Completely Custom Academy.
A Pattern Cutting & Fitting Course for Sewists
We can all speak to the pain of wearing standard sizing...
We blame ourselves for being the wrong size, the wrong shape.
But I'm here to show you this simply isn’t true.
Join the sewing revolution and finally make clothes you ACTUALLY want to wear
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Learn how to properly fit garments to your unique shape with tried and true techniques that I have developed after teaching fitting to hundreds of students.
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Learn how to draft your own sewing patterns with industry standard pattern cutting techniques.
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Truly express your values by abandoning fast fashion and create garments that are uniquely tailored to your shape and style (even if you are not sure what that is yet).
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Leave behind muddling through instruction booklets and elevate your skills to such a height that you curate a sewing experience that is ease-ful, satisfying and bursting with creative flow.
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Make the giant leap into a world where you no longer experience gap between your desires and your reality. Finally make clothes that you LOVE to wear and serve you EVERYDAY.
Vibe Check. For Sewists Who...
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Don’t fit into standard sizing and know they deserve more than poorly fitting ready to wear or muddled-through me-mades.
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Are fed up with feeling guilty about collecting fabric instead of sewing with it.
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Find themselves waiting instead of diving in to sewing a handmade wardrobe (insert reason for waiting: until I… ‘lose the weight/ have a space to sew/ learn more/ life is less busy’ etc etc
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Or maybe you sew prolifically but somehow you don’t actually have any me-mades you love to wear
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Long to feel fulfilled in your creative potential, you can hear it calling you just don’t know what you’re doing wrong?!
Introducing...
Completely Custom Academy
Online Pattern Cutting and Fitting Course for Sewists
Empowering you with the skills you need to draft and make a custom fit, handmade wardrobe.
Reclaim your body confidence and love what you're wearing as you say "I made it!".
How does it work?
This is a self-paced course with an online library of video tutorials and resources for you to work through and get support, when needed (from Lottie) in her online membership in "The Sewists Fitting Room".
You have lifetime access to the course and can go as quickly or slowly as life allows.
What's included:
- Full set of blocks as pdf sewing patterns. Print at home on A4 or A0 copy-shop files.
- Darted bodice block with set in sleeve
- Skirt block
- Dart-less bodice block with two sleeve variations
- Close-fitting trouser block
Plus half-scale versions of ALL the blocks for practicing your pattern cutting skills quickly.
Part One: Fitting Focus
Three Core Fitting Modules where I walk you through the fitting process step by step. You will be supported with a full suite of online tutorials, live sewing sessions and my feedback and guidance in between.
Plus an Advanced Trouser Fitting Module with a live workshop as well fit-a-long videos you can keep going back to.
Learn how to make supplementary blocks such as culottes, lounge pants, an all-in-one bodice & more.
Part Two: Pattern Cutting Skills
Pattern cutting principles and techniques, so you can learn your craft to a professional standard, including:
- Thinking in 3-D
- Dart manipulation
- Working with ease and creating compression
- Creating details including shirt and jeans techniques like fly fastenings, collars, plackets and more.
- How to turn your draft into a sew-able pattern.
Sewing skills. I’ll share with you industry knowledge that will elevate and create ease when you sew your patterns, including how to install an invisible zipper without using pins and a bias tape facing that will make finishing your garments a breeze.
Part Three: Creativity in Action
Creativity and design skills so that you can refine and hone your making process. Creating with intention, primrose and finding your self-expression. Resources include:
- Video tutorials for how to design
- Body forms for sketching out ideas
- Sewing planning
- Cheat sheet for finding your colours
Full garment walk-throughs so you can see the full process of a variety of different styles and techniques that you can follow to the letter or just be inspired by and then adapt for your unique project.
As well as all this, throughout the three months you are fully supported by me with weekly live sewing sessions including a monthly morning of mindful sewing. In between sessions we can connect in our Facebook community where you can get feedback on your projects and share inspiration with your sewing community from the course.
Student Stories...
"I really would encourage anyone who is... disillusioned with patterns and fit of clothing in general, to do this course.
It will change everything."
-Su Turner
@keep_care_repair
Read more of Su's story...
Before Lottie’s course I was increasingly disappointed with the results of commercial patterns. I can now bypass commercial patterns completely or adjust them if I want to!
The course has confirmed my belief that standard fashion does not work for most people. My biggest achievement has been that I have designed and made a complete garment, it fits beautifully.
If you are thinking about signing up… definitely do it. You will have access to a huge amount of invaluable resources and you will be supported throughout.
I was surprised how quickly I was able to achieve my goals. I am now completely confident in designing and drafting my own patterns!
It was much more than I hoped, I have so many useful resources to go back to and the support from Lottie and other sewists has been fantastic
I really would encourage anyone who is confident at making clothes but disillusioned with patterns and fit of clothing in general, to do this course.
