Program Overview
Take your first step toward a rewarding career in fashion as a clothing or dress designer with ICS Canada’s Dressmaking and Design Career Diploma Course. In as little as nine months you can learn skills that can help you turn your fashion ideas into beautiful and polished pieces designed for the runway.
Your program includes lessons covering basic and advanced topics of dressmaking and design, and your final project involves creating a garment. You will receive hands-on practical exercises which you can use to build your professional portfolio, and access to an extensive online video library to help you learn the techniques in your lessons.
Program Goal and Outcomes
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Program Goal
The program goal for the Dressmaking and Design program is to prepare students to create professional-grade garments from customized patterns using hand- and machine-sewing techniques in order to work as a dressmaker.
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Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Identify basic sewing tools and how they're properly used to cut, pin, press, and hand-sew knits and woven fabrics.
- Recognize the parts of a standard sewing machine and techniques for its threading, use, and proper maintenance.
- Identify the characteristics and properties of common fabrics and the fibers from which they're made, including details on care, cleaning, and how to handle these fabrics when sewing.
- Estimate the amount of fabric needed for a garment and handle, press, and tack fabric properly while constructing the garment.
- Choose and correctly use various styles of seams, pockets, necklines, sleeves, and shoulder pads for a garment based on the garment's style and intended wear.
- Choose and construct flourishes such as collars, fasteners, cuffs, buttonholes, waist finishes, and interfacing for a garment based on the garment's style and intended wear.
- Recognize different body types and the colors, lengths, silhouettes, and styles used to create a finished product that will flatter the wearer's individual shape.
- Comprehend the components and construction techniques for specialty garments related to maternity wear, infants' and children's clothes, nighttime wear, and undergarments.
- Identify types of and uses for decorative elements such as hand-sewn embroidery, ruffles, pleats, and decorative fastenings.
- Measure a wearer in order to choose the right size pattern for a project, alter a pattern to fit the individual's shape and preferences, transfer the pattern to the chosen fabric, and continue to alter for proper fit as the garment is constructed.
- Comprehend the basic principles of draping fabric in order to create decorative flourishes, enhance the fit of skirts and bodices, and sew a variety of sleeve styles.
- Recognize the details of successfully managing a home business, including how to purchase professional sewing items, appropriately register a home as a place of business, price finished products, and use good customer service as a marketing strategy.
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Instruction Set 1
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Learning Strategies
The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our website; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations.
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Introduction to Sewing
The art of sewing; introduction to tools and equipment; temporary and permanent stitches; creating the most common seams; taking measurements; purchasing and preparing patterns; making simple pattern alterations.
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Instruction Set 2
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The Sewing Machine
Types of sewing machines and machine attachments; threading machines; making stitches; setting machine timing and tension; sewing machine care; cleaning and lubrication; removing burrs; troubleshooting.
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Practical Exercise
At this point in your program, you will complete a practical exercise.
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Instruction Set 3
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Fibers and Fabrics
Identifying fibers and fabrics; choosing the right fabric; working and handling fabrics; properly caring for fabrics and treating stains.
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Basic Dressmaking Processes
Selecting materials for a garment; marking and cutting fabric; tacking for proper fit; shaping, interfacing, binding, seams, and hems.
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Practical Exercise
At this point in your program, you will complete a practical exercise.
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Instruction Set 4
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Decorative Features
Introduction to common decorative features; preparing necklines, skirt and sleeve openings; installing zippers; constructing and attaching cuffs and collars; attaching fasteners.
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Advanced Dressmaking Techniques
Finishing corners, points, and curved edges; forming pleats; making coats, jackets, trousers; working with linings, shoulder pads, and boning.
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Practical Exercise
At this point in your program, you will complete a practical exercise.
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Instruction Set 5
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Line and Design in Fashion
Line, colour, texture, and detail; types of line; principles of design: balance, proportion and scale, rhythm, emphasis, and unit; creating optical illusions.
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Miscellaneous Garments
Construction of non-standard garments: maternity wear, infants and children, nightwear, underwear; working with lace trim.
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Practical Exercise
At this point in your program, you will complete a practical exercise.
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Instruction Set 6
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Embroidery
Embroidery tools and materials; handworking embroidery stitches; machine embroidery; smocking and quilting.
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Garment Decoration
Applying garment-decorating techniques: ruffles, fringe, tassels, beading, sequins; belts and belt loops; custom fasteners.
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Pattern Alteration
Making major pattern alterations for shoulders, armholes, bust size, sleeves, skirts, and pants.
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Practical Exercise
At this point in your program, you will complete a practical exercise.
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Computer Specifications
As you know this is an online academic program. This means you will need access to high-speed internet to begin your program. In addition, you will need access to a Microsoft® Windows® based computer running Windows 10® or later or an Apple® Mac® computer running macOS® or later, and an email account to complete your program.
Sample Lesson
To view a Dressmaking and Design sample lesson, click here.
Dressmaking and Design Program Details
In ICS Canada’s Dressmaking and Design classes, you'll cover topics such as.
- Line and basic pattern design in fashion, embroidery, and garment decoration
- Using and customizing a dress form and creating original clothing designs
- Altering and fitting necklines, armholes, sleeves, and waistlines
Dressmaking and Design Student Discount Programs
National Sewing Circle and National Quilters Circle Video Resources
Students enrolled in the Dressmaking and Design Program are eligible for introductory rates for both the National Sewing Circle and National Quilters Circle premium online video sites for helpful tips, techniques, and project ideas. These video resource sites can serve as a supplement to your ICS Canada program, but are not required to complete your course. Learn more about these offers here.
