Traditional Dressmaking Techniques: Make Your Own Skirt
A course by Sara ForliniStylist and Designer
A course by Sara Forlini, Stylist and Designer
Learn how to create a skirt using traditional dressmaking techniques, from the initial design and pattern to the final stitch
Fashion is a form of expression, and thanks to the endless possibilities of fabric, needle, and thread, you can transform your personality into a wearable piece of clothing. Sara Forlini is a stylist who specializes in vintage, tailor-made garments inspired by mid-20th century aesthetics, from the '40s through the '80s. By combining first-rate materials with traditional dressmaking techniques, she achieves incomparable quality in her work.
In this online course, learn to handcraft unique garments from start to finish. Sara teaches you how to make a half circle skirt with a decorative panel following her step-by-step process: start by taking measurements and creating a pattern, then cut the fabric, sew together your garment, and complete it with some custom details.
What will you learn in this online course?
13 lessons & 24 downloads
Tools and Materials
2 minutes, 43 seconds
Find Your Style
3 minutes, 13 seconds
Overview of the Different Fabrics
3 minutes, 18 seconds
Body Measurements for Everyone
3 minutes, 15 seconds
Making the Pattern of the Skirt
16 minutes, 22 seconds
The Pattern of the Decorative Panel
20 minutes, 45 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet your teacher for the course, Sara Forlini. She tells you about herself and her creative journey to becoming a stylist and designer, along with the influences that inspire her work, from fashion and art to classic films.
Begin with an overview of the tools and materials you need for the final project, then find inspiration for your skirt by compiling reference images into a mood board.
Next, Sara teaches you how to take proper body measurements, either of yourself or another person, and transfer them to paper to make a pattern. Continue by designing the decorative piece to add your personal touch of style.
Once your pattern is ready, learn how to position it on your chosen fabric and cut out the individual sections. Finally, sew all the pieces together to create your one-of-a-kind skirt.
What is this course's project?
Make a half circle skirt with a pleated decorative panel that you can customize to your liking.
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of fashion design and dressmaking.
Requirements and materials
Basic notions of dressmaking are necessary for this course. As for materials, you need a straight stitch sewing machine, fabric, and other materials you can easily find in a notions or stationery store.
Reviews
- 6 months ago
ottimo corso spigato bene, io però seguo già un corso di cucito, quindi alcune cose sono pregresse, magari per i neofiti aggiungerei qualche informazione in più.
- 1 year ago
Me gusto mucho el curso; la explicación es clara y sencilla
- 1 year ago
I am keeping purchasing the sewing courses to learn and this one gave me some tools I could not find in other online courses about making skirt. - Love it
- 2 years ago
Il corso è fatto bene l'insegnate è molto attenta nei dettagli ciò che lo rende facile da capire ed a seguire. Sono una sarta di professione e mi piace l'idea di imparare nuove tecniche per essere in continuo miglioramento e questo corso anche se pensato per i principianti, mi è stato molto utile in vari punti. Ad esempio la sua tecnica per la rifinitura dei bordi con lo sbieco in un solo passaggio mi è stato utile perché l'ho sempre fatto diversamente e mi prendeva anche più tempo😊 Grazie 🫶
- 2 years ago
Aunque sea en italiano y subtitulado en español se entiende y se puede realizar perfectamente, muy ameno de seguir y con ganas de probar más
Following her 100% artisan and sustainable philosophy, Sara only uses quality fabrics and recycled materials to make her garments. In addition to managing her business, she's been running a dressmaking workshop in Bologna since 2012.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Me, Myself, and Misstufi
- A Look at What Surrounds Me
- U2
The ABC of Tailoring
- Tools and Materials
- Find Your Style
- Overview of the Different Fabrics
- U3
From Theory to Practice
- Body Measurements for Everyone
- Making the Pattern of the Skirt
- The Pattern of the Decorative Panel
- U4
The Half Circle Skirt Becomes Reality
- Positioning and Cutting of Skirt and Waistband
- Positioning and Cutting of the Decorative Panel
- Sewing and Finishing: Skirt and Waistband
- Sewing the Panel and Finishing the Skirt 1
- Sewing the Panel and Finishing the Skirt 2
- FP
Final project
- Traditional Dressmaking Techniques: Make Your Own Skirt
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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FAQs
The course is designed for those with intermediate tailoring skills who want to deepen their knowledge of advanced techniques, sustainability, and customization. It’s not ideal for complete beginners.
To follow the course, you’ll need natural fabrics, a measuring tape, tailor’s chalk, pattern paper, masking tape, a sewing machine, needles, a ruler, scissors, and materials for moodboards.
You’ll learn how to design and make custom skirts, choose sustainable fabrics, create moodboards, use both innovative and traditional tailoring techniques, and develop personalized collections inspired by art and 1950s fashion.
Yes, the course explores ethical fashion, selecting sustainable materials, and adopting eco-friendly packaging throughout the creative and production process.
The course guides you step-by-step through taking measurements, creating the pattern, cutting, sewing, adding the waistband, and finishing touches for a perfectly fitted half-circle skirt.
The course covers pleating, jacquard techniques, creating petal details, hand finishing, making folds, and customizing skirts with decorative panels.
Yes, the course dedicates plenty of time to choosing, combining, and matching fabrics like wool, cotton, viscose, and silk, analyzing their properties, colors, and contrasts.