It will change everything.
Here's what you get...
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Full set of Blocks
Download and print at home on A4 or send to the copy shopping and print on A0 (no sticking a pasting!!)
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Step-by-step videos
Each phase of your fitting and pattern cutting journey is presented in video format. That means you can watch as I walk you through the process step by step. Making it easy to follow along and create garments you love, with me right by your side.
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On demand support
This course is designed for you to work through on your own. But I know that we often have questions or need guidance (especially with fitting). And so you get FREE access to my monthly memebrship "The Sewists Fitting Room".
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Printable guides and resources
As well as videos and your full set of blocks, more complex tutorials have a printable guide for you to follow along with. As well as a sewing planner designed specifically for Sewists drafting their own garments.
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In-depth Masterclasses
This program includes a variety of in-depth masterclasses on topics inclluding ease, sleeves, advanced sewing techniques and fabric!
Student Stories...
"The course has propelled me so far forward - I would never have been able to make this much progress in this much time alone.
Lottie is so, so encouraging and really brings out the best sewist in you."
-Jennifer FitzPatrick
@jfitzpatrickdesign
Read more of Jennifer's story...
Before the course I had struggled with putting the skills I had together - I knew some pattern cutting and has sewing skills but I wasn't confident that I could make something that really fit me properly. I had made garments but was never fully happy with the fit and didn't know how to fix it as I didn't know what I was doing wrong.
The course has filled in all the gaps in my knowledge and now I can do everything step by step as I fully understand why I'm doing what I'm doing. I know how to fix fitting issues and I also know what causes them.
During the course I realised that everyone has bodies that vary hugely from the "ideal" Ready to wear figure and that's ok! :) In making clothes for myself, I have learned that there is nothing wrong with my shape, it's just that high street chains aren't making clothes specifically for me.
My biggest achievement during the course has been becoming more confident in my sewing and design abilities (before I was stuck and didn't want to start a project for fear of failing). I know that with some practice (toiles) I will be able to make anything I want.
If you are thinking about signing up… do it! It's the best present to yourself because it will give you the skills, the practical knowledge and the confidence to be able to make your dream wardrobe - where everything fits. Tailor-made for you! What's not to love.
One thing that surprised me was much I already knew - I had a lot of gaps in my knowledge but with Lottie's help, I was able to fill those in and now I can use all my skills to maximum effect.
The course has propelled me so far forward - I would never have been able to make this much progress in this much time alone. Lottie is so, so encouraging and really brings out the best sewist in you.
The course was everything I had hoped and more. I love Lottie's philosophy on being creative, sewing and making clothes for women's bodies. It was very nurturing and thought provoking and just an overall really positive experience.
Couldn't recommend the course highly enough. It's totally worth it.
More Testimonials
“Lottie explained everything in easy to understand terms and it was way less scary than the books made it seem. I feel it was a great time in my sewing journey before I made any more unsuccessful garments. I may still make some not so loved makes but at least they will fit! Even the one top I was reasonable satisfied with I now know that the bust dart is in complete the wrong place. If only I knew how simple it was to move before starting.”
— Letty
"Lottie is a fab teacher - calm, considered and so knowledgeable. Would really recommend to anyone who’s fed up with trying to fit from patterns that are designed for ‘off the peg’ bodies and feeling disillusioned with all the time and energy it can take.”
— Sally
You will walk away with:
- In-depth and high standard pattern cutting knowledge and skills.
- Fitting confidence and a set of custom fit blocks.
- Experience drafting a variety of garments with transferable skills for any design.
- A mindful, body positive approach to sewing garments.
You've made it down this far,
maybe have some questions...
I am super busy, should I wait until I have more free time?
In my experience, we never get less busy. And up-levelling your sewing skills will ultimately save you time and give you much more satisfaction in your garment making!
Am I too beginner?
This course is aimed at sewists that are confident with how to sew garments, as we will be focusing on pattern cutting and fitting more than how to sew. A long as you have made at least five garments using sewing patterns, that will be enough.
Am I too advanced?
This course does more than just teaching techniques. It is designed for people who are creating garments for themselves, and they want them to fit beautifully and express their unique style. This can be very different to other approaches, especially ones aimed at creating garments for commercial use. For my more experienced students, I find that my program fills in the missing gaps in their creative process that are holding them back from feeling truly satisfied with what they make.
How long do I have access for?
You have "lifetime access" to the course which means as long as it is financially viable for me to host the material online!! You can work through it at your own pace, there is so much material in the course it is a lifetime's worth of sewing!
What about sizing?
This program is available for all sizes and shapes! The blocks will be available in a standard size range. If you fall outside of that range, I will make you a custom set. Just get in touch lottie@wildorchardsewing.co.uk.
