing and, like everything that gives pleasure, it is worth doing well. Vivienne Westwood
In South Africa, there are many places where learning how to sew and design clothes, and take pattern making courses beyond what you would learn in sewing courses for beginners, is possible.
Besides the Villioti Fashion Institute in Johannesburg, there are a number of other recommended schools where you can become qualified as a fashion designer.
So, how long is a fashion design course? Read on to find out.
- The Design Academy of Fashion, Cape Town: This is a school that is focused on the mind and heart of the designer and spends considerable time ensuring that the student answers questions around their own identity as well as the identity of the world who they are trying to reach.
- The Cape Town College of Fashion Design: This is a school that provides innovative educational responses to ever-changing technological and creative developments in the fashion industry. Graduates to this school can look forward to having the skills, design nous and work ethic to become highly employable options within the clothing industry.
- Durban University of Technology: While this three-year National Diploma, or four-year Bachelor’s degree, is heavily focused on fashion and textiles for a sophisticated industry, it is also one where the practicalities involved in sewing are made important. Besides online sewing classes and pattern making courses, learners delve into business studies, marketing, buyer behaviour and so much more.
- University of Johannesburg: For those who are academically ambitious, there is even a Master’s Degree in Fashion, on offer at the University of Johannesburg.
We recommend that you contact the institutions that interest you to learn what their terms of admission are to get the answers to questions like "Do you need matric to be a fashion designer?" and "What are the requirements to study fashion design in South Africa?"
Once you have this information, you can make an informed choice about which sewing or fashion design programmes would be best suited to you.
How to Become a Professional Fashion Designer
Fashion is about dreaming and making other people dream. Donatella Versace
If you’re wondering what it takes to progress beyond your sewing classes for beginners, there are a few things you will need in the highly competitive clothing industry.
- Good business sense
- A competitive spirit
- Personal style
- A sense of team
- Visualisation skills
- Computer literacy
- Attention to detail
- Artistic ability
Another option to progress beyond your sewing courses near me search is to consider an apprenticeship which is equivalent in many ways to standard pattern making courses and much more. Here is a list of typical apprenticeships in the clothing industry:
- Leathercraft worker
- Textile operative
- Sewing machinist
- Knitter
- Dressmaker
- Footwear manufacturing operative
- Pattern cutter
- Handicraft tailor
- Cutter
Subjects to Take at School if You Want to Become a Fashion Designer
While creativity is essential in design, it is also important to consider other areas of expertise needed to succeed in the fashion industry. Below is a list of recommended subjects to take if you want to become a professional fashion designer.
Maths or Maths Literacy
As a fashion designer you will be running a business, so having good numerical skills will help you immensely.
Economics or Business Studies
To properly plan and adapt to market demands, it is important that you understand the economy and business management principles.
History
As someone with a passion for fashion, you will know that it is a reflection of the current state of affairs. By studying history, you will get a better understanding of factors that influence fashion and use this knowledge to predict future trends and inspire your designs.
Additional and Foreign Languages
Learning additional local languages and foreign languages will be highly beneficial for forming connections, as fashion is an international industry and you will likely deal with people from all over the country and the world on different phases of your journey.
Consumer Studies
This subject used to be called ‘Home Economics’. Its focus is teaching students to make informed and responsible decisions related to their consumption of clothing, food, and other goods. These principles should play an important role in the creation of goods as well.
Learning How to Sew and Design Clothes
When it comes to applying for an apprenticeship, it makes sense that if you have gone through sewing courses for beginners you stand a better chance. One way to accomplish this is to search sewing courses near me, however, you could also call on the services of a private sewing teacher, like those found on Superprof to find out how to use an overlocker and sewing machine.
Of course, through a sewing courses near me search, you could also find sewing courses for beginners at institutions nearby who will take students through the basics of learning how to sew and design clothes you can, of course, take sewing classes at various private institutions or take a private sewing teacher to teach you how to use the overlock presser foot on your sewing machine.
For those who want to combine practical and academic learning, it is worth noting that all of the institutions mentioned in this article require that work placements or internships are a part of their learning and ultimately, their qualification.
Whether you are studying with a private tutor, or through a fashion and design school, remember that the internet also offers fantastic resources for supplementing and inspiring your learning. Not only that, it can be used to download free online sewing patterns.
Also, consider enrolling in sewing classes cape town to learn valuable skills and unleash your creativity. Whether you're a beginner or looking to improve your techniques, sewing classes offer hands-on instruction and a fun way to create your own projects.
Apprenticeships and Self-Teaching Methods
In South Africa, colleges and universities usually have an internship programme where they help to place students in local clothing and textile companies to fulfil the practical component of their qualifications.
In the absence of being able to attend formal clothing design or pattern making courses, budding seamstresses and tailors can simply look up local clothing manufactures who operate in the city in which they live and send their CVs, along with a compelling letter to the company HR person.
Again, the wealth of information to be found on the internet should not be discounted. For the 21st century student who has the patience to work via online tutorials, there are many worthwhile sewing blogs to follow that can undoubtedly impart great knowledge such as answering the question, "What is the first thing a beginner should sew?"
One of the advantages of the internet is that through refining your searches you can follow particular areas within the realms of clothing design and making that interest you. From a Google search on sewing machine maintenance to basting stitches, piping, or a French seam, there is no shortage of information.
In addition, for those who prefer more traditional knowledge acquisition methods, there are sewing books that make excellent learning resources for those who are self-teaching, too.
Why Sewing Learnerships Are Helpful
Many school leavers are uncertain about the direction that their careers should take. If you already know that you want to work with fabrics, textiles, design, and spend some time learning how to sew and design clothes, it could be very helpful to look for learnerships.
On-the-job training can be as beneficial as some of the best sewing courses out there.
By taking this route, you could either confirm for yourself that the clothing industry is indeed for you and even highlight which aspect of it you would like to emphasise.
Ready to make that first stitch?
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I like this l want to train what to know how much and how many months we train
Hello Evah
It’s great that you’re interested in learning to sew. The cost and length of your course will depend on which school/college/training centre you choose to use.
Good afternoon
My name is Madimetja Sebueng, I am interested in pursuing a career in the dressing making industry, I from a disadvantaged backgrounds and don’t afford to pay fees.
Checking if you offer learnerships or bursary to cater for people of my calibre , or any other program that is there to can assist.
I am willing to return on the investment from your institution for any possible opportunities to have me on the program to pursue my career, be it in working for free to cover for fees or any other possible giving back.
Kind regards
Madimetja Sebueng
Hello Madimetja,
Whilst Superprof is not an educational institution offering diploma courses in fashion, there are a number of fashion schools and companies who offer bursaries to students interested in pursuing a career in dressmaking or fashion design. Here are a few that we recommend you take a look at: Gert-Johan Coetzee Fashion Design Bursary, Design Academy of Fashion bursaries, LISOF Fashion Design School bursaries, and Truworths bursary programme.
We hope that you are able to find the right assistance in order to pursue your goal.
Hello l am interested in learning to sew.l like to know how much and how many months to train
Hello Makaeme
It’s great that you’re interested in learning to sew. The cost and length of your lessons will depend on which tutor, school or training centre you choose to use.
This was exactly what I needed. I’ve been self-learning for some time now but I did need majority of the information you shared like the books and sewing basics online.
Hi Chulumanco
We’re so glad that the article was useful to you!