WOMANSWEAR PATTERN CUTTING COURSE: DRESS, BODICE & SKIRT: Sat 13 December

PATTERN CUTTING ALL-DAY MASTERCLASS: Learn to Draft Dress, Bodice & Skirt Blocks

Step into an inspirational fashion design studio and learn how to move beyond the limitations of commercial sewing patterns. This one-day masterclass will introduce you to the foundations of womanswear pattern cutting, and is taught by an industry professional with three decades experience in pattern cutting and garment construction.

You'll be guided through drafting a fitted dress block, bodice, and skirt block—using accurate body measurements and techniques taught in fashion degree programmes. Ideal for dressmakers and fashion students , this course is your starting point for creating patterns that fit beautifully and reflect your own design ideas.

⭐️ About Your Tutor

This masterclass is taught by MaryRose McGrath, a womenswear designer who has created best selling collections for leading UK high street brands including M&S, Debenhams, House of Fraser & Oasis. After working in the London fashion industry for over a decade, she returned to Belfast to establish her own studio, where she now designs couture bridal gowns, chic womenswear and luxury communion dresses. MaryRose has also taught fashion design at degree level and brings that same clarity, precision, and industry insight to her studio courses. This is a rare opportunity to learn professional pattern cutting in a creative and expertly guided fashion studio setting.

⭐️ What Will I Learn in This Course?

This full-day course focuses on the foundations of pattern cutting, with a deep dive into creating the fitted dress block, bodice block, and skirt block. You'll learn how to take professional body measurements, how to understand a womenswear size chart, and how to use measurements to draft accurate, flat paper patterns.

Forget trawling through commercial pattern books—this course gives you the technical skills to start creating your own designs, just as it’s taught in the fashion industry.

You will be taught how to:

1. Take accurate body measurements — Learn the professional method of measuring the body, including posture and stance considerations.
2. Draft blocks from scratch — Understand how to apply basic measurements to create flat patterns, using simple tools and clear step-by-step processes. (No need to worry if you’re not confident with maths — everything is explained clearly.)
3. Construct the bodice, dress, and skirt blocks — Using paper, pencil, and ruler, you’ll follow degree-level techniques taught in fashion design courses.
4. Add shaping through darts — Discover how to apply suppression for a fitted shape, and why dart size and placement varies by body type.
5. Add seam allowances — Learn which seam allowances to add, why they matter, and how they differ depending on garment style and construction.
6. Create a toile — Understand how to construct a calico toile to test the fit and structure of your block patterns—an essential step used in professional design studios before garment production.

⭐️ Who Is This Course Suitable For?

This course is ideal for those who have experience in using commercial sewing patterns and are ready to explore the art of pattern drafting and gain a deeper understanding of womenswear sizing.

It’s an excellent foundation for dressmakers, fashion students, aspiring designers, and costume makers looking to strengthen their technical pattern-cutting skills using industry-standard methods.

⭐️ Location

The course takes place in MaryRose’s design studio in Conway Mill.

Address: Conway Mill, 5–7 Conway Street, Belfast BT13 2DE

⭐️ What’s Included:

• 6 hours of expert, in-depth pattern-cutting tuition
• Use of all necessary pattern-cutting tools and equipment provided in the studio
• Your completed blocks to take home
• A set of technical handouts to support your learning and refer back to after the course

⭐️ Do I Need to Bring a Sewing Machine?

No sewing machine is needed for this course, as it focuses entirely on pattern drafting. All work is done using paper, measurements, and drafting tools.

⭐️ Age Requirement

Students must be 18 years or older to attend this class.

⭐️ What do I Bring to class?

Please bring a notebook, a pen, and your reading glasses if you use them. All pattern paper, measuring tools, and technical equipment will be provided for you in the studio.

⭐️ Course Fee

The full-day course is priced at £99.

⭐️ How to Book

You can book your place in this course in one of two ways:

1. Through Eventbrite - Book online via Eventbrite using PayPal. Please note that Eventbrite adds a booking fee, which goes directly to Eventbrite and is not retained by the studio.

2. Book Directly with the Studio (No added booking fee)

Alternatively, you can book directly through the studio.Simply email your mobile number to info@maryrosemcgrath.com, and we will be in touch to confirm your place.

⭐️ Where to meet on the day:

The studio is closed before class starts.

MaryRose will collect all students from Conway Mill reception on the ground floor at 9.25 am and will take you to the studio. Please do not try and find the studio as you could get lost in the mill.

⭐️ Other questions are answered in the FAQ section below.

Terms and conditions of booking:

1. Non-attendance: Due to the small number of students in class & the niche nature of this course, a new pattern cutting course on another date / refunds / class credit notes / class vouchers are not provided if the student has not attended the course for any reason including but not limited to : illness/ injury / unexpected circumstances / personal circumstances / transport issues / weather conditions / other.

2: Transfer your booking: If you are unable to attend the course, you can transfer your booking to another person. To do so, please contact the studio via email with the new attendee’s name at least two working days before the course begins.

Please email info@maryrosemcgrath.com, ensuring your email is received during our office hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Please note: Name changes must be made via email—messages sent via social media will not be accepted, and the transferred student must be at the skill level required for class. Refunds / class credit notes or vouchers are not provided if the transferred student is not at the skill level required for class.

3.Late arrivals: There is a huge amount to learn in the all-day class - late arrivals disrupt students, the tutor and the teaching schedule. Late arrivals of 15 minutes or more are not accepted into class as it is impossible to recap on what has been learnt after this time. Refunds or another replacement course are not provided to late arrivals who are unable to participate in class.

4. Speed of learning: Progress and speed of learning depends on each student's natural abilities during class.

5. A minimum number of students are required for this course to take place.

6.Bookings made in error are non refundable.

7.Course cancellation: On rare occasions, classes may have to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We will inform students immediately by e-mailing & calling. You will be offered a refund, a transfer to another date, or a class credit note. Please note we are not liable for any costs incurred. This clause applies only to cancellations made by the class organiser MaryRose McGrath Design. For cancellations due to circumstances beyond our control (see Force Majeure), please refer to Section 8.

8.Force Majeure: If the class cannot take place due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control (including but not limited to severe weather, flooding, fire, power failure, transport disruption, venue closure, public health restrictions, or other force majeure events), refunds will not be provided.

In such cases, every effort will be made to reschedule the class to a later date.If rescheduling is not possible, a class voucher will be provided which may be redeemed against a future course.