Are there any dates or live sessions I need to be aware of?
No. You can start and work through the course at your own pace. You can get support when needed in my monthly membership "The Sewists Fitting Room" by asking questions, sharing photos of your toiles and connecting with other Sewists.
If you're curious to learn more, and to see if the Completely Custom Academy is the right fit for you, let's chat...
Want to know ALL the details?
See here for course modules and lessons.
Bodice & Sleeve Fitting
Module One
Lessons
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Full introduction, including how to measure for and choose the correct size
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How to toile by preparing your pattern and how to assess fit issues.
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Bust adjustments, including creating sculpt, an accurate apex and advanced techniques for larger busts.
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Waist & length adjustments, with various techniques for the perfect fit.
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Shoulder adjustments for the broad, narrow and how to add depth.
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Armhole and sleeve adjustments, to give you the foundation for epic gamrnets!
Skirt Fitting
Module Two
Lessons
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Full introduction, including how to measure for and choose the correct size.
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Skirt toile specifics, so you can fit with ease and accuracy.
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Creating compression using the side seams and waist darts.
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Adjustments for a full tummy and/ full bottom.
Simple Trousers
Module Three
Lessons
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Create culottes from your skirt block for a fast track to beautifully fitting, versatile trousers!
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Intro to trouser fitting principles including crotch depth vs crotch length.
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Trouser adjustments including changing the rise, the pitch and the crotch.
Advanced Trouser Fitting
Bonus Module
Lessons
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Full introduction, including how to measure for and choose the correct size.
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Advanced toile techniques that take you beyond simple slash and spread adjustments.
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How to balance your trouser block so you never fall down a fitting rabbit hole again!
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Body mapping exercises to elevate your knowledge and understanding of your own unique shape and how to apply that to the pattern.
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How to prepare and sew your toile for a seamless fitting expereince.
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A step-by-step tutorial on assessing and analyzing the fit of your toile.
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Plus, how to transfer those adjustments back to the pattern.
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A closer look at more complex fit adjustments and issues you may encounter.
Bonus Module
Additional Blocks & Block Making
A module dedicated to expanding your block library with additional PDF patterns, tutorials to transform existing blocks and drafting from scratch.
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Loose Fitting Bodice Block
Pdf pattern and fitting guide.
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How to draft lounge Pants
Transform your culotte block into comfy lounge pants.
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How to draft an all-in-one bodice block
An easy fit, easy to wear block with variations including a raglan sleeve..
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How to a skirt block
Even though one is provided with the course, there is a lesson to guide you through an introduction to block making from scratch.
Pattern Cutting Fundamentals
Module Four
Lessons
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Dart manipulation
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Setting up to draft
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Truing and labelling
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Adding notches and seam allowances
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Masterclass in ease
Pattern Cutting Skills
Module Five
Lessons
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Necklines
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Waistbands
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Sleeves
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Fastenings
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Collars and plackets
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Pleats, flounces and ruffles
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Pockets
Design Skills
Module Six
Lessons
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Create your perfect silhouette
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Design skills
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Project planning
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Find your colours
Final Module
Full garment walk throughs
A library of longer videos that take you through the drafting process of complete garments. Putting into action previous techniques and introducing new ones.
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Princess Seam Shift Dress
Learn how to put your bodice and skirt block together for this clean-line, panelled dress.
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Wrap Dress
This crowd-pleasing closure is made with hidden shaping and a agthered skirt.
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Revere Collar Shirt
Relaxed looking shirt with a world of possibilities. .
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Ladies Fitted Shirt
Proper shirt with a clever use of ease.
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Bomber Jacket
Super fun, super cool jacket!
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Biker Jacket
Another play with collars and reveres for this classic biker jacket.
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Blazor Jacket
Leanr how to create sculpt in an easeful block and create an easy to waer jacket.
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Elasticated Waist Torusers
A warobe staple and a technique that can be used again and again.
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Pleated Culottes
See compression techniques in action and how to effectively create pleats in yoru culottes block.
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Curved Waistband Jeans
Is there anything better than the perfect pair of jeans? Here is your chance :)
Your Sewing Teacher
Hey, I'm Lottie
Pattern cutter, block maker and fitting specialist.
I believe that sewing a handmade wardrobe allows us space to reconnect with our beautiful bodies and develop skills to pass onto future generations. I am passionate about supporting sewists to fan the flames of their creative inner fire.
I spent years sewing unsuccessfully until I finally took some classes and began making clothes I felt good in. From here I dove deeper and deeper into the technicalities of sewing and pattern making and trained as a pattern cutter. Not only does sewing my own clothes feel like a boycott of fast fashion, I feel pride in preserving the craft. Homemade garments feel like precious treasure.
"That moment when a garment fits her shape perfectly is an emotional one."
© 2024 Wild Orchard Sewing